Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l E

T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1

2

3 More Tales from Shakespeare 4 5 by Charles and Mary Lamb 6

UPPER S U M M A R Y INTERMEDIATE

his volume contains the stories of Shakespeare’s T first comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, his first B A C K G R O U N D A N D T H E M E S t r a g e d y, Romeo and Juliet, t h ree of the gre a t tragedies of his maturity, Hamlet, Othello and King Lear, Students can best be helped to understand Shakespeare’s and the romance, The Winter’s Tale, written towards the achievement by relating it to a modern context. end of his career. Shakespeare arrived in London when the professional theatre was scarcely ten years old but by the time he retired Charles and Mary Lamb re w rote the stories of plays were recognized as an entertainment that appealed S h a k e s p e a re ’s most famous plays for childre n . to the court, the aristocracy and the people. The Shakespeare himself had usually adapted narratives of Elizabethan theatre therefore grew rapidly in much the different kinds for the theatre, in many cases employing or same way as the film industry in Hollywood in the 20th linking together concepts from a number of sources. The c e n t u ry. Shakespeare and the leading actors of the Lambs’ versions were intended to point to a moral that company became well known to theatregoers much as film children would be capable of understanding, whereas stars did more widely in the 1930s. In this context, we Shakespeare is rarely so explicit. Consequently, especially should think of him as the equivalent in a film company of in the case of the great tragedies, they are essentially a actor, director and author of the screenplay. simplification, not only in terms of language, but also of the Shakespeare usually based his plays on written sources, themes and characters. giving them dramatic form, much as a film director adapts novels today. We can there f o re best understand his ABOUT THE AUTHORS intentions and recognize the themes by comparing the plays to the sources and analysing the changes he made. Charles Lamb (1775–1834) was an essayist who also wrote These notes draw attention to the themes Shakespeare plays. At the suggestion of their friend, the novelist and imposed on his source material and the extent to which philosopher William Godwin, Lamb and his sister Mary, they are modified in the Lambs’ retelling. who was several years older, collaborated to write Tales The Winter’s Tale Shakespeare transformed a story by from Shakespeare, with the design of making the plays Robert Greene – Pandosto (1588) – into a play that familiar to young readers. reconciles the older generation through the love of their Though we know little for certain about the life of William c h i l d ren. Leontes becomes jealous for no re a s o n , Shakespeare (1564–1616) modern scholarship enables us convincing himself that his wife, Hermione, has been to reconstruct his career with some accuracy. Born in unfaithful with his friend and guest, Polixenes, and that his Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire, he was educated at the new-born daughter, Perdita, is theirs. Ignoring all advice, he local grammar school. At 18, he married Anne Hathaway, seems to have destroyed wife, son and daughter. A eight years older than himself, and they had three children. generation later, his lost daughter, Perdita, is found. Her Some time later he joined a company of actors and by 1589 marriage to Polixenes’ son and Hermione’s miraculous was probably in London, acting and writing plays. In 1594, survival sets things right. he joined forces with the brilliant young actor Richard King Lear S h a k e s p e a re based his play on various Burbage, and became one of the shareholders in what later accounts of a mythical English king who had thre e became the King’s Men, the foremost acting company of daughters, two evil and one good, including an old play. He the time. For over 20 years, Shakespeare wrote two plays linked this plot to a parallel story by Sir Philip Sidney, which a year on average, experimenting with and creating new Charles Lamb left out, of a man with a good and an evil dramatic forms, excelling in tragedy, comedy, history and son. In each case, the fathers are blind to their children’s romance. He became rich and successful, and retired to natures and entrust their lives to the evil ones. Lear must go Stratford about 1610, while still maintaining his interest in through the torment of madness before he is reunited with the London theatre. His plays were first collected together his youngest daughter, Cordelia, which is how the old play by his company as a tribute after his death and published had ended. Lamb draws the moral that the justice of in 1623. heaven destroyed Lear’s evil daughters, but this does not explain the death of Lear and Cordelia. In the play, Shakespeare balances poetic justice, where the good

