Shakespeare Discussions

[Scheherazade]

The new Shakespeare Discussion Group will start its readings in January 2007:

http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=20513

[Virgil]

The new Shakespeare Discussion Group will start its readings in January 2007:

http://www.online-literature.com/for...555#post287555

We can read Twelfth Night for our Christmas Reading maybe Virgil:

http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=20485

Thanks Scher. One recommendation, though. You mention reading the plays in chronological order. I know that makes some sense, but i think it makes it duller. The early plays are not as interesting, and to start with them would not induce as much interest and excitment. And also at the end of the order, the plays are not as enticing. So there would be a drop off in interest at the beginning and a large fall off at the end. I think the best way is to shuffle the plays around, perhaps alternate between comedy, history and tragedy and somehow randomly pick within each catagory. This way I think interest and variety is maitained. If you like I can do some random generator and propose a sequence that would hold interest best.

A&C is also one of my favorite plays.

Petrarch - Would you prefer a random sequence to the Shakespeare reading forum over the chronological? What's you opinion?

[Petrarch's Love]

Hi Virg.--I just sent out a PM to you, Scher, and others to say that I'm also a bit unsure of the idea of doing this in chronological order, and suggesting we might organize this according to histories, commedies and tragedies and then select from one of those three lists each time.

[Scheherazade]

In the light of recent suggestions from some of our members, instead of reading Shakespeare's plays in their mere chronological order, we will be taking turns between his Comedies, Tragedies and Histories as they are classified in the First Folio:

COMEDIES.

The Tempest
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
The Merry Wiues of Windsor
Measvre, For Measure
The Comedie of Errors
Much adoe about Nothing
Loues Labour's lost
A Midsommer Nights Dreame
The Merchant of Venice
As you Like it
The Taming of the Shrew
All's Well, that Ends Well
Twelfe Night
The Winters Tale


HISTORIES.

The life and death of King John
The life and death of King Richard the Second
The First Part of Henry the Fourth
The Second Part of Henry the Fourth
The Life of Henry the Fift
The first Part of Henry the Sixt
The second Part of Henry the Sixt
The third Part of Henry the Sixt
The Tragedie of Richard the Third
The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight

TRAGEDIES.

The Tragedie of Coriolanus
The Tragedie of Titus Andronicus
The Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet
The Life of Timon of Athens
The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
The Tragedie of Macbeth
The Tragedie of Hamlet
The Tragedie of King Lear
The Tragedie of Othello
The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra
The Tragedie of Cymbeline

The plays still will be read in their chronological order to prevent the discussions from turning into a popularity contest for the plays and avoid the risk of having left with only the least favorite ones towards the end of reading scheme.

Participation is not compulsory and any members who feel disinclined to read certain plays are free not to take part in those discussions.

We would like to extend our special thanks to Virgil, Petrarch's Love, ShoutGrace and Janine for their suggestions and contributions in forming and developing the Shakespeare Discussion Group idea.

[Petrarch's Love]

Thanks Scher. Looking forward to starting in January.

[aeroport]

This sounds like a great deal of fun! I'm actually taking my first Shakespeare course next semester, wherein we read 10 to 12 of his "representative" plays, so I should be able to manage a little bit of participation!

Aw man! Never mind, I suppose. Am I not allowed to join? Is there a minimum post count required to participate?

[ShoutGrace]

This sounds like a great deal of fun! I'm actually taking my first Shakespeare course next semester, wherein we read 10 to 12 of his "representative" plays, so I should be able to manage a little bit of participation!

You'd better hope that your class readings coincide with the order that has been determined here.

Am I not allowed to join? Is there a minimum post count required to participate?

It wouldn't suprise me greatly.

[aeroport]

You'd better hope that your class readings coincide with the order that has been determined here.



It wouldn't suprise me greatly.

Probably right. (melancholy sigh) Oh well...

[Virgil]

Aw man! Never mind, I suppose. Am I not allowed to join? Is there a minimum post count required to participate?

What do you mean, of course you're allowed to participate. There is no min post requirement.

