"For Exemplary_Professor only"

This assignment is an analysis of William Shakespeare, his plays and their impact on Hollywood.  The object is to better understand and appreciate similarities and differences between Shakespearean theatre and film as an art, and to gain insights into various aspects of society, as reflected in the film versions.

Select one of the following plays by William Shakespeare, which have also been made into a film.

• • • Hamlet  (vs. updated 2000 film of same name)
    • The Taming of the Shrew  (vs. 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You)
    • Romeo and Juliet  (vs. 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)
    • Macbeth (vs. 2001 film Scotland, PA)
    • The Tempest  (vs. 1956 sci-fi film Forbidden Planet)

Examine and determine the various ways the film version departs from and/or adheres to the original play.  Then offer reasons why these differences were more (or less) effective than the original.  Factors to consider when preparing this analysis could include (but should not be limited by) the following:

• • • the existence of critical issues in society at the time the film was made
    • while the plays are considered excellent examples of dramatic literature, the film versions (as art) are subjective
    • Shakespeare’s storytelling to a theatre audience vs Hollywood’s message to a larger mass audience

This assignment should be typed and proofread (3-4 pages in length).  Think originality and creativity, both in your writing and in the way you present it.  Some additional research may be needed.  Writings from scholarly journals or other sources may help illustrate your thoughts.  Remember to document your sources.  Early submissions are always accepted.  This assignment will be graded according to the Assignment #2 Rubric.

Play texts - http://shakespeare.mit.edu/

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Written Assignment 

While theatre (almost) came to a stand still during Medieval Times, religious vernacular drama, about biblical figures or events, survived - partly because much of this religious drama was being produced theatrically within the confines of the church.  Out of this drama, came morality plays.  This type of drama, often considered “less” religious and “more” humanistic (from a socially and cultural point of view, because it taught moral lessons to society), has had a significant and lasting impact on theatre and culture in the western world.

Everyman remains the most popular example of a morality play.  After reading the play (links can be found below and under Readings/Links) and doing some additional research on its themes, storyline and characters, your skills of creative writing will now be employed.

Rewrite and compose a contemporary version of the Everyman story/morality play in one of the following forms:

• • • a children's story book
    • a fairy tale
    • a modern short story

This new interpretation could include (but not be limited by) contemporary images and/or moral concerns, personification and interaction of vices and/or virtues, and themes or lessons for a modern day Everyperson.

Should you choose to make it a written essay, this assignment should be typed and proofread (4-5 pages in length).  The final choice of how this assignment will be presented (i.e. a written essay, an article or short story, a blog) is strictly up to you.  Think originality and creativity.  Some additional research may be needed (remember to document your sources in a bibliography).  Early submissions are always accepted.  This assignment will be graded according to the Assignment #1 Rubric.

Everyman Texts:

http://www.christian-history.org/everyman.html  (modern translation, does not open on all computers)

http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/everyman.asp  (common translation)