Bad Dreams

Last night, I had a bad dream that there was something else we were supposed to post under our reflections on the learning outcomes.  It figures, because I always have school nightmares when I have had tests or it is the end of the semester.

Just wanted to say one more time, thank you everybody for a wonderful experience!  Have an amazing summer.

The Final Meleager Video.

Reflection, and a Fond Farewell?

• I am going to go over the ways I have worked towards the goals of my Shakespeare class.  Here goes:
• 1. Gain Shakespeare Literacy
  Demonstrate mastery over fundamental information about Shakespeare’s works, life, and legacy

  a. Breadth (knowledge of a range of Shakespeare’s works)

  Okay, this semester I was introduced to Shakespeare's History Plays.  I  have never read any of these before, and have now read two!

  b. Depth (more thorough knowledge of a single work)

  Richard III.  I actually quite enjoyed this play.  Although Richard is a villain, I absolutely loved him as a character.  I also learned a little bit more about this period in history, and the way that it was portrayed after Richard was overthrown, down through Shakespeare's day.

  c. Performance (stage and screen)

  Hamlet with David Tennant.  I adored this!  I love David Tennant!

  
  

  Henry V (the one the professor recommended.) I loved the music during the speech

  
  

  The Merchant of Venice (Or Stratford, depending on who you ask.) Really Cute.

  
  

  Love's Labors Lost (set as a live radio show during the war) Good acting for a play I didn't like.

  
  
  
  

  d. Legacy (history, scholarship, popular culture)

  I referenced a few books and songs in previous blogs, as well as a foxtrot comic.  I think I will continue to post about Shakespeare in pop culture.

  
  
  
  
  

  I already knew a lot about Shakespeare's time, and his way of writing.  I did not realize that there were events occurring that coincided with The Tempest, and which it may have been loosely based upon. 

  
  
  
• 2. Analyze Shakespeare Critically
  Interpret Shakespeare’s works critically in their written form, in performance (stage or screen) and in digitally mediated transformations. This includes 
  a. Textual analysis (theme, language, formal devices)

  I looked at a scene from Richard III in one of my posts.  It was long, but it showed some cutting dialogue.  Here is the link.

  Queen Margaret's Speech
  

  
  

  b. Contextual analysis (historical, contemporary, cultural)
  
  

  I looked into the War of the Roses, of which Richard III was part in the following post:

  
  

  The War of the Roses 

  
  
  
  c. Application of literary theories 

  I wrote the dialogue for an entire scene of Meleager.

  d. Analysis of digital mediations

  I tried to blog while watching Hamlet, reflecting on how it was portrayed.  We also watched many different portrayals of different scenes in class.  I learned to compare videos to the text, and also compare different renditions of the same scene.

  
  

• 3. Engage Shakespeare Creatively
  a. Performance (memorization, recitation, scene on stage or video)

  I was forced to read the dialogue I had written aloud.  I also tried to memorize Lady Macbeth's speech again, because I haven't recited it since tenth grade.  (Glamis thou art, etc.)

  
  

  b. Individual creative work (literary imitation, art, music)

  I dabbled in writing some Shakespeare lines, with fair results if I do say so myself.

  c. Collaborative creative project

  Oh, Meleager.  I almost want to read the entire play (oh, wait, we made it up!)

• 4. Share Shakespeare Meaningfully
  This includes engaging in the following:

  b. Informal Writing. This mainly means through regular online writing

  I have been mostly diligent in my blogging, and this is my 77 or 78 post.  I have had a blast with the blogging.

  c. Connecting. Share one’s learning and creative work with others both in and outside of class.

  I talked about Shakespeare with some great people at the bus stop, and I also linked to my blog on Facebook, which got me a few more followers.

• 5. Gain Digital Literacy
  a. Consume - Effective and independent selecting, searching, researching, 

  I learned how to use my blog efficiently, and how to upload videos and pictures.  I found some other, more professional blogs on Shakespeare as well.

  
  

  b. Create - Producing content that demonstrates learning and which can be shared for others to profit from.

  I think this blog is the best example of this learning outcome.  I also made a video on Meleager, and used pictures and video clips to help emphasize my points.

  
  

  c. Connect - Engage with other learners within and outside of the class to develop thinking and share more formal work.

  I commented on other people's blogs, and also replied to comments on my own blog.  I talked about Shakespeare in my small group, and also talked about what I was learning with my aunt.

  
  Well, this has been a great ride.  I have loved this class, and loved getting to know  the people in it and see their visions.  This blog has also been a wonderful experience.  I hope that I can continue to blog, even if I opt to start a new blog that is not focused on Shakespeare.  As I said before, I would like to continue blogging here about connections to Shakespeare I see in popular culture.  For now, I say not Adieu but Au Revoir! 

The Final Product

Here is your introduction to our play.

Okay, so apparently this video does not want to load to my blog.  But don't worry!  I have it on my memory stick in my backpack, and one of the guys can help me get it on Youtube or something.  I was just so tired last night I didn't even care to try.

Got Shakespeare?

As we near the end of our journey through Shakespeare in my class, I pose this question to you: Got Shakespeare?

I hope that I will continue blogging after the class ends, but there is no guarantee that I will without the grade incentive.  I have loved rereading some of these plays, as well as being introduced to new ones.  Everybody has had great insights to share in class, and I have been led to thinking about things in new ways.

For the first time, I used Skype and I had a public blog.  I have also learned about filming and editing a video.  I still have more to learn about that tonight.  (Yes, Kent, I will finish it by tomorrow!)

I would finally like to thank everybody who has offered comments and suggestions.  This has been a new experience for me, and I appreciate your feedback.

Happy Finals Week!

Kent, Don't Read This!

