Discuss the treatment of love in As You Like It, illustrating your argument with detailed reference to the text

Module Title: Shakespeare Module Number: E103/2 Module Tutor: Linda Ruhemann Assignment Title: As You Like It Discuss the treatment of love in As You Like It, illustrating your argument with detailed reference to the text In the romantic comedy As You Like It, Shakespeare explores many aspects of love from lustful, bawdy love to non-sexual same sex love. In this play Shakespeare has given a tradition romantic story with a 'happy-ever-after' ending for all the main characters, which was common to this era in romantic plays. Love in this play is treated as a multi-faceted emotion that does not express life in black and white. Shakespeare allows the emotion of love to be illustrated as the all-encompassing emotion it is known to be, including all the emotions that are expressed because of love. One of the first realisations of love witnessed in As You Like It is between Rosalind and Celia. When Duke Frederick banishes his niece, Rosalind from the Court, his daughter Celia is determined to also follow: CELIA: ...... Rosalind lacks then the love Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one. The love between Rosalind and Celia is a close devotional love that is non-physical. Celia sees herself and Rosalind as one when Rosalind is banished and therefore believes herself banished also. Her love for Rosalind is deeper than her love for her father whom she willingly

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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In what ways does Miller use Willy's last day to raise questions about the validity of the American Dream?

Henry Bain In what ways does Miller use Willy's last day to raise questions about the validity of the American Dream? Death of a salesman primarily deals with the importance of consumerism and materialism, surpassing seemingly antiquated views and in this case, destroying a man who has failed in the attainment of "The American Dream." The fact that Willy dies in the play shows the effect that the delusion of unattainable greatness has on society and contradicts those who endorse it. Willy's financial status leads him to madness, talking constantly to himself and switching constantly between images of the present and past. He is more at ease with the potential and the once opportunities of the past than the difficulties and now missed opportunities of the present. He tells Charley in act 2 that after all the trains, and the appointments, and the years, "you end up worth more dead than alive." Willy seeks to justify everything in monetary terms, going as far as putting a price on his life. Charley tells Willy that no man is worth "nothin' dead," showing that a successful man can see that there is more to life than money, yet a man like Willy is constantly reminded of his inadequacy and can see nothing beyond material gain. Willy, who has failed to achieve what he wanted, lives vicariously through his sons, encouraging them to pursue money rather than happiness. When

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Account for the continuing popularity of ‘Death of a Salesman’ as a stage play.

Account for the continuing popularity of 'Death of a Salesman' as a stage play. 'Death of a Salesman' is a play that has come to redefine the concept of modern tragedy, whilst simultaneously enrapturing audiences around the globe. A challenge to Philip Sydney's judgement that 'tragedy concerneth a high fellow'i, 'Death of a Salesman' is the tragedy of the common man, tragedy of Willy low man. 'One of the major texts in our time'ii, 'Death of a Salesman' does not follow the traditional Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. This has ignited passionate debate among critics as to whether it is a tragedy at all, whilst ensuring its position and popularity as the epitome of what has been dubbed 'modern tragedy'. It is not the fall of a great man through a predestined flaw (hamartia), and it has been argued that Willy even lacks the self-knowledge to be a true tragic hero. Willy is a man of 'massive dreams', not high stature, although Biff calls him a 'prince', drawing comparison with Hamlet. His self-knowledge is present, countering those who claim to the contrary. It is clearly contained in the lines 'I'm fat. I'm very - foolish' (of himself) and 'I'm always in a race with the junk yard' (of payment of manufactured goods). His flaw lies in his determination to see material wealth as the only path to success. He is swallowed by 'the corporate dream machine'iii. The idea of the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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To What Perspective are The Witches responsible for Macbeth's Attitudes and Behaviour

Greed and Ambition, Until Which Point can we consider them something good? By Juan Pablo Cáceres Vásquez Shakespeare's developed many stories into excellent dramatization for the Elizabethan stage. He knew how to entertain and absorb the audience with dynamic plots and the clever use of imagery, and versatile characters. Macbeth is an action packed, psychological thriller1 that has not lost impact in nearly four hundred years. All of Shakespeare's plays have a stylistic device that makes them unique and specials. The use of alliteration2, similes3, metaphor, etc., makes each play unique and magnificent. Foreshadowing is one of the most present and important literary devices in the play, this can be observed when the witches set the tone in act I, scene 1 with a storm and the predictions that Macbeth's life will become so confused he will find it difficult to differentiate between right and wrong, "Fair is foul, and foul is fare:"4. I can also say that the opening of the play with thunder and lighting when the witches entered, sets the mood of the play, the reader and mainly the audience can predict how the rest of the play is going to be. How? You can ask to yourself how is the play is going to be? Comedy? Tragedy? Another stylistic feature of Shakespeare's plays is the use of Blank Verse, which resembles the natural rhythm of spoken English. Macbeth is not the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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In Tennyson's poem 'The Lotus Eaters' how do ideas of realism and nature interweave? Draw on different cultural traditions for that.

In Tennyson's poem 'The Lotus Eaters' how do ideas of realism and nature interweave? Draw on different cultural traditions for that. Tennyson's poem the 'Lotus Eaters' tells us of the conflict between nature and realism, with nature being represented by the world of lotus-eaters, and the real world that of toil and struggle. It is this intertwining of these two worlds that present us with the main conflict of the poem. In order to compare the two we must look at nature as represented by the lotus, in comparison with the 'real' world of work and toil. First however we shall look at the context of the poem itself. The poem is derived from Homer's Odyssey where Ulysses and his mariners on the homeward journey to Ithaca encounter the land of the Lotus Eater's, the tale goes on to say that Ulysses bade 3 of his men to journey inland in search of men and food. We are told the effect of the lotus had on those of his crewmen that ate them 'their only wish to linger there with the lotus eaters, grazing on lotus, all memory of their journey home lost forever'. It is this desire of his crewmen that inspired the choric song in the Lotus Eaters by Lord Tennyson. The lotus, or rather the enchantment encountered after eating a lotus is a representation of nature, in the sense that it is the opposite of toil. The lotus-eaters wish to be like the God's 'careless of mankind'. The

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'?

