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 & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
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
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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?
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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.
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.
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
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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."
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
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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
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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.
