Issue No.1 19/12/2012
Hubble, Bubble, Toil and
Inside: Trouble Book Reviews Analyses Short Stories Competitions
Headline Article: Macbeth: Shakespeare’s greatest hero or Read the first part of “The Girl worst villain? from the Tower”, the King’s English serial story: Page 9
1 Welcome to the first edition of “King’s English”
Editor’s Introduction Contents Welcome to the first edition of King’s English. Over the past few months my fellow students and I 1) Headline Article - page 3 have put together a number of articles to present to Macbeth: Shakespeare’s greatest hero you in the first edition of this publication, new to or worst villain? the Wickson Library and English Department. We - Cameron Szerdy have gathered a plethora of articles, most written completely by students, and the quality of some of 2) Book Review – page 5 these works is superb. From analysing Prejudice and Heartache: A review of Shakespeare, to reviewing modern authors such as Kathryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’ Kathryn Stockett, our writers have created a great - Ananth Ranjit range of articles for your enjoyment, all of which we hope will be interesting and informative. 3) The Poetry Corner- page 6 Through the creation of this publication, many of Selected Poetry for Christmas us have been able to go beyond the syllabus, exploring our personal literary interests to an 4) Book Review – page 7 extent we may not have been able to otherwise; it The Road Less Travelled: A review of has been a very enjoyable experience and we urge Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ any student who wishes to get involved in the next - Chris Robson edition to do so. 5) King’s English Serial Story – page 9 I would like to thank everyone who helped to make The Girl from the Tower: Part one this magazine a success; thanks go first to Ann A murder mystery by: Marie McMahon and Ros Harding, who have helped - Barnaby Rule to support the creation of this publication at every stage of its development; thanks also to Natalie 6) Seasonal Article – page 11 Metcalf for the brilliant front cover she created for What the Dickens! An analysis of us; thanks go to Ananth Ranjit for his assistance Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ with the formatting of the magazine, helping us to - Ann Marie McMahon bring it through its final stages of development. Finally, thanks go to all the students who put in 7) Book Review - 14 their time and effort to create what I consider to be Step into their skin: a review of Harper some outstanding articles, pieces that reflect the Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird passion and energy they have for Literature, - Hayley Milner without whom none of this would ever have been possible. 8) Play Review - 15 In Chase of Fool’s Gold: a review Literature is a subject of inherent importance, for of Ben Jonson’s ‘The Alchemist’ the tales told by great literary works hold “the - Cameron Szerdy mirror up to nature”, reflect the different facets of humanity, and engage us upon the deepest emotion 9) Shakespeare Analysis – page 17 level; Literature influences our lives to an extent “The fool doth think he is wise...” we cannot imagine, moving us to take action in a critical analysis of ‘Twelfth Night’ unforeseen ways and changing the very pillars of - Chris Robson our morality. It is a subject my fellow students and I hold an immense passion for, one which we 10) Book Review – page 19 believe requires the most earnest attention and Sin and Vengeance: a review of enjoyment. I hope you too will delight in its pages, Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’ and enjoy the small portion of it which we present - Nia Hughes to you here. 11) Games and Competitions – page 20 Christopher Robson. A selection of games and competitions: prizes are available 2 Macbeth: Shakespeare’s greatest hero or worst villain?
