JOHN DONNE

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Born in London in 1572 to John and Elizabeth, John Donne has only recently been acknowledged as one of the greatest English poets.   For some time, however, Donne's reputation was significantly tarnished.  Donne converted to Anglicanism following his Catholic upbringing.  John Donne began attending Oxford in 1584 and later Lincoln’s Inn.  Donne also studied law at Thavies Inn, worked in sailing expeditions, and also served as Sir Egerton’s assistant which placed him in posh company.  John secretly married Ann More in 1601, sparking great conflict with her family and ending his service to Egerton.  Donne struggled to provide for the large family he and Ann created until employed by Sir Robert Drury in 1612.  John’s works became increasingly dark during this time.  Donne wrote many religious works and, in 1616, became a successful preacher.  Most of his works were published after his death in 1631, although is works were well-known and respected by his circle.   John Donne continued to have a great influence on many other poets.   His work completely lost popularity during the Restoration until the early part of this century.  Although his style of writing has not appealed to all, Donne’s works, such as “Here take my picture”, “The Good Morrow”, "Woman's Constancy", "and Metempsychosis", are still relevant and exciting to readers today.

Following Ann’s death in 1617, Donne wrote another religious poem, Divine Meditations 17. 

"Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt

 To nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,

 And her soul early into heaven ravished,

 Wholly in heavenly things my mind is set."

This tragic experience seems to have provided Donne with all the inspiration and motivation he needs to secure his place in heaven to reunite with his beloved Ann.   Divine Meditations 17 mirrors mankind’s longing for everlasting life, adding it to the long list of Donne’s works that are still relevant in our day.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-donne

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, Adaptation of “The Taming of the Shrew"

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In Disney’s 1999 hit, 10 Things I Hate about You, Kat and her younger sister, Bianca, are polar opposites.  Kat is an intelligent, feminist with her sights set on attending a prestigious college.  Bianca’s focus is her crush, Joey, and she can not bear the thought of missing a chance to date him. Kat, however, demonstrates no interest in boys, or much of anyone for that matter.  The problem:  Bianca’s father will not allow her to go on a date until her older sister does.  Cameron, a new student, wants to date Bianca and puts together a plan to find Kat a date.  He turns to Heath Ledger’s outcast character Patrick, who may just be unconventional enough to fit the bill.  Cameron convinces Joey to pay Patrick to get a date with Kat, planning to move in and get a date for himself.  Another obstacle in the plan is that, Joey and Kat are enemies!  In the meantime, Patrick begins his exhaustive pursuit of Kat.  Kat eventually develops feelings for Patrick.  Joey sets Patrick up to finalize prom plans with Kat to secure his date with Bianca.  It becomes evident that Joey’s intentions for his prom with Bianca are skewed.  Kat discovers the truth about the conspiracy at prom and storms away.  Meanwhile, Bianca recognizes that Joey is a not the catch she thought he was and beats him up.  Bianca quickly finds happiness with Cameron and Patrick soon convinces Kat that his feelings for her are true, regardless of the money.

This Shakespeare-inspired movie mirrors modern American teenage culture.  This adaptation is obviously strikingly different than Shakespeare’s original, but maintains enough similar characteristics to compare.  For example:  the search for a husband in “The Taming of the Shrew” is changed to a prom date in the 10 Things I Hate About You.  The plot is updated to attract this high-school demographic group.  I saw 10 Things I Hate About You to be a brilliant way to expose youths, who may otherwise have no interest in literature, to the works of Shakespeare in a modern, more relatable forum.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147800/

SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET





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Shakespeare’s Hamlet opens with a group gathering to see King Hamlet’s ghost.  The prince is notified of this appearance.  Hamlet returned for his father’s funeral and is outraged about his mother’s marriage to his uncle, Claudius.   Hamlet visits his father’s ghost and is notified that Claudius actually murdered King Hamlet.  With his friend, Horatio, Hamlet sets out to avenge his father’s death.  However, Hamlet’s darling Ophelia is ordered by her father to discontinue her relationship with Hamlet.  Hamlet is enraged.  Hamlet decides to play out the events of his father’s death as a performance in hopes of gaining a response from Claudius.  Hamlet’s mother scorns him for this act and he unintentionally stabs Ophelia’s father, mistaking him as Claudius himself.  He is once again visited by his father and hides the body.  Hamlet foils a plan by Claudius and escapes death, but in his return he finds that Ophelia has died after grieving her father’s death. Ophelia’s brother and Claudius ally against Hamlet and poison a sword for a duel.  Hamlet’s mother, however, winds up poisoned.  Hamlet kills Claudius, Ophelia’s brother dies, and Hamlet dies from the poison on the sword.

Throughout this play, Hamlet experiences conflict, as evidenced by anger, betrayal, grief, and revenge.  Hamlet's character evolves, creating even more complicated external and situational conflict.  Hamlet transforms from sharp and dignified to confused and enraged.

www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet





WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 

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William Shakespeare was born to a respected glove maker on an indefinite day in 1564.  He received an education into his early teenage years, before marrying Anne Hathaway at 18 years of age.  William Shakespeare soon became father to Susanna, and twins, Judith and Hamnet.  By the late sixteenth century, Shakespeare was acting in London.  Shakespeare soon published his first poem Venus and Adonis.  William Shakespeare participated in a dramatist group for many years beginning work on his more famous works, such as Twelfth Night, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet.  As Shakespeare gained notoriety, he was invited to perform by Queen Elizabeth I.  Williams Shakespeare returned to Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace, around 1610 and remained there until his death in 1616.  Since his death there has been some speculation of whether William Shakespeare actually wrote these plays on his own, or even at all.  But, the fact remains that these works have made a lasting impression for countless generations and continue to be adapted to relate to our changing world.  Regardless of the controversy, Shakespeare’s impression has succeeded him with his popularity continuing to grow after his passing.  Come on now, how many people do you know who haven’t heard of William Shakespeare?

http://www.biography.com/articles/William-Shakespeare-194895