Young gentlemen flock to him every day and fleet the time carelessly as they did in the golden world How does Shakespeare explore the notion of an idealised past in As you like it

'Young gentlemen flock to him every day and fleet the time carelessly as they did in the golden world' - How does Shakespeare explore the notion of an idealised past in As you like it Shakespeare constructs the world of the Forest as a representation of a golden past; the 'golden era' in which man can 'fleet the time carelessly'. This falls in line with classic pastoral mode by suggesting an absence of time within the Arcadian space. In addition, the 'Gentlemen' become 'merry men' and 'live like the old Robin hood of England', suggesting an attempt to emulate and romanticise the fact that they, like Robin Hood, are both outlaws and in the wilds like Robin Hood. The fact that Shakespeare chose the English folk-legend of Robin Hood suggests a degree of focus on the nature of a conscious, nostalgic desire in the men to see themselves as noble outlaws who reject the modern offerings of the 'pompous court'. It also arguably suggests an element of fantasy, a construction, the fact that Robin Hood is but a myth might also infer that their escape into the past is also one. Another example of how the Forest shuns the modern world of the court is through the supposed abolition of hierarchy; Duke Senior refers to his comrades as his 'brothers in exile'. This crucially means that the relationship between Duke Senior and his 'merry men' is one of necessary friendship, as compared to the

  • Word count: 974
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Genre Defense of Shakespeare's As You Like It

Christen Hall Fine Art: Theatre Mr. Eric Phillips December 8, 2004 Genre Defense of Shakespeare's As You Like It "As You Like It represents, together with Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night, the summation of Shakespeare's achievement in festive, happy comedy during the years 1598-1601," proclaims David Bevington his The Complete Works of Shakespeare (288). Bevington is obviously not the first editor to have categorized Shakespeare's plays. In fact, part of the plays' popularity might be based upon the fact that audiences know what to expect when they begin viewing the productions. For example, As You Like It's title hints that audiences should expect the play to end happily. This play's name is not, however, all that helps classify it as a comedy. Every element of the play drips with comedic elements, as Shakespeare characteristically critiques love, while highlighting the pastoral motif. The theme of the play is an obvious remark on its classification. Shakespeare exploits literary convention by mocking the foolishness love generates in us all. Kenneth Muir, in Shakespeare's Comic Sequence, declares, "His [Shakespeare's] lovers-Rosalind, Orlando, Celia, Oliver and Phoebe-would all make answer to Marlowe's question 'Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?' with a chorus of 'No one.'(88)" Each of the characters do and say impulsive things based solely

  • Word count: 1580
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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As You Like It: The presentation of the theme's of love

As You Like It Coursework Examine the presentation of the theme of Love in 'As You Like It'. 'As You Like It' is written by William Shakespeare and is one of his most well known and successful plays. Love is a central theme and Shakespeare uses many different styles and writing techniques to present it via the characters in the play; form and structure also contribute greatly to the presentation of love. Love comes in a number of different forms. There is the romantic hero-heroine love between Rosalind and Orlando in which they fall in 'love at first sight', woo and then they are married, unrequited love with Silvius and Phoebe, Touchstone and Audrey's seductive love, family ties and love shared between Rosalind and Celia and Adam and Orlando. Rosalind and Orlando's relationship is not a typical hero-heroine love, Shakespeare adds to it with Rosalind's strong personality and with the humour brought on by the relationship between Orlando and Ganymede (Rosalind's Guise). The way that the two meet is traditional to a typical hero-heroine love, Rosalind is won over by Orlando's good looks and masculinity at the wrestling match with the Court's wrestler, Charles, they fall in love at 'first sight', which is shown for the most part through the language used- Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown more than your enemies' 'what passion hangs these weights upon my tongue?',

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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In what ways does this passage contribute to your view of the friendship between Rosalind and Celia?

