I've been seeing lots of success with the recent combined discussions, so I would like to continue the trend for a while longer.
This week does involve a bit of reading, but fear not -- the articles in question are quite short.
As an extra, anyone who posts an answer in Shakespearean English (it must still make sense!) will get some bonus credit; you can find many glossaries online to help with this.
To begin, click the PBS website links to access the biographies of those living in Shakespeare's era. You are encouraged to choose and read at least TWO of the articles to help answer the discussion questions, chosen from the following list:
Discussion Questions (choose only one):
- Choose one of the biographies you read. Which (from your class play) characters' personalities do you believe might have been inspired by this person, and why? Explain your answer with evidence from the article.
- Choose one of the biographies you read. Based on your understanding of Shakespeare and his writing, do you believe that he would have made this individual a hero or a villain in one of his plays, and why? Explain your answer with evidence from the article.
- Out of the four biographies, which individual do you believe had the greatest impact on Shakespeare as a writer, and why? Explain your answer with evidence from your article.
Directions:
- Choose a discussion question, and answer it completely according to the directions. Indicate in your comment which discussion question you are answering.
- Use the pen name you provided at the beginning of the year.
- Use correct spelling and grammar at all times.
- In order to receive an "A," you must not only post your answer, but comment on a peer's ideas as well. Please remain positive and polite when doing so.
- EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN IF YOU WRITE THIS ANSWER IN (UNDERSTANDABLE) SHAKESPEAREAN ENGLISH!
Due Date: This post will remain open for comments and discussion until Monday, April 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM; after this time comments will close.
#2
ReplyDeleteI believe that Henry VIII would be same type of character as lord Capulet. Seeing that lord Capuletnwas a virtuos man and he belived in a multitude of good principles, he also lived a double life away from those virturs. Henry VIII also could be consideted as living a double life, since he "ran into conflicts with the catholic church and its head, the Pope." Any man (or woman) could say that he could not be a hero since henleft his wife to be with a woman that he could not be with. Also seeing that he was a "song writer and dancer," this would show to alot of people that he cpuld have been on the feminine side. His conflicting attributes would more than likely confuse many people, just like the behavior of lord Capulet confused many of my classmates and i during the film. In conclusion, Henry VIII and lord Capulet would habe the same role/part in a shakespearean play
#1
ReplyDeleteWell i think that Elizabeth I was very much an innocent women who was just treated bad by her husband."And so in today's language, Elizabeth was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at Seymour's hands, and psychological cruelty by her father, factors that influenced her relationship with men thereafter, and perhaps go some way to explaining if not excusing some of the political expediency and brutality of her reign." She very much reminds me of Juliet..not because of the abuse but maybe the mental abuse because she knows that her and Romeo shouldn't be together because of their parents rivalry, yet she loved romeo and dealt with all the pain. Later then to her death.
Monroe98:
ReplyDeleteI think that Shakespeare would have portrayed King Henry VIII as a villain because of his extreme ways and his quest to produce a male heir. He was so determined to produce a male heir that he caused tons of murders and even created a whole new religion! Ironically, "an unexpected consequence of his actions was to forge in Elizabeth I one of England's most iconic and influential monarchs." I think that Shakespeare would have played on that and used it as a happy ending to an evil tale.
carmelspidermonkey:
ReplyDeleteDo to my understanding of William Shakespeare, (which is not much) I think He would make Henry VIII a villain in his plays. Henry VIII is a heartless man with no regard for women or life in general. He married a whole lot of women for his own agenda and if the outcome wasn’t what he expected, he would execute them. He executed one of his wives just because she gave birth to a girl instead of a boy. Any one in their right mind, including William, would never make a man like him a hero in any play.
Jams:
ReplyDelete#2 I think Shakespeare would have been more likely to create a villainous character out of King Henry VIII because he "turned the religious order upside down, emptied the country's coffers in fruitless wars France in Scotland, and brutally crushed ascent wherever and whenever it arose," not to mention ordering the murder of multiple wives, simply for not giving him a son (which actually has nothing to do with her genetic contribution); I think it would be difficult for anyone to base a hero off of Henry VIII.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNintendo144gms April 14, 2013 4:24 P.M.
DeleteI agree with that statement, because Henry VIII is more like Tybalt, a dangerous character, than like Benvolio or Romeo, who are benevolent.
I_like_candy
ReplyDeleteI believe that Ben Jonson had the greatest impact on Shakespeare because he "championed Jonson as a writer of note," and because they "spent a great deal of time" together.(I also think that who you spend time with strongly influences you) Jonson had hired Shakespeare to be in "Every Man In His Humor," comedy, and the two became close. "Though their rivalry was strong, and their verbal jibes at each other cutting, both seemed to recognize the talent in each other." Since they had "an almost brotherly relationship," Jonson became Shakespeare's "greatest and most constant critic." I think that Donald is right in that Henry would've played lord Capulet, because lord Capulet hates the Montagues, but likes Romeo.(irony)
poohbear23:
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2
I pick Ben Johnson, I think that Shakespeare would make this character a hero, because Ben looks like an innocent person. And by reading this article Ben is an passionate person he loves girls and like he looks like himself as an champion of intellectualism. He died ass a good person he died in 1637. But Shakespeare will make Ben a good person. And his really a cute boy.