Camerson Szerdy character to understand and in his consciousness by more explores virtue and evil gauge, his changing nature and vigorous urges. Macbeth, by personality provide a much nature, violently demands within Macbeth debated question: Macbeth: rewards and fights courageously protagonist or antagonist? Good in order to be reported as a or evil? Hero or villain? ‘valour’s minion’ and ‘Bellona's bridegroom.’ Macbeth values “Despite its being success because it brings fame, Shakespeare’s shortest new titles, and royal favour, as long as these mutable goods fulfil tragedy, it gave the his desires, which is the case: until literary world one of the he covets the kingship, Macbeth is most complex and an honourable gentleman. Once Macbeth's self-love demands a fascinating characters in satisfaction that cannot be the eponymous Macbeth” honourably obtained, he employs dishonourable tactics to gain his Macbeth is first presented selfish desires. In 1606 William as a mature man of established Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, character, successful as a soldier, “Until he covets the wrote a play which would go and enjoying an enviable down in history as cursed. reputation. One must not conclude kingship, Macbeth is an Although most would consider it that all Macbeth's actions are honourable gentleman.” only to be coincidence when any predictable. Macbeth's character misfortune strikes a production, is made out of potentialities and As Macbeth returns even today actors and theatre folk the environment, and no one, not victoriously from battle, his self- refuse to say its title while inside a even Macbeth, can know all of his love demands recognition of his theatre, possibly referring to it as inordinate self-love. Macbeth is greatness. The demonic forces of the ‘Scottish Play’ or ‘MacBee’. determined by a desire for evil that drive Macbeth, Despite that, ‘Macbeth’ is one of temporal and mutable gain. symbolized by the witches, Shakespeare’s most widely- suggest to him to obtain the performed tragedies and Macbeth is driven in his greatest mutable good he has ever continues to be a popular text for conduct by an excessive desire for desired, the kingdom. The witches both study and performance in worldly honours; his self-esteem observe Macbeth's expressions to modern times. It was written for lies in ‘buying golden opinion’s understand the passions that are Shakespeare’s new patron, James I from all sorts of people. One driving the ‘black and deep (James VI of Scotland), following shouldn’t deny Macbeth a human desires’ he is so valiantly the death of Queen Elizabeth I. complexity of motives. For attempting to suppress. The James was interested in witchcraft example, his fighting in Duncan's witches predict Macbeth will be and Scotland, and hence these service is magnificent and king. The witches cannot compel themes are engrained in the play. courageous, and he justly deserves Macbeth to do evil deeds, but they The play itself tells the story of a the accolade of ‘brave Macbeth’, can use Macbeth's desire to man, urged by his wife and which the Captain bestows upon become king to pervert his foretold by prophecy, who him. Macbeth also rejoices in the judgment of reason and to corral commits regicide in order to gain success that crowns his efforts in him to choose fluctuating profit. power. Despite its being battle and glories in his service to Macbeth's imagination and Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, it Duncan: ‘The service and the passions are so vivid under these gave the literary world one of the loyalty I owe,/ In doing it, pays evil impulses that ‘nothing is but most complex and fascinating itself.’ While Macbeth destroys what is not.’ Macbeth's reason characters in the eponymous Duncan's enemies, such motives becomes so impeded that he Macbeth. A fiendishly difficult work, but they become obscured judges, ‘These supernatural 3 solicitings cannot be ill, cannot be essence he convinces himself that does, he does in pursuance of good.’ Still Macbeth is provided by tormenting his soul to a point meaningless accolades, and to with so much natural good that he past that beyond which any escape a present evil. Macbeth is able to control his imagination spiritual pain is felt, he will satisfy never completely loses his and decide not to attempt any act his inept needs. He imagines that freedom of choice. However, since that involves criminal actions: ‘If the execution of bloodier deeds a free act is in accordance with chance will have me king, why will serve his purpose. Macbeth reason, as his reason becomes chance may crown me /Without instigates the murder of Banquo in blinded, his actions become less my stir’. His decision to commit the interest of personal safety – ‘to and less free. This accounts for murder is not based upon moral be safely thus’ - and to destroy the Macbeth's actions becoming more grounds. As a friend and as a final piece of humanity in him. No externally controlled as the play subject, Macbeth has feelings of peace is gained from the murder progresses, and the final feeling is loyalty towards the king. The of Banquo. Macbeth's conscience that Macbeth has lost all free will. consequences Macbeth fears are obliges him to see the negative Macbeth violates his natural law, not completely inward and quality of evil and the barren and his acts establish habits of spiritual. It is to be doubted results of wicked action. The irrational doings, resulting in the whether Macbeth ever considers individual who once prized loss of freedom of choice. the effects of his crime and the evil capricious honours in the form of upon the human soul that he later respect and admiration from those “Macbeth... has to discovers. Macbeth's main about him, now discovers that relinquish his soul to the concern is the consequences of even such satisfactions are denied losing the benefits he already to him: possession of the demonic possesses and values. He feels it is forces who are the a risk worth taking and is cajoled ‘And that which should accompany ‘common enemy of man’.” by his scheming wife. old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops The substance of Macbeth's “It is to be doubted of friends, personality is that out of which whether Macbeth ever I must not look to have; but, in their tragic heroes are fashioned. stead, considers the effects of Endowed with potential and Curses, not loud but deep, mouth- under the impact of passions his crime and the evil honour, breath, constantly shifting and mounting upon the human soul that Which the poor heart would fain in intensity, the dramatic deny, and dare not.’ individual grows, expands, and he later discovers” develops to a point, so that, at the Macbeth is conscious of a end of