In what ways does this passage contribute to your view of the friendship between Rosalind and Celia? This passage is an extremely important part to the play, as it is when Rosalind and Celia decide to leave and go to the Forest of Arden. Celia's father, Rosalind's uncle threatens Rosalind and banishes her from his court. We see, in this passage, just how close Rosalind and Celia are, not just as cousins but as friends too. It is easy to tell that they are friends but all friends have their problems. In this case Celia is a very loving and caring cousin who appears to want to do anything for her friend, whereas Rosalind seems a little bit more laid back and relaxed. I shall explore the relationship between them, how they treat each other. This particular passage is very emotional; Rosalind is concerned and worried about what's going to happen to her and Celia willing to give up everything for her cousin. At the beginning of this passage, we can tell from Rosalind's short answers that she is very depressed; 'I have more cause', 'That he hath not'. The short and blunt answers show how much Rosalind is suffering. There is also a contrast in how Rosalind speaks compared to how Celia speaks. When Celia answers Rosalind, she speaks very passionately. 'For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale, say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee' We can tell just how much Celia

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Support the view that Shakespeare is examining different kinds of love and marriage in As You Like It

Matthew Taylor 10A GCSE English As You Like It 10-4-2002 Support the view that Shakespeare is examining different kinds of love and marriage in this play? In the play As You Like It there are quite a few different types of love. There are four sexual relationships in the play, all of which have different varieties, or examples of love The main couple in the play are Rosalind and Orlando. They first meet in a wrestling match that Orlando has been entered in against Charles. Rosalind notices him for his good looks and youth, and because of this is concerned he will be hurt. Orlando wins the match though and as a token Rosalind gives Orlando her necklace. Orlando instantly falls in love with Rosalind when he first sees her and is stuck for what to say to her, "Can I not say, 'I thank you'? My better parts are all Thrown down, and that which here stands up is but a Quintain, mere lifeless block." Rosalind then runs off into the forest of Arden dressed as a man called Ganymede. Orlando also flees to the forest where he writes ridiculous love poems and posts them on trees for Rosalind to find. Rosalind, dressed as Ganymede, then becomes friends with Orlando and gives him advice on ways to go about asking her to marry him. She does this by pretending to be Rosalind while dressed as Ganymede. This is so Orlando does not recognise it is her. This can get quite confusing at

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Explore some of the dramatic and linguistic means by which Shakespeare presents various aspects of love in As You Like It

Explore some of the dramatic and linguistic means by which Shakespeare presents various aspects of love in As You Like It The play "As you like it" was at the beginning of the 17th century and in this era, audiences were fascinated by language and Shakespeare capitalised on this by creating a play that focuses on the use of language and drama to portray different aspects of love through many of the characters. The hero-heroine relationship between Orlando and Rosalind is the antithesis of the petrachan love of Silvius and Phoebe. I have chosen two extracts that I feel demonstrate Shakespeare's use of drama and language to represent a variety of relationships. The first extract is the exchange between Orlando and Rosalind in act three scene two. The conversation is in prose and the language used by both characters is specific to their type of love. The second extract follows on from this scene and occurs between Touchstone and Audrey. The fact that the second extract follows on immediately after the first exaggerates the antithesis between the characters and their attitudes regarding love and highlights the fact that Shakespeare has used language to show different forms of love. The first passage takes place in the forest and is the first occasion when Orlando and Rosalind are alone together. At this point in the play, Rosalind has assumed the identity of Ganymede, yet

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"As you like it". What does Rosalinds disguise suggest about the fluidity or fixity of gender in the play?

Q. What does Rosalind’s disguise suggest about the fluidity or fixity of gender in the play? Ans. Rosalind’s disguise as Ganymede, a shepherd’s boy, is liberating; it allows her a special kind of freedom. Her disguise was required only so that she could reach the safety of the forest, however, she chose to keep the disguise and even befriends Orlando, who thinks “Ganymede”, is actually a teenage boy. Gender, in As You Like It, is culpable to change. Its fluidity is a result of the effect of one’s surroundings on their character and personality. After Duke Frederick banishes his niece, Rosalind, for the crime of being her father’s daughter, Rosalind and Celia decide to exile themselves to the Forest of Arden. However, the question remains as to how they will travel to the forest, considering that, “beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.” In order to conceal herself from the savagery of thieves and robbers, Rosalind must take on the disguise of a male figure in order to hide her womanly qualities. It is suggested here that gender is susceptible to change in order to suit ones needs. Rosalind disguises herself as a teenage shepherd, Ganymede, so as to not attract attention from assailants as a woman could; as Celia says, “…so shall we pass along, and never stir assailants.” However, even after the safe passage of Rosalind and Celia into the Forest

