British Literature
An Interpretation of Shakespeare’s Comic Tools
Shakespear’s plays, though comedies had something more to them. What was it that he was trying to convey? […]
Literature
British Literature
Twelfth Night: The Key Tools of Shakespeare’s Vision
Shakespeare is regarded as a great writer in the literary world. but what were the key elements in his plays which set them apart? […]
British Literature
Hamlet: A Mirror for Shakespeare’s Creative Process
Shakespeare’s plays may seem impenetrable to many, but identifying common motifs can make them more accessible. These include the play-within-a-play, naturalistic language, and dialogue that reflects on the art of acting itself. All of this can be seen in Hamlet, making it the perfect play to analyze. […]
British Literature
Discovering the Meaning Behind Scenes & Words: Key Tools in Understanding Shakespeare
By Marc Connor, Ph.D., Washington and Lee University We can all agree that William Shakespeare is hard to understand, but perhaps Shakespeare knew that about […]
British Literature
Stagecraft & Participation: Key Tools in Understanding Shakespeare
We don’t simply read Shakespeare’s plays—we watch them. And it is through this watching that we can apply two key tools in understanding Shakespeare: stagecraft and participation. […]
British Literature
How Were Shakespeare’s Plays Performed?
You’ve likely seen a performance of Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet, but how were Shakespeare’s plays performed back in his own time? Gain an intimate look at the eclectic audiences as well as what the stages physically looked like, getting a sense of what it was like to actually watch one of Shakespeare’s plays as it was performed hundreds of years ago. […]
British Literature
Deconstructing Genius: Shakespeare’s Techniques
As a playwright, Shakespeare has numerous tricks up his sleeve. Explore plots, metaphor, comedy and more to see how Shakespeare’s plays work. […]
British Literature
Even Shakespeare Knew—Great Artists Steal
Here’s a great question we all ask about Shakespeare: Where did Shakespeare get his plots? The man wrote 38 plays, but only one or two seem to have an original plot. […]
British Literature
Why Has Sherlock Holmes Remained So Popular Over the Years?
Sherlock Holmes popularized criminology and forensics investigating in a time when fingerprinting was brand-new. How has Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s impossibly perceptive detective stood the test of time? […]
British Literature
Oscar Wilde’s Role in Literature’s “Aesthetic Movement”
The Aesthetic Movement was an artistic expression of “art for art’s sake.” Disavowing notions of literature’s societal necessity, Oscar Wilde wrote in opposition to Dickensian literature—and influenced generations. […]