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Although one of his lesser known plays, Shakespeare's considerable abilities as a playwright are readily apparent in "Troilus and Cressida." This historical and tragic 'problem play', thought to be inspired by Chaucer, Homer, and some of Shakespeare's history-recording contemporaries, is initially a tale of a man and woman in love during the Trojan War. When Cressida is given to the Greeks in exchange for a prisoner of war, Troilus is determined to...
2) King John
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First published in the "First Folio" in 1623 and likely written in the 1590s, "King John" is one of William Shakespeare's best historical plays. It centers on the events of King John's reign of England during the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. King John, son of Henry I of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, inherits the throne after the death of his older brother, King Richard I. John's claim to the throne is challenged by the King of...
3) Poetics
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Greek philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, lived in the 4th century B.C. and is thought of as one of the most important figures from classical antiquity. Aristotle was probably the most famous member of Plato's Academy in Athens, whose writings would ultimately form the first comprehensive system of Western philosophy. His writings were not constrained to simply one field of inquiry but covered such various subjects as physics, biology, metaphysics,...
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While successful plays tend to share certain storytelling elements, there is no single blueprint for how a play should be constructed. Instead, seasoned playwrights know how to select the right elements for their needs and organize them in a structure that best supports their particular story.
Through his workshops and book “The Dramatic Writer's Companion”, Will Dunne has helped thousands of writers develop successful scripts. Now, in “The...
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Accelerated Reader
IL: UG - BL: 8.6 - AR Pts: 4
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Love's Labours Lost - William Shakespeare - Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to forswear the company of women for three years of study and fasting, and their subsequent infatuation with the Princess of Aquitaine and her ladies. In...
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Bosom buddies Valentine and Proteus bid a tearful farewell on a street in Verona. Valentine is off to improve himself, venturing out to see the world, while Proteus stays home in Verona, tied by his love for Julia. After Valentine departs, his servant, Speed, enters. Proteus inquires whether or not Speed delivered a letter to Julia, to which Speed replies affirmatively. Julia, meanwhile, asks her maid, Lucetta, with which man she should fall in love,...
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Shakespeare was acutely aware of our intimate struggles with aging. His dramatic characters either prosper or suffer according to their relationship with maturity, and his sonnets eloquently explore time's ravaging effects. "Wrinkled deep in time" is how the queen describes herself in Antony and Cleopatra, and at the end of King Lear, there is a tragic sense that both the king and Gloucester have acquired a wisdom they otherwise lacked at the beginning...
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From Aristotle's Poetics to Vaclav Havel, the debate about the nature and function of theatre has been marked by controversy. Daniel Gerould's landmark work, Theatre/Theory/Theatre, collects history's most influential Eastern and Western dramatic theorists - poets, playwrights, directors and philosophers - whose ideas about theatre continue to shape its future. In complete texts and choice excerpts spanning centuries, we see an ongoing dialogue and...
9) Rosalind
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Played by a boy actor in 1599, Rosalind is a girl who gets into men's clothes so that she can investigate the truth about love. Both male and female, imaginary and real, her intriguing duality gives her a special role.
This highly original biography of Rosalind contains exclusive new interviews with Juliet Rylance, Sally Scott, Janet Suzman, Juliet Stevenson, Michelle Terry, award-winning director Blanche McIntyre, as well as insights from Michael...
10) Life Is a Dream
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The death of Pedro Calderon de la Barca near the end of the 17th century marked the end of Spain's Golden Age of literary and artistic excellence. Pedro Calderon de la Barca immense popularity and mastery of Spanish drama has earned him notoriety as the national dramatist of Spain. Although he came from a family of lower nobility, his theater is often associated with the royal court, as he presented many plays in the palace of Philip IV. His best...
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John Guare, one of the most innovative and influential contemporary American playwrights of the last sixty years, is best known for such works as House of Blue Leaves, winner of an Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play, and four Tony Awards, and Six Degrees of Separation, recipient of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play and the Olivier Best Play Award and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize...
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"Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a captivating Spanish play that explores the blurred lines between reality and illusion. The story delves into the adventures of Segismundo, a prince imprisoned from birth, who grapples with questions of fate, free will, and the nature of dreams. As he awakens to the world beyond his cell, the play unfolds with rich symbolism, challenging the audience to ponder the significance of...
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"The Painter of His Own Dishonour" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish drama. It depicts the downfall of nobleman Raimundo due to false accusations. Betrayal, deceit, and honor clash as Raimundo's life unravels. Through intense dialogue and intricate plot, the play explores themes of justice, loyalty, and human flaws. Calderón's poetic language delves into moral complexity, delivering a cautionary tale about self-inflicted downfall and the...
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"The Mayor of Zalamea" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish Golden Age play. It tells the story of Pedro Crespo, a humble mayor, who stands up for justice when a nobleman dishonors his daughter. The play explores themes of social class, honor, and justice. Through dramatic confrontations and moral dilemmas, Calderón delves into the complexities of human nature and societal values. This timeless work reflects the enduring struggle for fairness...
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"Gil Pérez, the Gallician" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish play. Mysterious time-traveler Gil appears in Madrid dressed as a Galician soldier from centuries ago. His arrival disrupts events, triggering intrigue and confusion. Through witty exchanges and fantastical elements, the play delves into time's fluidity and human nature's constants. Calderón explores the intersection of past and present, blurring reality's borders, offering a...
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"Keep Your Own Secret" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish play. Rosaura disguises herself as a man to escape a vengeful suitor, leading to tangled love triangles. Calderón delves into themes of gender roles, identity, and honor. Amidst humor and mistaken identities, the play unveils society's constraints and personal truths. Through witty dialogue and theatrical twists, it underscores the complexity of relationships and self-discovery, making...
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"Beware of Smooth Water" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a captivating Spanish play from the 17th century. The story revolves around the complex dynamics of love and honor. The protagonist, Arsenio, finds himself torn between his love for Marcela and his sense of duty to his father. Marcela, a strong-willed woman, grapples with her own desires and societal expectations. As the plot unfolds, misunderstandings, secrets, and betrayals threaten to shatter...
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"Three Judgments at a Blow" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish play. A king's decree sends a witty shoemaker on a journey of three tasks, testing his resourcefulness. With humor and clever wordplay, Calderón explores themes of justice, wit, and societal hierarchy. The shoemaker's triumphs reveal human ingenuity, highlighting the power of the common man. This comic tale, through entertaining plot twists and allegorical elements, imparts a...
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The Cherry Orchard (1903) is Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov's final play. It was first performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1904, directed by acclaimed actor Konstantin Stanislavski-who also played the role of Leonid Gayev, the bizarre and uninspired brother of Madame Ranevskaya. It has since become one of twentieth century theater's most important-and most frequently staged-dramatic works.
After five years of living in...
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