Shakespearean Summer '08

[Petrarch's Love]

Wow, I'm amazed that everyone's going for Winter's Tale. Where were you all last week when I was trying to teach it? My students were decidedly less enthusiastic about Winter's Tale than most of the other plays we've covered this quarter (though this is understandable in the context of a class that started with Hamlet). Maybe they just have the near end of term blahs. I'm going to hold off voting for now, since I'm equally happy with Macbeth or W.T. and feel the decision should probably be made by those who feel strongly about reading and/or thinking critically about a particular play for the first time. Whatever gets picked, I'll do my best to carve out a little time to participate in the discussions this summer.

[kasie]

Its a pastoral Play mainly based in Sicily snd Bohemia. I think the title has to do with associating the context of the play to winter. When we think of winter, we think of times of darkness, cold, seasonal depression etc. Well the play itself is a time of darkness for the king of sicily who accuses his wife of an affair and carrying an illigitamate child, the child (Perdita) is taken away, Leontes and Harmiones only son dies, and them Harmione dies, and suddenly Leontes has lost everything he cared for and indures a "winter" in his life.

'A sad tale's best for winter....' Act II, Scene 1.

[Charles Darnay]

Wow, I'm amazed that everyone's going for Winter's Tale. Where were you all last week when I was trying to teach it? My students were decidedly less enthusiastic about Winter's Tale than most of the other plays we've covered this quarter (though this is understandable in the context of a class that started with Hamlet). Maybe they just have the near end of term blahs. I'm going to hold off voting for now, since I'm equally happy with Macbeth or W.T. and feel the decision should probably be made by those who feel strongly about reading and/or thinking critically about a particular play for the first time. Whatever gets picked, I'll do my best to carve out a little time to participate in the discussions this summer.

What grade did you teach it to?

I've always wanted to teach WT to a grade 12 class in a larger context of the tragicomedy.

[Niamh]

'A sad tale's best for winter....' Act II, Scene 1.

thanks for that!

[papayahed]

Its a pastoral Play mainly based in Sicily snd Bohemia. I think the title has to do with associating the context of the play to winter. When we think of winter, we think of times of darkness, cold, seasonal depression etc. Well the play itself is a time of darkness for the king of sicily who accuses his wife of an affair and carrying an illigitamate child, the child (Perdita) is taken away, Leontes and Harmiones only son dies, and them Harmione dies, and suddenly Leontes has lost everything he cared for and indures a "winter" in his life.

So there's no snow?

[Page Sniffer]

For the sake of honoring a popular vote that actually means something, I'll go with either one that wins since Winter's Tale and Macbeth are neck and neck.

[Charles Darnay]

In a metaphorical sense, there is snow.

Time and seasons play a fascinating role in the play

[LadyWentworth]

Well, it is obviously not going to be the one that I wanted. As of this post, both Winter's Tale and Macbeth are tied. So I can read WT again, but I have to be honest that I am really pulling for Macbeth. I always really liked it, but I've only read it twice. It has been a LONG time since I have read it. I read in it high school and once a couple of years later. So it has been quite awhile.

[Virgil]

Wow, I'm amazed that everyone's going for Winter's Tale. Where were you all last week when I was trying to teach it? My students were decidedly less enthusiastic about Winter's Tale than most of the other plays we've covered this quarter (though this is understandable in the context of a class that started with Hamlet). Maybe they just have the near end of term blahs. I'm going to hold off voting for now, since I'm equally happy with Macbeth or W.T. and feel the decision should probably be made by those who feel strongly about reading and/or thinking critically about a particular play for the first time. Whatever gets picked, I'll do my best to carve out a little time to participate in the discussions this summer.

Nice to see you back Petrarch. I hope you can participate in this. You add so much.

[Niamh]

I vote Richard III but i'd rather Macbeth out of those two!
"When shall we three meet again? In thunder,
Lightning or in rain?"
Love that line! I always quote it if in am one of a company of three.

[Scheherazade]

So there's no snow?

[sofia82]

But it's not Winter.

So, if you want to decide considering the season, what will you choose?

Having a winter in the summer will be interesting

I vote later, not now. let's see which gets the vote

[Nightshade]

I vote Richard III

Does this mean I owe you a vote now Niamh?


WInters tale, thats Perdita and the bear isnt it....

[Charles Darnay]

Does this mean I owe you a vote now Niamh?


WInters tale, thats Perdita and the bear isnt it....

that is a great summery of the play

[Nightshade]

Yes well if it is and youve read it you know what Im talking about it and if you havent it doesnt give away any of the plot....