 Okay, so last night I watched the video I took from the shoot.  Tonight I plan to iron it out and record the introduction to the play.  I can't wait to finish this project!  I know it is going to be great, and I also can't wait to see what everybody else does as well!

Good luck on Finals, everybody!

Huck Finn does Romeo and Juliet

I don't know why, but the other day I suddenly remembered that in Huckleberry Finn, there is a scene that mirrors Romeo and Juliet.  He comes across two feuding families that have been hurting each other for years.  Unfortunately, a daughter from one family and a son from the other have fallen in love.  When the two families find out, chaos ensues and they go to war.  The only difference is, they live in the wilderness on the banks of the Mississippi, and they have rifles to shoot each other with.  Does this story sound familiar to anybody?  Imagine if the two families had found out about Romeo and Juliet being in love and married before the couple died for love.

The End of March Madness

The final showdown between Beatrice and Lady Macbeth is finished, and the winner is: Beatrice.

She of the sharp tongue and witty mind, from Much Ado About Nothing.

Making of a Fight Scene

Okay, I meant to post this last night, but I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.  I was exhausted.  I woke up at 5:00 yesterday morning to drive down to Sandy.  We met up at Kent's house, where I found out that he had had to make some last minute casting changes.  I had to do a lot of costume modifications, mainly cutting off sleeves and making v-necks on t-shirts.  Finally, we went to the location, where we had to hike down the path to a spot by the creek.  Unfortunately, this place turned out to be very popular with dogs.  After getting some great footage of everybody getting ready for the shoot, and a few practice runs, I had to go try to ward off the dogs.  Mostly, this worked, although a few still. got through.  I had to leave early, because I had a couple of family things going on that day as well.  Needless to say, I was perfectly happy to get in bed at 10:00 that night and fall instantly asleep.  I can't wait to edit my footage and put up the final video.

Happy Easter, y'all.

Conference, The Eagle, and Dialogue

Okay, so Friday my brother went to the video store and came home with "The Eagle".  We watched it that night, and it was great inspiration for figuring out good ways to write dialogue for a fight segment.  Saturday, I watched the morning session of General Conference and then started writing.  I have to admit, I rarely read over what I write.  I can keep a sentence in my head, and I can remember the flow and topic of what I am writing, but once I write it, it is done.  I usually get somebody else to read over my paper and edit it.  Anyway, here is the cut down version of the script for the play.

Meleager: And to you, good sir, mighty with the bow,

Having struck the Boar first, deserves this prize

To you noble sire of, what be thy name?

Atalanta:  My lord, my name is Nikon, and I plead

                That you should take this trophy for your own

                As you did deal the final blow that brought

                A final death to this ferocious beast.

Meleager: Would you dare scorn this gift that I have gi’en

                Most freely to the one who earned the prize?

                You do yourself dishonor by your words.

                Come, friend, I do not wish to tarry on.

Atalanta: Your words convince me of the wisdom found

                In thanking you for such a precious gift.

                I must accept and in good grace give thanks.

Enter Toxius and Plexipus

Toxius: My nephew that young wretch will be our deaths.

                We must destroy her whilst we have the chance

                Before returning home to those who’ll kill

Us all, as is their right and is the law.

Meleager: What madness do you speak?

Iphicles: Your uncle’s fragile reason now is lost.

                Meleager we support you in your cause,

                We’ll join with you until the bitter end

                In order to protect this our new friend.

Eurypylus: I also stand with you through thick and thin

                My liege, my lord, and most of all my friend.

The two are slowly moving towards Atalanta, with malicious intent.  At that moment, they reach her and grab her.  Iphicles pulls a knife on her.

Meleager: You fiends, who flatter whilst betraying me

Atalanta goes postal and gets knocked out.

Meleager and family:

Meleager: my uncle asks of me

                To break the sacred law of the guest rights.

Meleager: Brother will you stand with me or him?

Plexipus: I value my own life against your own.

                Dear brother, I am sorry for this end

Meleager: Not half as sorry as you soon shall be.

Fighting ensues.  Meleager kills his uncle and his brother.

Euriponditis, Iphicles, etc.

Atalanta: My thanks, but I protect myself quite well.

Meleager: Milady, I am honor bound to fight

                In your defense. 

Atalanta: I thank you for your aid.

Iphicles and Euriponditis fight, Iphicles flees into the woods and Euriponditis follows.

Meleager: You always were too quick to rise to bait

                What was your weakness now has brought your fate.

Eurypylus is cowering in fear.

Eurypydus: Meleager, please I beg you spare my life

               

Meleager: If only you shall swear upon your soul

                To never speak of what has happened here.

Eurypylus: You have my oath, twill never pass my lips.

Meleager: Then leave, and never show your face again.

Switch to Euriponditis and Iphicles.

Iphicles: You thought that you could win my lovely wife

                You fool! I would not part with her for gold.

                Though she is young she knows to mind my will.

Euriponditis:  Sweet Chloe deserves more than you would give.

                She chose to love a blacksmith o’er a lord.

                And who would blame her?

Iphicles: The whole court knows

                That you and she are lovers; they would say

                You murdered me to wed my wife. You would

                Be cast out from the midst of them and shamed.

Euriponditis: Good sir, you talk to long. Be silent now.

Kills Iphicles

Meleager comes upon him moments later.  Euriponditis is badly shaken by Iphicles’ words.

Meleager: My friend, what makes you sigh, as though a girl?

                We are victorious, champions of the hour.

Euriponditis: My lord, when it is known that I have slain

                Fair Chloe’s husband I shall then be shunned.

                I cannot ask the maid to pay that price.

                Thus I must leave before I see her face.

Meleager: This day no one shall know twas done by you.

                We’ll claim that they had tried to steal the boar,

                And as we fought I claimed Iphicles’ life.

                Now come, we must prepare a detailed lie

                To hold up under closer inspection.