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The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays, 2007.
Examines how the supernatural is presented in plays by William Shakespeare.
1,375 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
William Shakespeare was in many ways a man of his time regarding his own beliefs in regards to religion, magic, and the supernatural. This paper examines how Shakespeare's family and historical environment clearly influenced the way that the supernatural was deployed in his later plays.
From the Paper
"All of these conflicting ideas about the supernatural and religion Shakespeare infused into his plays. For example, in Shakespeare's plays, the supernatural often appears during times of great national torment. In "Hamlet," after the murder of the king, the ghost of Hamlet's father comes back from purgatory to demand that his son avenge his death. Even before anything evil happens in "Macbeth," the witches prophesize doom for Scotland. In Julius Caesar, supernatural occurrences occur before Caesar's assassination."
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Shakespeare's Plays Illustrated by Blake and Fuseli, 2007.
An analysis of the connection between William Shakespeare's works and the illustrations of William Blake and Henry Fuseli.
4,923 words (approx. 19.7 pages), 14 sources, MLA, $ 125.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the ways in which drama and painting can serve as interpretations or explanations of one another. The paper begins by introducing William Blake (1757 - 1827) and Henry Fuseli (1741 - 1825) as two chief illustrators of William Shakespeare's plays. It then describes some of the scenes from which the artists drew their inspiration using three major themes - the supernatural and the nightmare, the world of dreams and fantasy and the human condition and history.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Supernatural and the World of Nightmare
The Fairy World of Dreams and Fantasy
The Human Condition and History
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The painting encapsulates all the drama we can expect from a work by Fuseli. As a matter of fact, the artist did several versions of the scene, including book illustrations and a painting that was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1808. It is worth mentioning that the Cardinal's death was a popular subject for painters: Sir Joshua Reynolds, for instance, illustrated the same scene for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, and even Nicolas Poussin was inspired by that very passage. Fuseli introduces agitated figures in a very fluid composition, but there is a clear allusion to an earlier work, especially the way of gathering the figures around a central character, along with the arm pointed upward, paying homage to a drawing by Poussin, whom Fuseli admired a lot. The painting is a good example of the human condition, because it encapsulates various philosophical themes, such as life and death, guilt, suffering, and so forth."
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Shakespeare: Magic and the Supernatural, 2006.
This paper highlights the magic and supernatural themes present in Shakespeare's "A Mid-Summer Nights Dream", "Hamlet" and "The Winter's Tale".
860 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 0 sources, $ 30.95
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Abstract
The author emphasizes the ideas of magic, fairies and ghosts that lie, sometimes hidden, in the works of Shakespeare. In "A Mid-Summer Nights Dream" the main theme is that of magic, with fairies; in "Hamlet" the theme is ghostly apparitions, whilst "The Winter's Tale" is full of the supernatural in many different forms. The author points out that these plays continue to appeal to many people in many different cultures, perhaps because of the various themes and ideas related to magic and the supernatural.
From the Paper
"In A Mid-Summer Nights Dream, Shakespeare utilizes many themes and symbols, yet the most predominant theme is that of magic, especially in relation to fairies and other supernatural beings. The play itself was written to celebrate a marriage, perhaps for a private performance at a great estate or possibly at court, and it must be remembered that fairies dominate all aspects of this play, a possible reflection on the Elizabethan penchant for fairies in relation to weddings. The plotline in this play is actually three, one layered upon another, the first being Theseus and the four lovers, the second, the silliness of Bottom and his friends, and lastly, the fairy plot. In this play, there are "songs" or slices of poetry that allude to Robin Goodfellow, a fairy from Oberon, where ghosts abound and where the King and Queen of fairies sing and dance in the moonlight. These fairies are also artificers and creators of illusion and use strange ointments and pranks to make their powers known to all. Thus, the function of the fairies in this play is to create the illusion of magic, something that was quite important in any Elizabethan wedding ceremony, especially when taking place in the dim and dark forest just outside of the palace at Athens."
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Supernatural in Literature, 2007.
An analysis of the depiction of the supernatural through some of William Shakespeare's works.
1,266 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the depiction of the supernatural in literature. It specifically looks at the ways that the supernatural is portrayed in William Shakespeare's plays and focuses on the witches in "Macbeth" and the fantasy and illusion of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The paper concludes by mentioning other works that have depicted the supernatural, such as Rudolfo Anaya's novel, "Bless me, Ultima."