© Pearson Education 2000 l e v e l Penguin Readers Factsheets 5 T e a c h e r’s n o t e s triumph and the evil are destroyed (the sub-plot), against ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK the much harsher reality of the story of Lear and his Put students into small groups and ask them to share daughters. their experiences: The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio, an adventurer, What do you know about Shakespeare? Have you ever marries Baptista’s elder daughter, Katharine, although she seen or read any of his plays, in English or in translation? has a violent temper, and by his extraordinary behaviour ACTIVITIES WHILE READING THE BOOK transforms her into a submissive wife. Mary Lamb draws the moral that the theme is that wives should obey their King Lear husbands, one that has made this play offensive to (a) Put students into groups of five. Ask them to act the feminists. An alternative interpretation is that Shakespeare first scene, on pages 13–15, where each daughter in was satirizing this official view of marriage in his time and turn answers Lear’s question: Who loves me best? The suggesting that husband and wife should be a team who fifth student, as Kent, tells Lear what he thinks of this. support each other. (b) Do you think parents should have favourites among their children or treat them differently? Romeo and Juliet The moral of the story of these young lovers is that their death was needed to bring their families Romeo and Juliet to their senses to end their long feud. Shakespeare based Put students into pairs. Act the scene between Romeo his play on a poem by Arthur Brooke (1562), originally and Juliet, when Romeo has climbed into her garden and derived from a story by the Italian, Bandello. In all these she appears above him (pages 39–42). versions, as in Lamb’s retelling of the story, the lovers are the victims of bad luck and their fate depends on a series Othello of unfortunate accidents. Put students into pairs. Ask them to act the scene on pages 74–6 where Othello and Iago see Cassio saying Hamlet Shakespeare’s most famous play and character goodbye to Desdemona, after asking for her help. Begin have given rise to many interpretations. He constructed it at ‘I do not like that’. from a number of sources, including a lost play on the same subject. Lamb leaves out much of the action and ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK concentrates on Hamlet’s response when his father’s ghost Put students into small groups. Ask them to decide which orders him to revenge his murder at the hands of his play or plays they think would be the most successful in wicked uncle, Claudius, who has become king and married the theatre today. Hamlet’s mother. In common with most critics of his time, Lamb emphasizes Hamlet’s sensitivity and finds it necessary to excuse his willingness to criticise his mother. G l o s s a r y Shakespeare’s Hamlet has the courage and ruthlessness It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. necessary for a man called upon to revenge his father and They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at restore the country to political health single handed at the the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman cost of his own life. Active Study Dictionary.) Othello Shakespeare expanded a short story by the Introduction comedy (n) an amusing play or one with a happy ending Italian Cinthio, written to prove that women can be faithful, tale (n) a story about imaginary events into the tragedy of the destruction of a marriage. The skilful The Winter’s Tale villain, Iago, plays on the insecurity of a middle-aged black feast (n) a large meal when people celebrate a special occasion general in the service of the Venetian state, Othello, who heir (n) someone who has the right to receive the title of a person has married a beautiful young wife, Desdemona. He who has died convinces him that she has been unfaithful with his friend kingdom (n) a country ruled by a king misery (n) a state of being very unhappy and lieutenant, Cassio, so that he murders her before noble (adj) fine discovering the truth and killing himself. The retelling of the oracle (n) a religious person supposed to give truthful answers to story tends to emphasize Othello’s jealousy, whereas the questions real theme of the play is the destructive impact of envy and shepherd (n) a person who keeps sheep malice. statue (n) a stone or metal object made to look like a person King Lear crown (n) a circle made of gold and jewels worn by kings and queens duke (n) a man with the highest rank below a prince Communicative activities earl (n) a man with a high social rank below a duke The Taming of the Shrew The following teacher-led activities cover the same shrew (n) (in this context) a woman with a bad temper, always sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, making unkind remarks and supplement those exercises. Further supplementary tame (v) to train a wild animal not to be wild exercises, covering shorter sections of the book, can be Romeo and Juliet found on the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of angel (n) (in this context) a beautiful person, living with God this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class friar (n) a kind of religious man readers, but with the exception of pair/groupwork mask (n) this is worn over the face so that people will not recognize the person questions, can also be used by students working alone in a self-access centre. Othello lieutenant (n) (in this context) an officer who is second in command senator (n) one of the governing body of the state

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by WS Fowler © Pearson Education 2000 Factsheet series developed by Louise James Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l

E

Student’s activities 1 More Tales from Shakespeare 2 Photocopiable 3 These activities can be done alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked. 4 5 Activities before reading the book 6 Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed for adult King Lear audiences. Most of them were not published for people 1 Answer these questions: to read until after his death. The Lambs were retelling the UPPER stories for children to read. What differences do you (a) How does Lear intend to divide up his kingdom INTERMEDIATE imagine this involved? What do you think they would and why does he change his mind? leave out or could not include? Think especially about (b) In what ways does Goneril behave unkindly the ‘tragedies’ (plays about tragic situations). towards Lear? (c) Why does Lear go to stay with Regan and how Activities while reading the book does her treatment of him upset him? (d) Why does Lear go out into the storm? The Winter’s Tale (e) Which action of Lear’s makes Kent sure that he is 1 Put these sentences in the correct order: going mad? (a) Leontes orders Antigonus to leave the baby (f) How does Lear get together again with his Perdita to die. daughter, Cordelia? (b) Leontes suddenly becomes jealous of Hermione 2 Discuss this question with another student. After and Polixenes. Shakespeare’s death, another writer gave the play a (c) The young prince Mamillius dies. happy ending. Cordelia does not die but marries the (d) Camillo warns Polixenes that Leontes is planning good son of the Earl of Gloucester. For over 100 to kill him. years, until Lamb’s lifetime, the play was always acted (e) Leontes invites Polixenes to visit his kingdom. like that. Do you think it makes a better ending to the story? (f) Paulina tells Leontes that his wife is dead. (g) The oracle reports that Hermione is innocent. The Taming of the Shrew (h) Leontes asks Hermione to persuade Polixenes to 1 Which of the characters in the list on page 25 says stay longer. the following things? Why do they say them and who (i) The baby Perdita is found by a shepherd. are they talking to? (j) Hermione gives birth to a daughter called (a) ‘What an excellent lady! I love her more than Perdita. ever.’