Petrarch in a PM outlined a more interesting sequence for reading the plays. She thinks by going with the first folio order while alternating between comedy, tragedy, and history would make readings more stimulating. Here's her suggestion:

Here's the First Folio order, just to give us a start. I've added Pericles and Troilus and Cressida in brackets, since T&C was in the Folio, but not listed in the contents, and Pericles doesn't appear in the FF. Perhaps we could post something along these lines in the initial post rather than the chronological sequence?

COMEDIES.
The Tempest.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Measure for Measure.
The Comedy of Errours.
Much adoo about Nothing
Loves Labour lost.
Midsommer Nights Dreame.
The Merchant of Venice.
As you Like it.
The Taming of the Shrew.
All is well, that Ends well.
Twelfe-Night, or what you will.
The Winters Tale.
[Pericles, Prince of Tyre]

HISTORIES.
The Life and Death of King John.
The Life & death of Richard the second.
The First part of King Henry the fourth.
The Second part of K. Henry the fourth.
The Life of King Henry the Fift.
The First part of King Henry the Sixt.
The Second part of King Hen. the Sixt.
The Third part of King Henry the Sixt.
The Life and Death of Richard the Third
The Life of King Henry the Eight.

TRAGEDIES.
The Tragedy of Coriolanus.
Titus Andronicus.
Romeo and Juliet.
Timon of Athens.
The Life and death of Julius Caesar.
The Tragedy of Macbeth.
The Tragedy of Hamlet.
King Lear.
Othello, the Moore of Venice.
Anthony and Cleopater.
Cymbeline King of Britaine.
[Troilus and Cressida]

[Scheherazade]

Aw man! Never mind, I suppose. Am I not allowed to join? Is there a minimum post count required to participate?

Both Book Club discussions and Shakespeare Group are open to all members (even though there are some restrictions on voting because we had to deal with poll rigging attempts in the past).

Does that surprise you, ShoutGrace?

Petrarch in a PM outlined a more interesting sequence for reading the plays. She thinks by going with the first folio order while alternating between comedy, tragedy, and history would make readings more stimulating. Here's her suggestion:

We have received PL's PM and obtained the FF list I posted from a reputable Shakespeare site.

We will stick with the original order of Historical plays as they appeared in the FF (because they are in a certain chronological order) but we will follow the performance chronology with Comedies and Tragedies while alternating because it will give us a chance to see how Shakespeare's style as a writer developed over the years.

James> If your course readings do not coincide with the SDG readings, you can always start threads on the plays you are reading in the Shakespeare subforum. I am sure there will be some members to exchange thoughts with you at any time

[ShoutGrace]

Does that surprise you, ShoutGrace?

Well, at the least it seems like the only reasonable way for things to go – no more or less surprising than its alternative.

[Scheherazade]

You can find more information on the SDG here: http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=20513

In 2007, we will be reading:

Jan - Feb: Taming of the Shrew 1593-94

Mar - Apr: Titus Andronicus 1594

May- June: The Life and Death of King John

Jul - Aug: Comedy of Errors 1594

Sep - Oct: Romeo and Juliet 1594-95

Nov - Dec: The Life and Death of King Richard the Second

Should add these to my wish list before it is too late (got only two of them at home)!

[Janine]

You can find more information on the SDG here: http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=20513

In 2007, we will be reading:

Jan - Feb: Taming of the Shrew 1593-94

Mar - Apr: Titus Andronicus 1594

May- June: The Life and Death of King John

Jul - Aug: Comedy of Errors 1594

Sep - Oct: Romeo and Juliet 1594-95

Nov - Dec: The Life and Death of King Richard the Second

Should add these to my wish list before it is too late (got only two of them at home)!

Hi Scher - are these in the chronological order from each category?

[Scheherazade]

Yes, we will be alternating between Comedies, Tragedies and Histories (as they are classified in the First Folio) but also be reading them in their chronological order as well so that we will be able to see how Shakespeare has developed over the years as a playwright.

[Janine]

Sher - I get your drift on that. Thanks!