From the Paper
"There are no significant actual dreams in the play but rather some dreamlike situations that add to the magical quality of the story. For example, after Titania, the fairy queen whom Oberon wanted to fall in love with someone other than the little boy of her friend's, wakes up from her sleep with love potion on her eyes and under the spell of that charm, immediately falls in love with a clownish figure Bottom. This may appear to be a very hilarious situation to the readers but it is situations like these that were responsible for bringing about a significant change in the course of the play. During that period when she was under the influence of the charm, she dotes on the clown but as soon as the spell ends, she starts loathing the very same person. Whatever has taken place during the spell was a beautiful dream to Bottom who lacked the intelligence to fathom what had happened to him. (IV, i., ll.205-214) Another very important role of dreams can be understood by the speech of Puck in the last Act when he offers an explanation for dreamlike situations to other characters. He wants them to think of their past as nothing but a dream because this explanation could answer whatever questions they had in mind. (ACT V)"
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Magic in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 2000.
An exploration of Shakespeare's treatment of magic and the supernatural in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
1,450 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the theme of magic in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and discusses how Shakespeare uses supernatural elements throughout the play. It considers the boundaries between good and evil, and comments upon the ways Shakespeare presents the play as a supernaturally charged adventure.
From the Paper
"There was a strong belief in the supernatural in Shakespeare?s era and subsequently, some form of the supernatural realm is a common theme throughout his plays. The supernatural is a central theme in A Midsummer Night?s Dream which is set in an enchanted fairyland wood and the play clearly demonstrates the power of the supernatural and the dramatic influence the spiritual world has upon the natural order of things. "
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The Supernatural in Renaissance Drama, 2005.
An analysis of the supernatural in the plays "Hamlet" and "Midsummer's Night Dream" by Shakespeare, and "Dr. Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe.
1,154 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 39.95
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Abstract
The theme of the supernatural in Renaissance drama emerges more as a 'problem' than as a unified theology. This paper explains that the use of supernatural and characterization thereof, says more about the playwright's ability to use language to characterize, than about the ideology of the period. It explains that Shakespeare's stress on characterization results in more human fairies and spirits than in Marlowe's world.
From the Paper
"These questions of truth and reality become even more sharply defined in "Hamlet." Ironically, Hamlet begins the play wanting to go back to Faustus' Wittenberg to study-but ends up meeting the supernatural on his own doorstep. Rather than the comic Faustus, stewing over his books, Hamlet's meeting with his father is frightening, and causes Hamlet to consecrate his life to revenge. (1.3) But Hamlet is never sure if the ghost is true or false, hence he uses a play as a truth-test of his uncle's guilt, noting that the devil has a power to assume a pleasing shape. By the end of the play, the supernatural has virtually retreated from the play entirely-the ghost disappears after preventing Hamlet from killing his mother in anger, and Hamlet does kill Claudius, but without the satisfaction of revealing to the court with his own words, or before his mother what really happened to his father."
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Shakespearean Studies: Understanding the Theme of Disguise in Romeo and Juliet and the Film Shakespeare in Love, 2005.
An analysis of the theme of disguise in "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare and the film "Shakespeare in Love", directed by John Madden.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 2 sources, $ 26.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at how the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare and the film "Shakespeare in Love", directed by John Madden, utilize disguise as the key to romance and intrigue. It looks at how "Shakespeare in Love" displays the theme of disguise as an equal response to the trickery and guise found in "Romeo and Juliet" and how in "Romeo and Juliet" the theme of disguise through the masquerade ball is important in Romeo realizing his love for Juliet.
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William Shakespeare, 2003.
Examines the influence of William Shakespeare on drama and theatre.
9,454 words (approx. 37.8 pages), 28 sources, APA, $ 194.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the influence of William Shakespeare on twenty first century theatre. Shakespeare was a great English playwright, dramatist and poet who he lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. He is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. The paper shows that no other writer's plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his. Shakespeare had a tremendous influence on culture and literature throughout the world and he contributed greatly to the development of the English language. The paper examines how many words and phrases from Shakespeare's plays and poems have become part of our speech. It shows that Shakespeare's ideas on subjects such as romantic love, heroism, comedy and tragedy have helped shape the attitudes of millions of people. His portrayals of historical figures and events have influenced our thinking more than what has been written in history books. The world has admired and respected many great writers, but only Shakespeare has generated such enormous continuing interest. The paper discusses his different works for theatre. Costumes trends, audiences and sets are also discussed. It also discusses the formation of Globe theatre by Shakespeare.