the play, he is more After murdering Duncan, profound abstraction of Macbeth, in committing an understanding of the world and of something far more precious than his own spirituality than at the unnatural act, has to relinquish his any selfish rewards. Macbeth has soul to the possession of the beginning of the play. Macbeth is shrunk to such a little measure bound to his humanity, which demonic forces who are the that he has become numb to all ‘common enemy of man’. Macbeth compels him towards particular sense of good and evil. The ‘peace’ actions but also his own end. This recognizes the acts of conscience attained from this numbness is that torture him are expressions newfound moral virtue provides psychologically a callousness to him with a will capable of free of an outraged order of nature. pain and spiritually a partial Reduced once more to the ranks of choice and clears the blend of ignorance of any moral or good and evil in his own mind. To a human, Macbeth becomes pale personal being. Macbeth's peace is and works to impede the penalties this extent Macbeth can be seen as the doubtful calm of utter both good and evil; as both a hero of this order, almost a natural law, negativity, where nothing matters. and seeks release from this and a villain; and as both a protagonist and an antagonist. torture, ‘Come, sealing night... And After the external and internal with thy bloody and invisible Does his realisation of evil push forces of evil have done their him towards goodness or is it the hand,/ Cancel and tear to pieces worst, Macbeth remains human, that great bond,/Which keeps me other way around? This and many and he continues to witness the other questions, I believe, are pale.’ Macbeth then conceives that diminution of his self-being. Sin a quick escape from the exactly what Shakespeare wanted does not completely deprive us to ask. accusations of his conscience will Macbeth of his rational nature: serve to free him of his guilt. In Macbeth sins because whatever he 4 Prejudice and Heartache
Ananth Ranjit is obsessed southern women. In A constant fear lies over the heads enthralled by Kathryn memory of Constantine she of these three women, especially attempts to change the racist the two maids, for if the Stockett’s The Help attitudes of Jackson citizens. Along prejudiced people of Jackson were with the help of two maids, she is to discover their actions in the able to create an incredible book creation of Skeeter’s book, their which shows what it is like to be a lives would be at stake. Therefore Maid in Jackson, a book which she they are in constant battle with hopes will change racial attitudes those who try to expose them, forever. such Hilly Holbrook the leader of the Junior League. Her racial The characters “Are prejudices are one of the reasons the black women of Jackson want poignant individuals, to speak out; as an example, Ms whose tales of hardship Holbrook believes that Black reflect the many facets of people are filthy creatures, human nature”. therefore creating an initiative which decrees that all white
families should have an outside She is helped by Aibileen, a nanny toilet for their maids. who tries desperately to develop Stockett is able to discuss this confidence and racial tolerance important issue in a tender, within the children she cares for; humorous style, therefore making meanwhile the mothers of these it a perfect book for all ages. This children continue to lead the wide audience ensures that all lifestyle that Skeeter’s mother did, Life in the Jim-Crow-ruled south is generations are able to reflect on leaving them neglected and extremely difficult, not only for their own attitudes towards those unloved. Perhaps one of the most the oppressed black population, different from themselves, thus heart warming moments within but also for the women who try to strengthening their acceptance of the tale is when Aibileen makes break the prejudicial boundaries others. This book is captivating the little girl Mae Mobley recite of society. The Help by Kathryn and takes you on an incredible the mantra ‘You is smart, you is Stockett tells the story of three journey; an enthralling work of kind and you is important’ in an such women, Skeeter, Aibileen and historical fiction, its message attempt to instil a sense of Minny, living in Jackson reflects the issues that were of confidence within her, despite her Mississippi, and their attempts to great concern in the sixties and mother’s neglectful attitude; to deal with the struggles of still are today. Once you read this me, this highlights the constant Southern life; all three are fine piece of literature, you will insecurities we face in life and poignant individuals, whose tales always return to it whenever you how we must overcome them. of hardship reflect the many facets are feeling emotionally fragile. Aibileen’s best friend Minny faces of human nature. similar insecurities, and her
troubled life with an alcoholic Skeeter soon becomes the odd one husband and five children is out when she arrives in Jackson incredibly thought provoking, Mississippi after finishing college; engaging the reader in empathetic her affection towards the black feeling. Such a hard tale is maids runs incredibly deep, due to counterpointed brilliantly by the her loving maid Constantine, who incredibly funny nature of her stepped in as a mother figure character, as she is constantly when her real mother was off with sass-mouthing her white all the other giggling, self- employers. 5 The Poetry Corner
Christmas by John Betjeman The Oxen by Thomas Hardy The bells of waiting Advent ring, The Tortoise stove is lit again Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock. And lamp-oil light across the night “Now they are all on their knees,” Has caught the streaks of winter rain An elder said as we sat in a flock In many a stained-glass window sheen By the embers in hearthside ease. From Crimson Lake to Bookers Green. We pictured the meek mild creatures where The holly in the windy hedge They dwelt in their strawy pen. And round the Manor House the yew Nor did it occur to one of us there Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge, To doubt they were kneeling then. The altar, font and arch and pew, So that the villagers can say So fair a fancy few believe 'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day. In these years! Yet, I feel, If someone said on Christmas Eve Provincial Public Houses blaze, “Come; see the oxen kneel Corporation tramcars clang, On lighted tenements I gaze, “In the lonely barton by yonder comb Where paper decorations hang, Our childhood used to know,” And bunting in the red Town Hall I should go with him in the gloom, Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'. Hoping it might be so.
