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Shakespeare & Beyond

Shakespeare & Beyond

The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.

Shakespeare's birthplace: Embellishing an ordinary home
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Shakespeare & Beyond

Shakespeare's birthplace: Embellishing an ordinary home

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Author
Richard Schoch
Richard Schoch examines the first published image of William Shakespeare’s birthplace from 1769, reflecting on the transformation of a humble home into a significant tourist site in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Five Folger Finds: A bouquet of flowers for spring
Shakespeare & Beyond

Five Folger Finds: A bouquet of flowers for spring

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Author
Esther French
We’ve gathered a bouquet for you of flower illustrations in the Folger collection, ranging from watercolor paintings to hand-colored copperplate engravings. Enjoy these five blooms in celebration of spring.
Quiz: Can you identify these less well-known Shakespeare plays?
Pericles
Shakespeare & Beyond

Quiz: Can you identify these less well-known Shakespeare plays?

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Shakespeare & Beyond
Many people are familiar with the popular Shakespeare plays like "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." But what about the plays that are considered more obscure? Take the quiz to test your knowledge.
Something is rotten in the state of Gotham: Shakespeare and The Batman
Batman
Shakespeare & Beyond

Something is rotten in the state of Gotham: Shakespeare and The Batman

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Author
Austin Tichenor
Austin Tichenor draws connections between Hamlet and Batman, noting the range of interpretations.
Birds of Shakespeare: The barnacle goose
Barnacle Goose
Shakespeare & Beyond

Birds of Shakespeare: The barnacle goose

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Author
Missy Dunaway
The barnacle goose, referenced in Shakespeare's "The Tempest," was an unmistakable symbol of metamorphosis for a 17th-century audience. It was commonly believed that the barnacle goose evolved from driftwood. Artist Missy Dunaway shares her painting of this fascinating bird along with an exploration of its literary associations.
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in April
Shakespeare & Beyond

What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in April

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Author
Ben Lauer
April 23 is Shakespeare's birthday, and this month offers a plethora of ways to celebrate!
John, Paul, Pyramus, and Thisbe: The Beatles performing Shakespeare
The Beatles performing Pyramus and Thisbe
Shakespeare & Beyond

John, Paul, Pyramus, and Thisbe: The Beatles performing Shakespeare

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Author
Daniel Blank
Did you know that the Beatles once performed the “Pyramus and Thisbe” scene from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"? Although they mainly stick to Shakespeare’s script, the moments when they play with the text stand out.
Bottom's dream - Excerpt: 'Reading Shakespeare Reading Me' by Leonard Barkan
Shakespeare & Beyond

Bottom's dream - Excerpt: 'Reading Shakespeare Reading Me' by Leonard Barkan

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Shakespeare & Beyond
This excerpt from Leonard Barkan's new book "Reading Shakespeare Reading Me" explores Bottom's awakening and recollection of his enchantment as a donkey in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Look at Our Bottoms
Shakespeare & Beyond

Look at Our Bottoms

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Author
Ben Lauer
The Folger has some really fantastic Bottoms. Seriously! Just look at these Bottoms!
Nicholas Rowe, early Shakespeare biographer
Nicholas Rowe
Shakespeare & Beyond

Nicholas Rowe, early Shakespeare biographer

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Shakespeare & Beyond
Nicholas Rowe is often referred to as William Shakespeare’s first biographer because his 1709 edition of Shakespeare’s works included an introduction with details about Shakespeare’s life. However, some of those details don’t appear to have much basis in the historical record, explains Brian Cummings, Anniversary Professor of English at the University of York.
Juliet, an artful Italian diva - Excerpt: "The Diva's Gift to the Shakespearean Stage" by Pamela Allen Brown
Shakespeare & Beyond

Juliet, an artful Italian diva - Excerpt: "The Diva's Gift to the Shakespearean Stage" by Pamela Allen Brown

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Shakespeare & Beyond
In her new book "The Diva's Gift to the Shakespearean Stage," Pamela Allen Brown explores the considerable impact of Italian divas on Shakespeare and other English playwrights. This excerpt looks at the character of Juliet.
Nathan the Wise: An 18th-century German counterpoint to Shakespeare’s Shylock
Nathan the Wise
Shakespeare & Beyond

Nathan the Wise: An 18th-century German counterpoint to Shakespeare’s Shylock

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Author
Michele Osherow
"Nathan the Wise" and "The Merchant of Venice" are very different works, though religious tension is a subject in each, as is the potential for love and loss, wealth and poverty, bloodshed and peace. But it is the character of the Jew featured in each text that most causes scholars to focus on the plays' differences.
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