We are embarking on a study of Henry V. In these past 2 weeks I have: 1) watched the Lawrence Olivier 1944 version; 2) listened to Arkangel recorded version on audio on my car; 2) watched the Branagh version twice. Now I am about to start reading it out loud with Becky.
I haven't really studied any other Shakespeare play in this depth before, except maybe Macbeth. That I studied in high school and college and I've seen on stage once and maybe a movie version too.
I am trying to think of how many Shakespeare plays I've seen either on stage or in movie form over the years:
Much Ado About Nothing (movie)
Twelfth Night (a long time ago - a play and also a BBC version)
Midsummer Night's Dream - play (perhaps a couple of times)
The Tempest - saw this a few years ago - fabulous production - my favorite Shakespeare comedy.
Taming of the Shrew - I've seen this a couple of times too - not my favorite.
MacBeth - love this one
Julius Caesar - this is a favorite too
Othello - saw a wonderful performance of this. Stunning.
Hamlet - another riveting performance and then I saw a parody of this called Something stinks in Denmark (or something like that - it was a homeschool production - very funny and also the terrible BBC version with Derek Jacobi - he's great but the weird twist is he's in love with his mother, the queen. Creepy and gross interpretation).
Romeo and Juliet - I've never managed to make it through any of the movie versions - but I have seen the play - not my favorite - even though it seems to be everybody else's.
That's all I can remember right now - and then there's Henry V - which ranks up there with one of my favorites.
Just some observations and thoughts:
1. Both movie versions are good. I didn't think I'd like the Olivier version because I find him too stiff and stagey in movies, but this one was really good. It definitely reflects the era it was filmed in, but I thought it was a good interpretation. In some ways it does things better than Branagh's. For instance the whole chorus thing - where the actor is telling us to use our imaginations - that works much better in Olivier's version because he has it set in Elizabethan times at the actual Globe. You can see the 'cockpit' and how lacking it is and why using one's imagination is so critical in order to envision the great battle at Agincourt. In Branagh's version, even though Jacobi is great, it really doesn't make sense. In fact with that movie which has such close up detail and with so much of it (I think of the very long battle scene and then the long pan of everyone walking over the ravaged battlefield) they leave nothing to the imagination - it's all there in brilliant color right in your face.
2. Both movies are abridged and it is interesting to compare the abridgments and how they change the story. In the 1944 one, there is a lot of that slapstick humor throughout the play so that when Henry plays his little trick with the glove after this horrendous battle, it makes sense. In the Branagh one they pretty much leave that out - Henry just hands the glove back to the guy (whatever his name was - and the guy looks kind of puzzled). Because in the 1989 version Henry is very torn about war and feels everything so deeply, it doesn't make sense that suddenly he does this silly, good humored trick on Fluellen and the other can't-remember-his-name guy.
3. For the first time I got the joke from the scene where Pistol, Bardolf, Nim, Boy and the Hostess are sitting around mourning the death of Falstaff and the boy says something like 'he said women were the devil incarnate' and the hostess replies 'well, he never liked the color carnation'.
4. I noticed a lot of irony going on - namely in three ways: 1) betrayal - Falstaff has been abandoned by Prince Hal - because he has become King Henry V, and this has broken his heart and wounded him perhaps mortally in that he soon thereafter he gets sick and dies. Then Henry turns around and tells Sir Grey, one of his close counsellors who has been involved in a plot to assassinate him, how wounded he (Henry) feels at being betrayed by Grey. 2) We have Henry threatening the mayor of Harfleur with every kind of rape and pillage if he doesn't surrender his town, yet he hangs Bardolf for stealing from a church and warns his soldiers they are not to abuse the French in anyway - even with disdainful language. 3) When Henry is walking through the camp at night and gets into that argument about who is responsible if the soldiers don't die well, meaning having repented and been saved, is it the king or is it the soldier themselves, Henry argues well that the son should not be blamed for the father's sin. Yet very soon thereafter he begs the 'God of battles' to remember all the penance he as done to atone for his father's murder of King Richard.
5. It was wonderful to see how the kids loved the movie last night. As I was leaving I could hear them quoting things. I heard at least two kids saying to their parents: "We few. We happy few. We band of brothers." Another funny thing, at one point someone in the play mentions 'disputations' and the kids all suddenly buzzed. They had just learned what disputations were in their lesson about St. Thomas Aquinas.
5. I would like to get what's going on with the frequent references to the Welsh, the Scot and the Irish. It sounds like a joke. The Irish guy, McMorris comes off as stupid. The Scot comes of pretty well and of course the Welshman, Fluellen is an interesting minor character because he has that connection with Henry V who he often reminds is also a Welshman. I think I'll focus on that when I read it through this time. Also, I want to make note of every reference to classical mythology or history. I know Fluellen has studied the war strategies of Pompey and others, as he is often lecturing on these things (to comic effect).