And London shops on Christmas Eve Are strung with silver bells and flowers As hurrying clerks the City leave To pigeon-haunted classic towers, And marbled clouds go scudding by The many-steepled London sky.
And girls in slacks remember Dad, And oafish louts remember Mum, And sleepless children's hearts are glad. Minstrels a Christmas Poem by And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!' Even to shining ones who dwell William Wordsworth Safe in the Dorchester Hotel. The minstrels played their Christmas tune And is it true, To-night beneath my cottage-eaves; This most tremendous tale of all, While, smitten by a lofty moon, Seen in a stained-glass window's hue, The encircling laurels, thick with leaves, A Baby in an ox's stall ? Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen, The Maker of the stars and sea That overpowered their natural green. Become a Child on earth for me ?
And is it true ? For if it is, Through hill and valley every breeze No loving fingers tying strings Had sunk to rest with folded wings: Around those tissued fripperies, Keen was the air, but could not freeze, The sweet and silly Christmas things, Nor check, the music of the strings; Bath salts and inexpensive scent So stout and hardy were the band And hideous tie so kindly meant, That scraped the chords with strenuous hand.
No love that in a family dwells, No carolling in frosty air, And who but listened?--till was paid Nor all the steeple-shaking bells Respect to every inmate's claim, Can with this single Truth compare - The greeting given, the music played That God was man in Palestine In honour of each household name, And lives today in Bread and Wine. Duly pronounced with lusty call, And "Merry Christmas" wished to all 6 The Road Less Travelled
Chris Robson is amazed violent west is preferable to own son in order to save him by Cormac McCarthy’s this “cauterized terrain”. from the fates of so many. most harrowing tale. A father and son, never named, This is the true struggle of the have struggled through this book: not the fight for survival, barren waste since the world’s nor the journey south, simply passing. Born after the the desperate attempt of a apocalypse, the boy knows father to shield his son from the nothing of life before; his horrors of the world. The mother, unable to live with this knowledge they will be caught, husk of a world, killed herself “sooner or later”, is no help in shortly after the boy’s birth, this; it hangs over every facet of leaving father and son with the story, as does the father’s only each other. Now, while knowledge that at some point “the banished sun circles the he will have to do the earth like a grieving mother unthinkable. Yet he carries on, with a lamp”, they move south, striving to shield his son not Blood Meridian, a violent knowing they cannot survive only from harm, but from the exploration of man’s warlike another winter where they are. atrocities around them, in a nature, was considered by Living on the edge of primal need to save not only his many to be the pinnacle of starvation, they subsist off the life, but so too his innocence. In Cormac McCarthy’s writing scraps which are left; with a doing this, he keeps from the career. Yet upon the release of nuclear winter covering the boy the knowledge that he is his tenth novel, most realised it skies and all of society dying; he moves away every was simply a stepping stone to collapsed, there is no night to “cough... till he could his true masterpiece; The Road possibility of growing food, the taste the blood”, hiding the very .One of the most important only thing is scavenged goods. thing of which he himself is so novels of our time, it portrays afraid: that soon he won’t be the harrowing tale of a father “One of the most around to help his son survive. and son as they struggle to find important novels of our There’s one particularly hope in the blasted wasteland time,” poignant moment, showing of post apocalyptic America. how much the two rely on each The Road places McCarthy’s With food so scarce, is it a other: “Are we going to kill writing firmly within the wonder so many have turned to them?” the boy asks, when a existential realms of Samuel cannibalism? stranger makes off with their Beckett; his western worlds of Along their journey the two are food. “I don’t know” the father blood and violence, those of forced to run and hide, hunted replies. It appears so when they The Border Trilogy and No by blood- thirsty cannibals, catch up with the thief; the Country for Old Men, have death-gangs and “bloodcults”. father takes his clothes, leaving dropped away, falling into Their only