Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Shakespeare Notes

Please copy (or make a copy) of the following notes.

Characteristics of a Shakespearean Romantic Comedy

1. The main action is about love.

2. The would-be lovers must overcome obstacles and misunderstandings before being united in harmonious union. The ending frequently involves a parade of couples to the altar and a festive mood or celebration. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has 4 such couples.

3. Frequently, it contains elements of the improbable, the fantastic, the supernatural, or the miraculous (for example, the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The happy ending may be brought about through supernatural or divine intervention or may merely involve improbable turns of events.

4. There is frequently a philosophical aspect involving weightier issues and themes, such as the importance of love in human existence, the power of language to help or hinder communication, the disjunction between appearance and reality, or the power of dreams and illusions.

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