6. I really want to see other Shakespeare history plays, especially Henry IV (there are 2 parts!) and Richard III. It just so happens that the National Shakespeare Theatre will be showing both parts of Henry IV in March and April and the Folger Shakespeare Theatre is now showing Richard III through March 9th. I have to figure out how to go to three plays in the next couple of months.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Visiting Aunt Jackie
Spent most of the day with my Aunt Jackie. She was moved from her rehab center to hospice care in her own apartment in her retirement home. Because of the strain of everything and the move she was so very grouchy. She'd be embarrassed if she knew I were writing this out. She often apologizes when she realizes how she's behaving. She honestly can't help herself. It is just how her anxiety manifests itself. But really she is most wonderfully imperious and absolutely withering in her tart criticisms. I wish I were a playwright, I would create a character who talked that way. I have to hold in a belly laugh the whole time even as I sheepishly go about doing her commands. If I didn't find it so deeply humorous, I would be a puddle on the floor unable to bear up under the stabs of her lightning sharp barbs.
But once she settled into her own bedroom, with her own books about her and her paintings and her beloved radio (where she listens to her beloved NPR) she relaxed. I made her a cup of tea and we had a nice chat. I know she's got everything wrong with her and she is going to fade over the course of the next few weeks (or so it is supposed; but she is tough! Really tough! It might take longer than we all suppose), but I felt really appreciative of having her in my life. She's a wonderful conversationalist. Do they make those any more? And she is such a wealth of history and she loves books so much. She is one of the easiest people in the world to talk to. I am really going to miss her. And now I have gone from laughing heartily to brimming with tears.
But once she settled into her own bedroom, with her own books about her and her paintings and her beloved radio (where she listens to her beloved NPR) she relaxed. I made her a cup of tea and we had a nice chat. I know she's got everything wrong with her and she is going to fade over the course of the next few weeks (or so it is supposed; but she is tough! Really tough! It might take longer than we all suppose), but I felt really appreciative of having her in my life. She's a wonderful conversationalist. Do they make those any more? And she is such a wealth of history and she loves books so much. She is one of the easiest people in the world to talk to. I am really going to miss her. And now I have gone from laughing heartily to brimming with tears.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
An Admission
I am just going to admit that the cold, lead-gray gloom of January, and my aunt slowly dying, and the troubles two of my sons are having with school and growing up, and the state of the world, and my usual ever present sense of being overwhelmed and inadequate and the ample evidence of those two things that surround me in my daily life, all this, is bringing me down. I wish I had a more muscular prayer life. Like my body, it is pretty flabby, because it takes a lot of self-discipline, something I lack. So I'll just make this little admission my prayer. Lord, lift me up! I believe! Help my unbelief!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Food Diary - Sunday 1/26/14
Yesterday was a bit of a mess. I decided I would 'splurge' and let myself eat pancakes since I was planning to eat only two meals and no snacks in between.
In a.m. had coffee (with 2% milk) and a banana.
10:00 Went out to diner and had 2 pancakes, 3 slices of bacon and about half an order of home fries plus coffee with half and half.
Went to visit Aunt Jackie who is not doing well. She's just waiting for death. She couldn't get comfortable and she couldn't really talk. They were talking about upping her pain meds. Hannah came with me. On the way home we were very weepy. Hannah hadn't indulged at breakfast and had stuck to her Weight Watchers so she was getting shaky. At this point it was about 4:30. So we stopped at yet another diner. I had a gyro sandwich and stole a few fries from Hannah's plate.
Didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day.
In a.m. had coffee (with 2% milk) and a banana.
10:00 Went out to diner and had 2 pancakes, 3 slices of bacon and about half an order of home fries plus coffee with half and half.
Went to visit Aunt Jackie who is not doing well. She's just waiting for death. She couldn't get comfortable and she couldn't really talk. They were talking about upping her pain meds. Hannah came with me. On the way home we were very weepy. Hannah hadn't indulged at breakfast and had stuck to her Weight Watchers so she was getting shaky. At this point it was about 4:30. So we stopped at yet another diner. I had a gyro sandwich and stole a few fries from Hannah's plate.
Didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
The Quarter-Acre Farm - Book 6
Because we are in the depths of snowy, bitter cold weather, I felt an urge to read something about gardening. I so enjoy all those back to nature, homesteading type books even though my life in no way reflects that lifestyle. I found this book while browsing titles on my Kindle, I think.
