6491616
Description
Flashcards by Paula Raithel, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Paula Raithel
about 8 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Hamlet | Hamlet is a riveting foray into the depths of the human soul and a tragedy that is, deservedly, the most famous play even four hundred years after its initial writing. Focusing on the character of Hamlet and his search for justice after the death of his father, the king of Denmark, it plumbs to the very depths of the human experience. |
| Macbeth | Macbeth dramatizes the corruption that power and ambition can have on people. The assassination by Macbeth of Kin Duncan allows him to conquer the throne, but in order to preserve the power, amid a crescendo of suspicion and fear, he spirals down the abyss of tyranny and murder, causing bloodbath and a civil war until the tragic end. |
| Julius Caesar | Drawing on Plutarch, the great historian of Rome, Shakespeare dramatises one of the most crucial moments in Roman history - the assassination of Julius Caesar. Loved by the Roman crowd but increasingly feared by the Senators, Caesar increasingly shows signs of his desire to abolish the Republic and crown himself emperor. A conspiracy is hatched, led by Cassius and Brutus, who murder Caesar on the steps of the Capitol. |
| The Tempest | In this tale by William Shakespeare, Prospero - the rightful Duke of Milan - has been usurped and, along with his daughter Miranda, has been exiled on an island for twelve years. During this time, Prospero hones his magic, and eventually creates a storm that brings his enemies to the shore of the island he has come to control. |
| Romeo and Juliet | The magnificent, timeless drama is the world's most famous tale of "star-crossed lovers." The young, unshakable love of Juliet and Romeo defies the feud that divides their families - the Capulets and Montagues - as their desperate need to be together, their secret meetings, and finally their concealed marriage drive them toward tragedy. |
| King Lear | The ageing King Lear, tired of office, decides to split his kingdom between his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia; but the decision to allot their share based on the love they express for him proves to be a terrible mistake. When Cordelia refuses to take part in her father's charade, she is banished, leaving the king dependent on her manipulative and untrustworthy sisters. In the scheming and recriminations that follow, not only does the king's own sanity crumble, but the stability of the realm itself is also threatened. |
| Much Ado About Nothing | The play revolves around the adventures of the two gallants Claudio and Benedick at the court of Sicily. Claudio falls in love with the governor's daughter Hero, and is eager for his more misanthropic friend Benedick to also find love. Benedick is introduced to the fiery, independent Beatrice, and sparks soon fly. |
| The Merchant of Venice | The Merchant of Venice is the story of Antonio and his friend Bassanio. Bassanio is in need of money so that he may woo Portia, a wealthy heiress. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan and Antonio agrees to this loan, however all his money is tied up in shipping ventures. Together the two go to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to request a loan for Bassanio to be guaranteed against Antonio's shipping ventures. Shylock agrees to the loan at no interest in the condition that if the debt is not repaid Shylock may collect a pound of Antonio's flesh. |
| Othello | This tightly constructed work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his beloved wife, Desdemona; his loyal lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted but unfaithful ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and repentance, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatre alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations. |
| Midsummer Night's Dream | A Midsummer Night's Dream portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors (mechanical), who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. |
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