Outline:
Abstract
Background
Life of Shakespeare
Shakespeare Career
Shakespeare's Influences on Theatre
Costumes and Sets
Audience and Plays
Globe Theatre
Structure of the Globe
Shakespeare and the End of the Globe
Development of Theatre
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Everything had to be conveyed to the audience through words and there is little doubt that the audience had better memories and perhaps higher powers of attention than people do today, so that they took in and retained the information given to them. The majority people in Shakespeare's day could not read or write so they had to rely on word of mouth and on memory; this is in evidence in Romeo and Juliet when the Servant is sent to bid Capulet's guests to dinner. He can't read the list which he has been given and he asks Romeo to read it to him; he hears it read once and then goes off to find the guests; yet, there are well over thirteen people on the list so his memory must have been extremely retentive."
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Shakespeare and the Romantic Poets, 2006.
This paper discusses the reception of William Shakespeare by the Romantic poets as referenced in several text of both Shakespeare and these poets.
2,930 words (approx. 11.7 pages), 14 sources, APA, $ 86.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the way in which Shakespeare was viewed by the poetic exponents of Romanticism, and how some of the characters of Shakespeare's plays may exemplify the Romantic ideal. This author explains that two hundred years separates the time of William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era and the Romantic poets and their vision of a society, which put the concerns of the individual to the forefront of political issues. The paper points out that, while direct reference to Shakespeare's works by the romantic poets is less than abundant, John Keats, Samuel Taylor and Percy Bysse Shelley suggest a clear aesthetic link between Romanticism and Shakespeare's texts. The paper examines characters of Shakespeare's plays and how they exemplify the Romantic vision of individual liberty, the freedom of expression and mans' relationship with nature, which feature prominently in "King Lear", "Hamlet", "Romeo and Juliet"."
From the Paper
"If then, life is to be lived according to one's ideals, as opposed to the rules of society, then the examination of cerebral conflict is a relevant concern. It would be a simple matter to make one's point by filling an essay such as this with quotations from "Hamlet", whose central character, it appears, is in a state of permanent confusion, or from Corialanus, who, it could be argued is the most egocentric character ever created by Shakespeare, and whose vanity, ultimately, proves to be his undoing. The Romantic hero referred to in my question however, is, for this critic, personified in the character of the eponymous protagonist of "Romeo and Juliet"."
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The Modern William Shakespeare, 2001.
This essay covers a vast amount of information on William Shakespeare and his plays. This paper explores the ways that Shakespeare's drama has evolved and transformed over time.
3,870 words (approx. 15.5 pages), 15 sources, MLA, $ 105.95
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Abstract
This essay is about William Shakespeare and the ways in which his art has changed and evolved with time. This essay covers many of Shakespeare's plays and many modern film adaptations of his plays. The paper discusses much of the history behind Shakespeare's works and the many sources from which his drama was derived. The essay also deals with Shakespeare's language and the aspects of his invented language that have become a part of our everyday vocabulary. It covers the many characters, plots and genres of Shakespeare's works. The main theme of the paper is centered around the ways modern history has invented a Shakespeare of its very own.
From the Paper
"Who is Shakespeare? What is Shakespeare? Nearly four hundred years following his death, the Shakespearean debate trudges on. In his lifetime, William Shakespeare wrote a phenomenal cannon of dramatic literature. He managed to create an astounding thirty-seven plays in scarcely the span of twenty-five years. Individually, these plays constitute some of the best art ever written. Collectively, these works secure Shakespeare as the principle literary draftsman of the Elizabethan Age. In his dedication to William Shakespeare in 1623, Ben Johnson wrote: ?He was not of an age, but for all time.? To this day, Shakespeare?s creative genius has yet to be exceeded. No writer in any language can rival the eminence and immortal perpetuity that Shakespeare has relished. And no man, in any creative enterprise, has ever impelled a cultural influence as ample or as profound. Shakespeare?s language and extensive lexicon of coined phrases are more ubiquitous in trite conversation today than the myriad of cliched aphorisms present in the King James Bible. His hundreds of characters-the very mirrors of human nature-are equally as recognizable. From small amusements like Bottom the Weaver, to such unparalleled manifestations as Falstaff, Shakespeare has enriched civilization by mimicking it."
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Shakespeare: Life And Works, 2002.
Discusses the life and works of William Shakespeare and the controversy regarding the suspicion that some works attributed to Shakespeare were not really his.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 5 sources, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the life and works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was undeniably the best playwright in English literature but his life has always been a mystery and his works have often been eyed with suspicion as quarters are of the view that Shakespeare was not the author of some of the plays.
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Film: "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream", 2007.
This paper compares Michael Hoffman's 1999 film, "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Shakespeare's original play.