The Quarter-Acre Farm; How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn and Fed my Family for a Year by Spring Warren is her highly amusing and engrossing journal of her first year spent trying to feed her family from her 1/4 acre suburban lot. And it is complete with recipes which sound really good. I really want to try some of them.
Warren is very down to earth and self-deprecating. She openly admits all her missteps and dumb mistakes. Initially, she has to deal with her sons and husband not quite being on board with her experiment to eat 70% of all her food straight from her garden. While I found her modesty and ability to laugh at herself charming, she really isn't a novice at this sort of thing. Unlike me who grew up with parents who had two orange thumbs and couldn't keep a houseplant alive, Warren grew up with gardening parents. And she lives in Northern California where her suburb is surrounded by some of the best farmland in the world. And a place where people think nothing of having a small fruit orchard in their backyard. Warren had been caring for fruit trees and a little vegetable garden for years before she decided to go whole hog and change her lawn into a farm. If this is hard for her to do given the ideal circumstances she lives with, well, it is probably nigh impossible for me to ever dream of!
In spite of the fact that her book made me feel the task of having my own victory garden is well beyond my reach, the book is so well written and so chock full of interesting knowledge, obscure facts, humorous situations and down to earth practical advice, that it is a lovely read. Just the right thing to read on gray, overcast winter days when the temperature doesn't quite rise out of the teens. Spring will come! The farmer's market will open! We will eat luscious fresh tomatoes once again!
I really enjoyed this book. For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
The Quarter-Acre Farm; How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn and Fed my Family for a Year by Spring Warren is her highly amusing and engrossing journal of her first year spent trying to feed her family from her 1/4 acre suburban lot. And it is complete with recipes which sound really good. I really want to try some of them.
Warren is very down to earth and self-deprecating. She openly admits all her missteps and dumb mistakes. Initially, she has to deal with her sons and husband not quite being on board with her experiment to eat 70% of all her food straight from her garden. While I found her modesty and ability to laugh at herself charming, she really isn't a novice at this sort of thing. Unlike me who grew up with parents who had two orange thumbs and couldn't keep a houseplant alive, Warren grew up with gardening parents. And she lives in Northern California where her suburb is surrounded by some of the best farmland in the world. And a place where people think nothing of having a small fruit orchard in their backyard. Warren had been caring for fruit trees and a little vegetable garden for years before she decided to go whole hog and change her lawn into a farm. If this is hard for her to do given the ideal circumstances she lives with, well, it is probably nigh impossible for me to ever dream of!
In spite of the fact that her book made me feel the task of having my own victory garden is well beyond my reach, the book is so well written and so chock full of interesting knowledge, obscure facts, humorous situations and down to earth practical advice, that it is a lovely read. Just the right thing to read on gray, overcast winter days when the temperature doesn't quite rise out of the teens. Spring will come! The farmer's market will open! We will eat luscious fresh tomatoes once again!
I really enjoyed this book. For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare - Book 5
All ye homeschooling mothers, get thee to a bookstore and buy this book.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig is simply fantastic! It is clear, succinct, informative, inspiring and joyful. Ken Ludwig is a playwright who has won awards (but I am ignorant and have never heard of him), who loves Shakespeare and know his works well. He also is the father of two children whom he taught to love Shakespeare too. He tells us the simple and wonderful way he did this. He teaches you how to teach memorization, how to recite, read and understand Shakespeare - not in an heavy academic way but still in an intelligent way that makes you feel his sheer amazement at the Bard's genius. He gives you an order in which to introduce the plays and twenty-five passages to memorize over the course of time to really establish a love and depth of knowledge of Shakespeare's works.
I got this book out of the library, but it is so good, I plan to buy it to so I can have my own hard copy. It won't even do to have it on the Kindle because you have to be able to flip easily through the book to different passages from different plays.
Check out his website: www.howtoteachyourchildrenshakespeare.com where you can hear famous actors recite the passages and where he provides you with his quotation sheets, which aid children in memorizing the passages.
This book is truly a gift. Thank you Ken Ludwig for having such a generous heart and for loving both Shakespeare and your kids so much it all overflowed into this lovely gem of a book!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig is simply fantastic! It is clear, succinct, informative, inspiring and joyful. Ken Ludwig is a playwright who has won awards (but I am ignorant and have never heard of him), who loves Shakespeare and know his works well. He also is the father of two children whom he taught to love Shakespeare too. He tells us the simple and wonderful way he did this. He teaches you how to teach memorization, how to recite, read and understand Shakespeare - not in an heavy academic way but still in an intelligent way that makes you feel his sheer amazement at the Bard's genius. He gives you an order in which to introduce the plays and twenty-five passages to memorize over the course of time to really establish a love and depth of knowledge of Shakespeare's works.