defence is the pistol him in the cold, where he will obscurity when faced with carried by the father, loaded soon die. “I’m going to leave nuclear apocalypse. Instead he with but two shots: one for the you the way you left us.” He has moved to a place where boy, and one for himself, to exclaims, with a biblical only the bravest of writers dare save them from a fate worse vengeance that goes far beyond go: where society has fallen than death. Such are the the simple protection of his into dust, where even that most horrors of McCarthy’s world; son’s life; he appears now like the horror of having to kill your the vengeful God of the Old 7 Testament that defies the events which rather than they’ve seen. The sheer the loving devotion which the characters father of the show for one another, even in New. This is times of such despair, is one of the overwhelming; their love many times prevails to the bitter end, when the culminating in one of the most father cathartic moments of modern seems no literature. It’s a challenge to longer to be one of the “good read the works of an author guys”, but one act away from who writes of events like these, becoming simply another but any reader who does will savage, preying on human life. be glad they made the effort. Pushed to his limits, such a fate In a land where even the barest would be inevitable, if it of hopes are lost, what place is weren’t for the boy: “Just help there for love? Many writers him.” the child exclaims, after have speculated about the they have abandoned the thief, nature of a post-apocalyptic “He’s so scared, Papa”. It is this world, many have tackled the which raises events in The Road issue with abandon, but few above even the most harrowing have managed to address such paternal dilemma: the pure a difficult question as that symbiosis of the two’s answered by McCarthy, and relationship. It sometimes even fewer have been able to appears that the father is not create such a true masterpiece the one most important to their in doing so. survival: “You’re not the one who has to worry about everything,” he says. “Yes I am” is his son’s reply. This book is not an easy read; it is cold, harsh and biting, leading you through an emotional harrowing which few other books can match. McCarthy’s prose is bleak as the land it is set in; masterfully constructed, it hounds at the reader with a hacking determination that drags them into his world.
“This book is not an easy read,”
Yet for all its blackness, for all the despair held in these pages, The Road leaves its readers profoundly changed by the time they reach the end, with an inexplicable sense of hope
8
The Girl from the Tower: Part 1
A murder mystery by Barnaby Rule
I smelled the bitter air and surveyed the quadrangle in front of me. A small cobbled square, enclosed by gothic school buildings, each with a black slate roof, and a reputation for being dull and merciless; at least for the children that is. On the other side of this imposing clearing stood a tower even more reminiscent of the castles of Transylvania than the buildings either side of it; a crooked, bent structure with arrow slit windows and walls bruised by wind. Naturally, a building of such atmosphere evoked legends: the ghosts of headmasters past and so on. All of them ridiculous of course.
Sleet stung my face, a relentless winter sludge spat out from the sky that caked every surface in brown mire, and signalled the unavoidable arrival of winter. I turned my face away, and made my way across the quad. Trying to control my nerves, I wound my way through the cobbles, my brow furrowed and my fists clenched. I was never good at remaining calm, even as a child, and how I suffered for it; “highly strung” they called me, “OCD”. What did they know though, the snot-nosed, muttering, gossiping harpies that are children, constantly sucking, parasites of the grown? I had always hated them, and still do.
I approached the door to the tower, a large slab of oak, studded with iron, and engraved with all the rumours a teenager could ever hope to come up with: Liv “hearts” Tom; Andy loves Hattie and so on. I refrained from spitting on the graffiti and having unclenched my fist, wrenched the door towards me and began to work my way up the spiral staircase ahead. The clumsy flapping of birds’ wings echoed around the tower and gloom filled every crevice, and for a split second, I could relate to the fear that the girls of this tower felt, and how so many myths had spawned from it. I shook my head. It would be pointless to give oneself over to the mindless fluttering of the teenage brain. One must keep a clear head for what is to come.
