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Title: The Tempest (Penguin Critical Studies) by William Shakespeare, Sandra Clark ISBN: 0-14-077230-8 Publisher: Penguin Uk Pub. Date: June, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (32 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A Play Probably Better Watched Than Read
Comment: Reading this play is not too interesting. There are a lot of visual elements in this play such as ship wrecks, dancing fairies, the use of magic, and an ugly monster. The themes of power, freedom and forgiveness are touched upon.
Propero has had his kingdom usurped by his brother and he seeks to regain his kingdom by the use of his magic. His brother Antonio and company are purposely shipwrecked on the island that Prospero has been banished to. One of the shipwrecked company is a son of a king named Ferdinand who falls in love at first sight with Prospero's daughter Miranda and he becomes a slave to Prospero. Typical Shakesphearian love at first sight silliness ensues.
Prospero has another slave, a monster named Caliban. Caliban is an interesting character with some of the best lines in the play. He seeks to regain the island back from Prospero with the help of two lowly comic characters, Trinculo and Stephano. This part is faintly funny to read about.
Eventually the play wraps up with the gruff, overbearing, cantankerous, and somewhat cruel windbag Prospero forgiving his brother's trespasses, regaining his kingdom, and stifling Caliban's rebellion. And, of course, no Shakespheare play is complete without a marraige--this time Miranda and Ferdinand will be wed. Prospero also frees his trusty servant-fairy Ariel and having accomplished all this, mentions that he is ready to die.
Prospero is a psychologically complex character worth reading about. I also liked the scene in which his betraying brother Antonio seeks to subtlely persuade Sebastian to kill Alonso, the duke of Naples, and capture his kingdom. It had a lot of moody, dramatic tension to it. But for the most part I couldn't get into this play.
Rating: 5
Summary: Great introduction to Shakespeare for Children
Comment: "Hell is empty and all the devils are here."
Not only is this story appropriate for children, it has fairy tale like qualities which also include a happily ever after conclusion.
While Shakespeare painted his scenery with words, this book has been beautifully illustrated by Elena Livanova.
This story is based on the Animated Tales as seen on HBO and is abridged especially for children. Not only was it prepared under the direction of Shakespearean scholars, it contains an introduction to the play, information about Shakespeare?s life and interesting description of the theater in Shakespeare?s time.
"The Tempest" is a rather mysterious play filled with monsters, spirits, clowns, lovers and villans. It starts with a magical tempest and ends happily. It is a magical love story between Miranda and Ferdinand filled with adventure and humor. This story was written when Shakespeare was about forty-seven and was his last completed play.
Strangely enough this book helped me understand a book by Henry David Thoreau. He was talking about a "harpy" and there is a picture of one in this book.
The companion video is available separately from Random House Home Video.
Also look for: Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night?s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night.
A readable volume for kids of all ages. Love the pictures...
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent Commentary on an unusual play
Comment: Shakespeare is not my favorite author, although I do understand the concept of his Iambic Pentameter and its style and flourishes are highly regarded. While I can appreciate the labor it must take to put a story in such format, I frankly find the poetics of it hard to read. That makes the commentary (which is about half of this version) very helpful to people such as myself. By reading the corresponding notes, I was better able to put the story together with the style, making for an exciting tale. I would highly recommend this version to people who have difficulty deciphering Shakespeare's style.
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Title: King Lear by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722727 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: Othello by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722816 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 1993 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: HENRY IV PART 1 by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722638 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1994 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: Hamlet (Shakespeare Made Easy: Modern English Version Side-By-Side With Full Original Text) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0812036387 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: February, 1986 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722948 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1993 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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