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Shakespeare creates dramatic patterns by making characters equivalent or contrasting in As You Like it to craete dramatic action

Njeri Muhia Mrs. Muthama Literature Shakespeare creates Dramatic patterns by making characters equivalent or contrasting in dramatic functions. CHARACTERS: Oliver and Duke Fredrik There are characteristics that individual’s share that lead them to make similar decisions and actions, and in the parallelism that Shakespeare uses in As You Like It, characters are almost identical in personality and action in the play. Duke Frederick’s and Oliver’s characterization is profoundly similar, both characters being villainous tyrants as well as avaricious and devious, this equivalency further strengthens theme of darkness and greed in the play, and creates patterns in their personal relations. The villainous and treacherous personalities of Duke Frederick and Oliver are what Shakespeare uses to emphasize the themes of greed, usurpation and deception. These characters are closely interlinked and by having them be equivalent only shows how dominant these themes are to the play as well as illustrate Shakespeare’s subtle intention of highlighting his own dark perception of society at the time. When the audience is first introduced to Oliver, it becomes clear that he is a hostile character, ‘His horses are bred better’ than his own younger brother. Furthermore, his dark nature is further described when he has no real reason for hating Orlando, yet he ‘hates nothing

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Imagine that you have the Opportunity to Direct a Production of As You Like It.

Imagine that you have the Opportunity to Direct a Production of As You Like It Write an Analysis of Act IV Scene iii of the Play Commenting on Performance Issues, Arising in this Scene. Relate These Issues to the play as a Whole, Discussing where relevant Any Social, Historical or Cultural Matters I am writing an analysis on act IV scene iii. I am setting it in the 21st century, modern. However, they will all speak in the language of Shakespeare. I have set it in the modern times, so it appeals to more of the younger generations. The theme of this play is based around love, betrayal, peace, rivalry, enmity and court versus country. Examples of these, love, it is all around the play, Orlando and Rosalind and ultimately characters like Oliver and Celia. Betrayal, Duke Fredrick kicked his own brother out of the court. Rivalry, there is major sibling rivalry between Orlando and Oliver. Peace, when Orlando seen his brother in trouble, he helps him, despite the past. The parts, which are set in the forest in the original play, will now be set in a huge meadow, with long grass and 500 foot trees surrounding it. The meadow will have a very "hippie" feel to it. The parts in the palace will be set in a huge mansion off the coast of the English Channel. The huge mansion instead of having the conventional acres of greenery will have a beachside equivalent. It will be a

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Consider the importance of family relationships in 'As You Like It'. Explain how Shakespeare presents various family relationships. Comment on what the play suggests about conflict or harmony between generations.

Consider the importance of family relationships in 'As You Like It'. - Explain clearly how Shakespeare presents various family relationships. - Comment on what the play suggests about conflict or harmony between generations. 'As You Like It' depends largely on the portrayal of relationships for an array of purposes; the relationships provide comedy for the audience, and induce empathy and various other emotions. There are many family relationships in 'As You Like It', varying from parent and child bonds to husband and wife commitments - there are many new such commitments at the end of the play. Firstly, I shall discuss the importance of the father-daughter relationships between Duke Senior and Rosalind, and Duke Frederick and Celia. The second scene of the play details Rosalind mourning her banished father, which makes the audience realise the caring qualities in her nature: "Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure." However, her loss is soon forgotten when she meets Orlando. This represents that young adults are attached to their parents to a certain extent, but are often forgotten when other interests come into play, for example love interests. Critics could argue that this suggests that this family relationship is not particularly important in 'As You Like It'. However, this

  • Word count: 757
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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