2,350 words (approx. 9.4 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, for his 1999 film, "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream", Michael Hoffman rewrote the original Shakespeare play, put it into a more modern context and emphasized artistic visual expression over Shakespeare's expression through the poetry of language. The author points out that Hoffman modernized the gender roles by creating a dialogue for Bottom's wife, thus increasing her importance; wherein, in the original play, her role consisted of a stare. The paper relates that, to appeal to modern cultural standards, the movie has been made more aesthetically pleasing by the fantasy theatrics of the costumes and makeup.
From the Paper
"The first and most evident difference between the 1999 film adaptation and the original play by Shakespeare is the setting. Shakespeare's work is set in Greece, while Hoffman's is set in the turn of the 20th century Tuscany. It was also filmed in Tuscany. "Hoffman moves the action forward in time and sets it in late 19th-Century Tuscany" writes Welsh, but it is questioned whether this "new setting makes sense". Thus Hoffman's version has an immediate difference between that of Shakespeare's which took place in the traditional classical setting."
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Themes in Shakespeare's Plays, 2004.
An in-depth paper discussing common themes throughout Shakespeare's plays. The themes of love, jealousy, and power are examined in "Romeo and Juliet", "Othello", "Much Ado About Nothing", and "Midsummer Night?s Dream."
5,210 words (approx. 20.8 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 129.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the writings of Shakespeare and identifies the related themes of his plays, such as love, power, and jealousy. The historical evidence and research are presented in each chapter so as to give the readers the real meaning of these themes, which are used by Shakespeare. The initial chapters of the research paper introduce the writings of Shakespeare and the era of Shakespeare. These chapters describe the topic related to Shakespeare and his plays. The entire discussion is based on the description of the plays and the description of the scenes, as well as speeches, which are illustrated in the plays of Shakespeare.
Outline
1. Statement of the Hypothesis
2. Review of Prior Works on the Subject and Related Subjects
3. Identification of the Methodology
4. Analysis of the Problem
5. Summary of Findings and Conclusions
From the Paper
"William Shakespeare and his plays are the main topic of discussion in this paper. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest names whose literary contributions and writings are considered as assets for the literary world. Shakespeare?s plays and writings are of considerable importance for the readers all around the world because his writings and power of expression are unmatchable. William Shakespeare and his plays have in fact formed the foundation of the English literature and therefore, William Shakespeare is still read by the students of English literature. The paper will be divided into five chapters, the analysis and observation of these chapters will help the reader to understand the paper?s main topic of discussion."
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Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice?, 2005.
This paper compares the three suitors in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and explores how Shakespeare influences the audience's attitudes towards the three men.
1,380 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Portia's three suitors--the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Arragon and Bassanio-- reveal the contents of the three caskets and, by exposing their attitudes towards the caskets, indicate their true character, which heightens the dramatic tension. The author points out that, at the time the play was written England was at war with Spain so Arragon, a rather unflattering stereotype of a typical Spaniard, would have been funny to an Elizabethan audience and his name "Arragon" and "Arrogant" amusing. The paper relates that Morocco is jeered at for his skin color but Bassanio is portrayed more favorably as a Christian and Venetian, who is not proud or arrogant. Many illustrations.
From the Paper
"The second suitor is the Prince of Arragon whose entrance unlike Morocco's is not pre-empted by any comments from Portia. His arrogance and pride are shown through his choice of casket and his reaction to choosing the wrong casket. He comments on the inscription of gold casket, "...I will not jump with common spirits/And rank me with barbarous multitudes" (Act II Scene ix). Thinking gold was too common for him he arrogantly discards it. He does not even stop to contemplate the lead casket saying only that it would have to look more attractive for him to hazard anything for it. The silver casket is the one that appeals to him the most because he feels that no one deserving should go unmerited. His arrogance leads him to assume that he is worthy of Portia."
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Keeping Shakespeare Moving, 2001.
This paper discusses the differences between William Shakespeare's works on screen or in print.
1,600 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 3 sources, $ 52.95
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Abstract
The following paper attempts to show that people enjoy Shakespeare for a variety of reasons. It shows how some people are used to enjoying the amount of Shakespeare a filmmaker can fit into a two hour film, while others enjoy reading it in full. In this essay the writer attempts to show that, whether on film or in print, anyone who enjoys Shakespeare knows that imagination is key to enjoying it.
From the paper:
"But there are differences between the choices of experiencing Shakespeare. With a book, you can pause and come back to it later; you can digest it at your own pace. You can also reread certain passages and study the text more intensely than you can actors in a film. A lot of Shakespeare's speeches state the same thing several ways, so that the audience at a live performance can catch what's going on. When reading that speech, you can enjoy the entire thing without worrying about keeping up".
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