Q. What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'? Shakespeare uses a wide range of effective devices in his presentation of deception through the course of "Much Ado About Nothing". These include strong elements of plot construction and characterisation, as well as effective imagery through various sound and visual techniques. The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an intricate network of scandalous schemes and friendly trickeries. Deception is a rampant theme in the play - each of the major characters is involved in at least one deception - and Shakespeare uses this theme to advance character development through the play, as well as provide comic distraction from the more serious tone present towards the dénouement. Within the matrix of deception ploys in the play, there is also an underlying theme of self-deception, involving some of the most significant characters. Furthermore, all through the play, there is a subtle undercurrent of error. People are often misled by appearances; they make mistakes about others and themselves and can be quite wrong in their judgements of situations. Such failures in understanding are used by Shakespeare to consolidate the setting for plotting and trickery. Also, this theme of misconception is cunningly mirrored by the title of the play: in the context of the play, 'nothing' can be

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Shylock: Villain or Victim in the Merchant of Venice

Jeremy Rodriguez English 152 "Merchant of Venice" 3-6-00 SHYLOCK: VILLAIN OR VICTIM In the "The Merchant of Venice," all of the characters can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. The perspective that one takes therefore directly influences one's point of view on that character. No character fits this theory more than Shylock. Shylock, and his role as a Jewish moneylender, has been analyzed from many different perspectives. He is viewed as a villain by some, a victim by others, but a man to be pitied by both. On the surface Shylock appears to be cruel and unforgiving. However once one begins to analyze the play he begins to find out the "whys." To figure out these "whys" one must thoroughly research both sides of the argument as to whether or not he was a victim or villain. Once one does this they are able to come up with their own educated and valid opinion about this complex character. When one first gets done reading "The Merchant of Venice" a feeling of dislike for Shylock emerges on the reader. He appears to be the major antagonist of the play. He is cunning, unmerciful, and greedy. His cunning capabilities are first seen when he makes the deal with Antonio. He says, "Let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me" (Act I, Scene 3). Antonio, thinking that Shylock is either

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Foreboding in Romeo and Juliet

Throughout this play, there is a constant under current of foreboding. We are frequently reminded of the tragic consequences facing Romeo and Juliet. We are first see this in the prologue of the play. We are immediately given the sense that this is not the happy love story we are expecting. The line which says ' A pair of star crossed lovers take their life;' suggests that the play will end in tragedy. The characters in this play believe that all their actions are controlled by the sun and fate. By telling us that the Romeo and Juliet were star crossed, it seems that they are destined to go against fate. We are also told that their love is marked by death. Already at this early stage of the play, we are can see that all will end in disaster. We can predict the outcome of the play in advance from just reading this small passage. In Act1 scene IV of the play, Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and Horatio are about to attend a ball a Capulets House. Being Montague's, they should not be going. Romeo seems in a very depressed mood, due to his feelings for Rosaline. After Romeo has spoken, Mercutio gives a very long enchanting speech. There is a great influence of fairies, fate, fortune, luck and stars. Again, we are reminded of the nature of the play. Romeo says ' I fear, too early; for my mind misgives/ Some consequence...' Romeo has a bad feeling about the evening to

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Henry V - History of a Hero?

Henry V - History of a Hero? In act one, scene one of Henry VI Part 1 some of the remaining characters from Henry V stand, following the death of King Henry V, and discuss the nature of their former monarch. King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long! England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command.1 Their memories of the young king seem to sit well with some of the opinions of characters in Henry V, "I love the lovely bully", and indeed with history itself, "a military leader with a clear idea of virtue and leadership"2. However other characters in Henry V offer us less favourable opinions, "I'll never trust his word after", "Aye he said so, to make us fight more cheerfully. But when our throats are cut he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser." Audience members are showing executions, foul language and scant regard for human life, promting Gerald Gould to ask Is it seriously maintained that Shakespeare means us to admire Henry here?3 So what is it about both the play and the character which makes him so open to debate? Why can some people see him as "the mirror of all Christian kings", whilst others accuse him of being a "brutal opportunist", and "subtle protagonist"? Henry has himself always occupied a special place in the annals of English history. Literature, including, though not

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Relationships at all levels involve complex powerplay." How is this complexity represented in the texts you have studied?

"Relationships at all levels involve complex powerplay." How is this complexity represented in the texts you have studied? Present this task in the form of a discussion between two personalities. Base your response on your prescribed text and at least three other related texts of your own choosing. Introduction music to 'Oprah' plays. Oprah Winfrey walks onstage, waving to the audience. Oprah: My my my, how are you today ladies and gentlemen? Well don't I have a special show for you today! An uninterrupted special of Oprah, that's right no advertisements, no newsbreaks, we have a delightful guest and I'm just so, so pleased that she could join us! Now as you know, I'm an open minded person and I just love talking to people, sorry, make that personalities, from all walks of life. This lovely girl has an amazing personality, and faced with a crisis, she remained dignified. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Clover! Clover trots onstage to a hearty round of applause. Oprah: Clover, how are you girlfriend? Clover: I'm great Oprah! Just glad to be away from Animal Farm. Whoops! I still call it that after all these years! Manor Farm it is now. Oprah: Well just to update our audience, Clover has been one busy babe. After leaving Manor Farm, Clover has gained her doctorate in psychology! You go girl! Interrupted by round of applause from audience And today

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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