Question #2: I chose Elizabeth I to be a villain because of the struggle and conflict she faced as a young girl. If she was to become a villain, she could turn all that anger and confusion of growing up into hate that she takes out on other people. When Elizabeth was younger, her mother was executed for simply giving birth to a girl and her father died a short time later. She was then abused by her "stepmom's husband" (I guess?) Her troubled childhood could lead into a life of violence if she ever had a reason to become a villain.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Like i said in my published comment, Shakespearean villains always have some kind of odd sense of humanity. This affects their motive and reasoning behind most of the things they do. Elizabeth's past clouded her judgment on many things which might have explained why her behavior was so unpredictable. For example, when she executed her cousin, Mary, she continued to stay in denial that she had every did it. Her decision might have been a spur of a moment thing, not a long thought out decision. This makes her the perfect villain.
Delete#2
ReplyDeleteI would proclaim that I shall be galvanized if Shakespeare hasn't utilized Henry VIII as a character in his plays yet. He was quite the ladies woman, seeing as that he has had six suitors in his lifetime, Catherine of Aragon most notably of them,whom he separated from the Catholic church and established a whole new protestant church, simply so he had the permission to divorce her. He could quite easily be included as part of his tragedies with his tale of his marriage of Anne boleyn and how he divorced Catherin to be with Anne.
From Boxman Jr.
2.) I believe that, from the little that I know of Shakespeare, he would utilize Elizabeth 1 as a villain, but in a discreet way. Shakespeare's works had to appeal to the masses, but he also had to refrain from straight out making a monarch be an antagonist. If I understood Shakespeare's way of writing, he would make the monarch evil, but people would not understand straight away. He would make sure to portray a positive picture, and then create a situation that makes the "character" show it's true characters. She would be a villain as she was a high power, even though preferably better than Henry VII. She wasn't a calm headed ruler, as proved by the brutality she caused on people. Even though she was a good ruler, in Shakespeare's writing, she would be evil because of her status.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Shakespeare is very sneaky about implementing his antagonists. I also believe that Elizabeth I would be a villain, since she caused the death of so many people. However, I believe he would use that as Elizabeth's "mask" since the article states that after Elizabeth killed her cousin, she "never got over this act of regicide."
Delete1. I believe Elizabeth I was an inspiration for Shakespeare's character Viola/Cesario. First of all, both of them were unwanted because of their gender. Henry VIII, Elizabeth I's father, did not want a daughter because he desired a male heir. Likewise, Viola had to become a boy to be able to serve in Orsino's court and not be executed for traveling alone. Also, both Elizabeth I and Viola are unlucky in the area of love. Elizabeth I never married because her emotional scars after Thomas Seymour sexually abused her. Viola also possesses a tragic love story. She loves Orsino, who loves Olivia, but Viola cannot profess her love for Orsino because she must maintain her mask of being a man. To add to that, Orsino sends her to Olivia's estate to convince Olivia to love him, but Olivia falls in love with Viola (who she thinks is Cesario) instead. In conclusion, Shakespeare based the character Violet/Cesario after Elizatbeth I.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Shakespeare would have created King Henry Vlll to be a villain in one of his plays because, "he is the most infamous of all monarchs", as he executed many wives in his thirsty quest for male heir. Plus he "turned the religious order upside down, emptied the country's coffers in fruitless wars with France and Scotland...", which shows that he had done anything and every thing(positive or negative effect) to be heir, with the caring of no one except himself. Being selfish and infamous are big characteristics of the common villain. Thats why Shakespeare would portray him as one.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with "lil_scooby20" King Henry VIII was a very selfish man he only worried about him self and noone else.He was a hard man to please khowing that he executed many wives and was very infamamoos monarch he would be considerd as a Villian for shakespear.
DeleteI agree with you "Hello123", Viola and Elizabeth share many things in common, as in being on the wrong side of love and being neglected by their fathers. Being a female was hard during their time but they overcame it.
ReplyDeleteQuestion#3
ReplyDeleteI believe that Ben Jonson had the greatest impact on Shakespeare as a writer. Ben and Shakespeare's relationship was seen as brotherly "There seems to have been an almost brotherly relationship between Jonson and Shakespeare."
Ben also seemed to recognize Shakespeare's talent as a writer "...both seemed to recognize the talent in each other – Jonson grudgingly, Shakespeare more generously." The article says they spend a lot of time together "They seem to have spent a great deal of time in each other's company."