2 Look at the list of characters on page 1. Which of (b) ‘I’d rather see him hanged on Sunday.’ them is/are being described? This person/These (c) ‘It will be the moon or stars or what I wish before people I travel to your father’s house.’ (a) are not recognized when they go to the (d) ‘Where are you going and what is your home? shepherd’s house. The parents of so fair a child must be very (b) asks his father, without realizing it, to be a happy.’ witness to his promise of marriage. (e) ‘It means peace and love and a quiet life.’ (c) helps the young lovers by taking them to (f) ‘Then you are foolish, too, for betting on my Leontes’ court. duty.’ (d) proves that Perdita is Leontes’ long-lost 2 Discuss this question with another student: daughter. In Shakespeare’s time, most marriages were (e) shows Leontes what she says is a statue of his arranged. Girls had the right to say ‘no’ but men did wife. not have much opportunity of finding out about their (f) has been hidden from her husband for many wives’ character. Do you agree with Petruchio’s way years. of dealing with this situation?

© Pearson Education 2000 l e v e l Penguin Readers Factsheets 5 Student’s activities

Romeo and Juliet (i) is the cause of all that goes wrong in the story. 1 Complete the sentences to say what would have or (j) is left alive at the end to tell Hamlet’s story to the would not have happened if the circumstances had world. been different. The verbs in sentences with (not) in 2 Discuss these questions with another student. brackets will be negative. Charles Lamb left out much of the action of the play, (a) If Benvolio had not persuaded him, Romeo (not) changing Hamlet’s actions and character. Modern ...... critics see Hamlet as a sensitive man with the responsibility of taking violent action to restore order. (b) Juliet would have recognized Romeo if he (not) ...... (a) How does Hamlet prove that he thinks before he (c) Romeo would not have known Juliet had fallen in acts? love with him if she (not) (b) Once he knows his uncle is guilty, why can’t he ...... act as a normal person would do today? (d) If Tybalt had not killed Mercutio, Romeo (not) (c) Shakespeare followed the tradition that the villain ...... (bad person in the story) must be the cause of (e) If her father had not told her to marry Paris, Juliet his own death. How did he arrange this and what (not) ...... difference does it make? (f) Romeo would have known she was not dead if Othello the Friar’s messenger ...... 1 Which of these statements are true, and which are (g) If Paris had not tried to stop him opening the false? Correct those that are false. grave, Romeo (not) ...... (a) Brabantio accepts Othello as a son-in-law (h) Romeo would not have taken poison if Juliet because he is a respected general...... (b) The senators send Othello to Cyprus because (i) If there had been any poison left, Juliet they do not think well of his marriage...... (c) Othello is jealous by nature and likely to suspect (j) If their families had not been deadly enemies, the Cassio. lovers (not) ...... (d) Iago is envious of Cassio, who has been given a 2 In the film ‘West Side Story’, based on Romeo and high-level job instead of him. Juliet, the lovers belonged to groups which were (e) Cassio loses Othello’s confidence because Iago racial rivals in New York. Can you think of any similar makes him drunk when on guard. situation where young lovers may be prevented from (f) Desdemona begs with Othello for Cassio’s marrying each other? happiness because she is in love with him. Hamlet (g) Iago makes Othello suspicious by telling him that 1 Look at the list of characters on page 54. Which of he does not know very much about Italian them is/are being described? women. This person/These people: (h) Othello begins to believe that Desdemona is guilty because she has given his handkerchief to (a) marries her first husband’s brother, though it is Cassio. against the law. (b) tells Hamlet that he has seen a figure like his 2 Discuss this question with another student. dead father. Compare this story with the story of The Winter’s Tale. (c) orders Hamlet to revenge his death. Which character seems more typical of the jealous man, Othello or Leontes? (d) pretends to be mad to deceive his enemies. (e) makes Hamlet able to prove that his uncle is guilty. Activities after reading the book (f) spies on Hamlet while he is talking to his mother. These stories are based on plays. With another student (g) goes mad and dies because her lover has killed discuss which scene in each of these plays you think her father. would be the most exciting in the theatre and why? (h) joins the king to revenge the death of his father. King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by WS Fowler Factsheet series developed by Louise James © Pearson Education 2000