Romeo and Juliet: when was it set?

Tonight, I was talking with my aunt.  She said that the other day, somebody at the library asked her during which year Romeo and Juliet was set.  Although she never mentioned the exact year, she did say that it is the only play which has a traceable date during which the events were meant to have occurred.

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!