The article then later states that Ben was one of Shakespeare's critics "Ultimately it was Jonson – perhaps his greatest and most constant critic"
In conlusion, Ben Jonson had the greatest impact on Shakespeare as a writer.
I agree, because of Ben's friendship with Shakespeare, they became close and both of there work were influential to one another's. Which had a huge impact on there lives, not just because they were close, but also because both were "intellectual".
Delete2)In my opinion Shakespeare would've made Christopher Marlowe a villain in one of his plays (even though he was brilliant minded in his work) because he "in person" was "caustic" and easily raged. He also wasn't afraid to speak what he thought or criticize other writers and their work. "Marlowe clearly believed his own press and, as the enfant terrible of English drama at that time, reveled in the dark side and allowed himself to be consumed by it". Which leads up to him becoming the villain, one who operates brilliantly in evil, with a big mouth!
ReplyDeleteNintendo144gms April 14, 2013 5:45 P.M.
ReplyDeleteI thow the character life of Tybalt has been sway by Henry VIII. For Henry VIII was "an enthusiastic wager of war" and came to be "strong and aggressive", like Tybalt of the Romeo & Juliet play, for aggressiveness he has create and he amerce others willingly. Also, Henry VIII "brutally crushed dissent wherever and whenever it arose" and Tybalt quick is he to amerce anyone who fleers his pride. So prone to war they both are and thought themselves to be topless.
I agree with you since the aggressiveness and fierceness of Henry VIII reflects to Tybalt's character.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lord Capulet's personality and lifestyle resembles Henry VIII. One thing that is similar between the two is that they both were high in power. In "Romeo and Juliet" Lord Capulet was ver well known and supreme during that time and "Henry is probably one of the best known, if not most infamous, of all monarchs." So that was one similarity that I noticed between the two people. Another thing I notice were the closeness and similarity and the two men personality's. Both men act kind of stuck up and arrogant. Lord Capulet was very demanding and everything that he said went and that is kind of the same with Henry VII but worse. An example of Henry's behavior was when "When Anne Boleyn", his ex wife, "produced not a son but a daughter, Elizabeth, Henry began to set in motion the accusations of treachery and adultery that would eventually result in Anne's execution and Elizabeth's exile from Court."I found that to be very creul and he also executed several of his other wifes not including an artist whose portrait didn't meet his expectations. So these are reasons why I believe that Lord Capulets personality resembles and is a bit simlar to Henry VIII's.
In a Shakespearean play, Henry VIII would most certainly be a villain without anyone asking inquiries of his crime. He defiantly had a demeanor of a villain the way his body towered over others, (after all he was 6 feet tall, an incredulous size in that era). But what made him a villain more closely related to Shakespeare was the fact that Henry VIII was a well-known historical figure, (which was something he usually sought for), unpredictability in behavior, an unreasonable motive, and a frightening insight of what we beings are capable of. Henry VIII, however, left out one of the most important key details: humanity. Nearly every character, even the villains that the great Shakespeare designed, was oddly humane and sometimes sympathetic. Henry VIII not only expressed no sympathy for mercilessly executing five out of six of his wives, but no humanity was ever expressed during his reign.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2
DeleteI agree with you that he does resembles shake Spears characters because of the characteristics Henry the 8th had. People of that era did influenced his writing.
Delete2
ReplyDeleteI think Shakespeare would have made Henry VIII a hero/person that affects other characters/middle man since he had morals yet would betray them to get what he needed. He would show a "six feet tall, strong and aggressive" "young man" character capable of affecting the plot in any play. Henry may have been the inspiration of Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet.
2
ReplyDeleteI think he would have made HenryVIII a villain because he was evil and married a lot of women. He would be a villain because he was described as a "six feet tall, and aggressive young man." he would probably be acquaintanced with Tybalt because the biography made him look evil
I think that the person that most influenced Shakespeare is Ben Jonson, because in the article "Ben Jonson" it says, "Jonson's first box office successes came about with comedies like "Every Man In His Humour," which featured Shakespeare in the cast." I think that if Shakespeare was an actor for Ben Jonson then the way that Ben wrote plays and acted them would greatly influence how he writes. Also in this article it states," There seems to have been an almost brotherly relationship between Jonson and Shakespeare.", and from experience I can tell you that if you are very close to someone that you can call them brother or sister, the influence you very much.=
ReplyDeletespiderman48
Question 2
ReplyDeleteJeremy,
I think Shakespeare would make King Henry viii a villain in his plays/ stories because "During his reign Henry VIII had turned the religious order upside down, emptied the country's coffers in fruitless wars with France and Scotland, and brutally crushed dissent wherever and whenever it arose." It will be quite difficult for people to trust him and give him a big roll I think..