I got this book out of the library, but it is so good, I plan to buy it to so I can have my own hard copy. It won't even do to have it on the Kindle because you have to be able to flip easily through the book to different passages from different plays.
Check out his website: www.howtoteachyourchildrenshakespeare.com where you can hear famous actors recite the passages and where he provides you with his quotation sheets, which aid children in memorizing the passages.
This book is truly a gift. Thank you Ken Ludwig for having such a generous heart and for loving both Shakespeare and your kids so much it all overflowed into this lovely gem of a book!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Food Diary - Saturday 1/25/14
Got up around 6:30 or so. Had a cup of black coffee and a pear.
7:30 went out for bagels. Got a hazelnut coffee 2% milk. Came home and completely forgot I was only going to have half a bagel. Had a perfectly delicious everything bagel with veggie cream cheese.
12:30 had left over mushy beef with carrots/parsnips/tomatoes.
1:30 had another cup of coffee with 2% to fortify me to clean up, vacuum and dust Becky's room while she's still at her sleep over.
Started making chicken and rice soup from chicken broth I made on Thursday.
Oops, got interrupted making chicken and rice soup when I got an email asking where I was. Was supposed to be at an Aquinas Learning mentor meeting. Abandoned soup-making and family and went to meeting. Told Rick I would be home early (meeting started at 4:30 but I didn't make it until almost 5:30 and then didn't get home until after 10 p.m.)
I wound up eating chicken curry over rice, some kind of chick pea Indian dish and then a side dish of cantaloupe and honeydew with a little vanilla yogurt dolloped on top. This was from the Wegman's hot food bar.
It has now been a full week since I've started recording what I am eating. I am about three pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of last week. But my weight is like that. I fluctuate about 3 or 4 pounds pretty easily. Writing this down is pretty boring and more time consuming than I thought it would be. BUT I think I should try to keep it up. It did put a brake on my binging. I was at times tempted to be dishonest as in I'd think to myself: I can eat more I just won't record it! Gluttony is truly a vice.
This week though, I am afraid I'll lose my momentum. My dear aunt seems to be dying and I keep thinking that some day very soon, we'll get the news that she has passed away. I feel like Damocles with that sword dangling over his head. It is going to fall, just don't know when. I am kind of numb about it. I plan to go see Aunt Jackie this afternoon; haven't been all week due to business and weather.
So I will try and record everything and I think I'll also try to record anything physical I do too. I am so out of the habit of exercising now that I stopped the physical training. I keep making plans and then not following through. Also, through all this my arm still really hurts. I have to get to the doctor to get a referral to get it x-ray and then to physical therapy.
7:30 went out for bagels. Got a hazelnut coffee 2% milk. Came home and completely forgot I was only going to have half a bagel. Had a perfectly delicious everything bagel with veggie cream cheese.
12:30 had left over mushy beef with carrots/parsnips/tomatoes.
1:30 had another cup of coffee with 2% to fortify me to clean up, vacuum and dust Becky's room while she's still at her sleep over.
Started making chicken and rice soup from chicken broth I made on Thursday.
Oops, got interrupted making chicken and rice soup when I got an email asking where I was. Was supposed to be at an Aquinas Learning mentor meeting. Abandoned soup-making and family and went to meeting. Told Rick I would be home early (meeting started at 4:30 but I didn't make it until almost 5:30 and then didn't get home until after 10 p.m.)
I wound up eating chicken curry over rice, some kind of chick pea Indian dish and then a side dish of cantaloupe and honeydew with a little vanilla yogurt dolloped on top. This was from the Wegman's hot food bar.
It has now been a full week since I've started recording what I am eating. I am about three pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of last week. But my weight is like that. I fluctuate about 3 or 4 pounds pretty easily. Writing this down is pretty boring and more time consuming than I thought it would be. BUT I think I should try to keep it up. It did put a brake on my binging. I was at times tempted to be dishonest as in I'd think to myself: I can eat more I just won't record it! Gluttony is truly a vice.
This week though, I am afraid I'll lose my momentum. My dear aunt seems to be dying and I keep thinking that some day very soon, we'll get the news that she has passed away. I feel like Damocles with that sword dangling over his head. It is going to fall, just don't know when. I am kind of numb about it. I plan to go see Aunt Jackie this afternoon; haven't been all week due to business and weather.
So I will try and record everything and I think I'll also try to record anything physical I do too. I am so out of the habit of exercising now that I stopped the physical training. I keep making plans and then not following through. Also, through all this my arm still really hurts. I have to get to the doctor to get a referral to get it x-ray and then to physical therapy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)