FINDING OUT ABOUT SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS AND TIMES
How can I learn more about Shakespeare's Plays
A Midsummer Night's Dream,
and
Macbeth?
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Internet Links
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PLOT: I'm finding the plot complicated. Is there a summary?
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
An excellent modern summary has been written by Amy Ulen. She
weaves the story in with quotes from the play. Just click here (this loads
slowly with a dial-up connection):
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http://www.shakespearehigh.com/library/surfbard/plays/mnd/mnd_summary.html
Charles and Mary Lamb wrote up summaries of many of Shakespeares plays for
students. They wrote in 1806, and provide a more detailed summary than the
other two. Just click here:
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http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/lambtales/LTMND.HTM
MACBETH
*A Charles and Mary Lamb summary of Macbeth is here:
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http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/lambtales/LTMACB.HTM
Modern summary of Macbeth
http://www.alchemistmatt.com/shakespeare/macbeth.html
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VOCABULARY: I would like to find out more about the meaning of some of the
words Shakespeare uses in the play. Is there someplace I can look?
There are versions of the play available on-line, which includes a
glossary. You can click on words and phrases that are highlighted and be
linked to the explanation/definition.
A Midsummer Nights Dream is here:
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http://quarles.unbc.ca/midsummer/midsummer1.html
Macbeth with hyperlinks to help you understand vocabulary:
Hint: click on the act you want to read on the right of the screen
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http://library.thinkquest.org/2888/
Here is a glossary (mini-dictionary) for looking up Shakespeares words.
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http://www.acepilots.com/bard/ws_word.html
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WORD COUNTS: Shakespeare uses so many words that are different from words
we use today. Is there any place where I can look at word counts for this
play?
Yes! A group of students at Mt. Ararat High School created a
program to count up the number of times each word was used in each play.
Click here, and find out which words were used frequently in different plays:
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http://www.mta75.org/curriculum/english/Shakes/index.html
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PERFORMANCE: Is there information about music, dance and other things
relating to the performance of one of Shakespeare's plays?
Click here:
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http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/theatre.htm#Aspects
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GLOBE THEATRE: For pictures and virtual tours of the Globe Theatre, see the
following websites.
This is from the official Globe website (it was completely rebuilt). This
is a virtual reality tour. IMPORTANT: Click on Exhibition, then Theatre
Tours, and then Virtual Tour.
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http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/abouttheglobe/virtualtour
For stills of virtual reality tour:
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http://virtual.clemson.edu/caah/shakespr/VRGLOBE/tourst.php
Another movie virtual reality (takes a L O O O N G time to load if using
dial-up connection):
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http://virtual.clemson.edu/caah/shakespr/VRGLOBE/VRGlobe.php
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RENAISSANCE LIFE: For information about what life was like during
Elizabethan times, check here:
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http://elizabethan.org/
Another excellent website about renaissasnce life:
Hint: Click on Society, Life, Drama, Stage, Ideas
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http://ise.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/intro/introsubj.html
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The original texts - what they look like - how they've changed
http://www.bl.uk/treasures/shakespeare/homepage.html
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REFERENCE: I just want to know lots more. Where should I start? Is there
a good place to start my search for more information about Shakespeare and
his works?
The premiere website, with links to many other great sites, is
available at:
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http://shakespeare.palomar.edu
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Plays on-line: I like to read on-line. Is there a place where I can find
the plays on-line? This spot also allows you to find lines for just one
character.
One excellent source for Shakespeare's work on-line is available at:
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http://opensourceshakespeare.org/
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The Shakespeare Stealer
Lots of cool information
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/cuesheet/pdf/KCSHA.pdf
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Plot summaries and one-minute student productions of Shakespeare's plays
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/60secondshakespeare/index.shtml
Books
Books: There are, of course, many books about Shakespeare, his times, and
his plays, too. Check out your local library, and enjoy.