#1 Choose one of the biographies you read. Which (from your class play) characters' personalities do you believe might have been inspired by this person, and why? Explain your answer with evidence from the article.
ReplyDeleteKing Henry VIII was an inspiration for Shakespeare's character Claudius from Hamlet. "Henry became king after the death of his brother Arthur, and took his sibling's widow, Catherine of Aragon, as his own wife,", Claudius also married his brother's widow. Claudius also resembles Henry in his harshness towards women. Henry often neglected his wife at the time and Claudius is rude to every women in the play of Hamlet. Shakespeare based his character Claudius off of the harsh King Henry VIII.
AC
#3. I think Christopher Marlowe has impacted Shakespear the most because he is kinda shares the characteristics of some of his characteristics. But he also "failing to make the successful steps to a history play which would make Shakespear a star" (pbs) Marlowe's flopps made Shakespear bigger because their competition. They lived in the same era as each other. He made Shakespear look like the better writer.
ReplyDeleteReally good job I think your is my favorite one, I really like how you Oder thing
Delete#2 I think Henry VIII would be a villian Shakespear would use. "Henry is probably one of the best khown,if not most infamous of all monarchs,Phisically commanding at six feet tall, strong and agressive".Henry already has a "Villian" appearance and he has no heart for any woman all of whom he married he has been dissapointed with some or they have been "Executed" beacuse of him. Over all henry was a very bad man and woUld make an awsome "Villian"
ReplyDeleteIt was good but you need to explain a little more next time but overall good job
DeleteHenry VIII reminds me of Tybalt because Henry didn't let anything get in his and he didn't care what happen to others because he was ''an enthusiastic wager of war'', being strong and aggressive like Tybalt. Tybalt protects his pride like Henry did not letting anyone make mockery of their name.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with u and really good job but make it a bit longer
DeleteQuestion 2
ReplyDeleteI think that if Henry VIII would be a villain for Shakespeare, he would probably us Henry VIII in one of is play cal othello and he would be iago the villan of that play. Henry VIII would be a great villan here because he turn against his own religion and is in the army as well as iago
I think Ben Jonson is the character that most influenced Shakespeare because in the article "Ben Jonson" it says "Jonson's first box office successes came about with comedies like, "Every Man In His Humor," This particular play featured Shakespeare. Since Shakespeare was an actor for Ben Jonson, I believe it had an affect on how he write his plays. The article say "There seems to have been an almost brotherly relationship between Jonson and Shakespeare." I agree with John Greysworth
ReplyDelete#2
ReplyDeleteFrom what i read, I believe that Elizabeth I would be hero. She is the type of person who had the wisdom to make right choices even if at times she didn't. In some aspects of her, people might consider her evil because of her brutality. However, she was "highly intelligent" and didn't take things for granted. I am convinced of this because when she heard the news of her having the crown, she replied by saying "'This is the Lord's doing.'" Elizabeth I is an overall good person.
Henry VIII would be a villian Shakespeare would use, Henry VIII would make a great villan here because he goes against his own religion as well as iago, he has the features to be a great villain tall ,evil, sly you name it hes go it people know not to trust him so it would be a great antagonists.
ReplyDelete#1
ReplyDeletelord capulet life style resemble henry lll. both of them have similar power lord capulet was still one of the most demanding and most powerful among all the people in shakespeare,"Henry is probably one of the best known, if not most infamous, of all monarchs."Both men act kind of stuck up and arrogant.Elizabeth was an inspiration for Shakespeare's character Viola/Cesario.
#2 Henry Vlll reminds me of Tybalt because they both are villains and would do anything just to kill someone especially someone they don't like. they would both be villains in Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 3
ReplyDeleteChristopher Marlowe is believe had the greatest impact on Shakespeare as a writer because Marlowe had change the way poetry was in the 1580s and he meet Romeo in a paly. "Marlowe popularized a change in the way poetry was written, heavily influenced by Latin, and by the late 1580s his way of writing was the state of the art, to which almost all other writers aspired".
Iloveham23: #3
ReplyDeleteI think that Elizabeth I had the greatest impact on Shakespeare because in the article it said that Elizabeth loved the theatre and poetry. Shakespeare wrote many plays and was known for his poetry. The article also said that Elizabeth composed sonnets and loved “the classics”. I think that when Shakespeare found out that the Queen was interested in the art, like him himself, he admired that about her. He probably wanted to impress her with his plays, which would later become “classics”. Shakespeare’s plays were actually performed at The Elizabethan Theatre, where Queen Elizabeth would go frequently to see his plays.
jh
ReplyDeleteI answered number #2
I think that he is a Hero, he doesn't give the impression that he is a bad person or evil. Maybe if he didn't have innocent face, or look about him then I would think twice about if he is good or bad.
You never know by the look of him but to me look's don't tell everything about a person Good, Or Bad.