9 I reached the top of the staircase, facing yet another studded door, behind which I knew were the people I wanted. The tittering and gossiping of school girls could never be mistaken, the comparing of lipsticks, the giggling over boys, all of it felt like broken glass scratching at the film of my ears. I braced myself, and pounded at the door with white knuckles. My heart trembled with fear as it beat, and, I felt the first bead of cold sweat, fall past my temple; suddenly, all in the room was hushed down to a whisper, before the door was opened by a sheepish looking girl with strawberry blonde hair. The dormitory I now stood outside was a basic affair, with Tudor beams across the roof, and twelve beds either side of the long, dingy hall. On each bed sat a girl, fiddling with her hair or a phone.
I took a breath, and with the voice of a repressed and broken man, said: “Jennifer, a word please.”
***
“Helen, for heaven’s sake have one,” said Nigella Thompson, deputy head of Saint Vincent boarding school, offering her secretary a mince pie. Looking down her nose at the plate, the evidently self-conscious blonde-bombshell politely refused, and returned to her computer screen.
With a sigh, Nigella returned to her desk, humming the best Christmas tune Radio 2 currently had to offer. Only ten more days she thought. Ten more days until the end of this godforsaken term and the start of her Christmas. She came into the academic year - like the rest of the staff at the school - with good intentions, and a painfully sunny disposition, but as the nights drew in, and weather grew worse, this slowly faded, and at this point, she would give anything to get away from the children she was surrounded by. Naturally, it was easier for her superior, the supercilious head master, nothing more than a professional stationery collector who left to her the running of the entire school.
Sighing once again, she took another bite of her pie. She looked at her calendar, and imagined the state some of the staff would be getting in at tonight’s Christmas party; she’d known for some time of Mr. Pendrew’s issues with drink and the hidden mini fridge in the history office that he referred to in times of stress. Secretly, Nigella envied this luxury. But still, within two weeks, she would be sipping mulled wine, and opening some poorly knitted jumper from a relative, with a cat like grin on her face, not cooped up in this office, opposite her stunning and hateful secretary.
It was as she lifted a half-eaten mince pie to her mouth though, that the average day was brought to a crushing end. Her door was flung open, and staggering through came the red-nosed Pendrew, sweat gushing from his greasy face, as he panted desperately for air.
“For God sake Andrew have you never heard of knocking?” Nigella said, while Helen swivelled on her chair for a better view of the unfurling drama.
“My G-God” He stuttered, hand running across his trembling face. “It’s Jennifer, Jennifer Lowland.”
“What about her damn it?” She growled, slamming her fist on the desk and dropping her pie into her lap.
“She’s... She’s dead.”
10 What the Dickens!
Ann Marie McMahon the Zeitgeist and was, at the Jerome could write, ‘It was explores the connection very least, its poster boy par Christmas Eve. Of course, as a between Dickens and excellence - and indisputably mere matter of information it is the best-known and best-loved quite unnecessary to mention Christmas. of his Christmas works was his the date at all. The experienced 1843 contribution to the reader knows it was Christmas English Christmas ghost story Eve, without my telling him. It tradition, A Christmas Carol. always is Christmas Eve in a And the tradition stretches ghost story.’ Indeed so – as, to back a long way: the distinctly quote a modern instance, the ‘supernatural solicitings’ of Sir phenomenal success on page, Gawain and the Green Knight stage and screen of Susan Hill’s
Christmas was dead to begin are set when ‘Þis kyng lay at ‘modern classic’ The Woman in with! Well, at least that’s how Camylot vpon Krystmasse,’ and Black – a work also set at Cromwell and the Puritans ‘a sad tale’s best for winter,’ as Christmas – can attest. wanted it – but they reckoned the young Mamilius reminds us without the crying human need in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Written between late for a little Saturnalian feasting Tale. September and early to cheer up the ‘bleak December, 1843, and published midwinter’, without the British “Dickens certainly tapped on 19th December that year, A talent for the ancient art of into the Zeitgeist and Christmas Carol was an instant, misrule and, crucially, without was, at the very least, its runaway success with the Charles Dickens! reading public, and all six poster boy par thousand copies of the initial excellence” print run had sold out by There had, of course, been Christmas Eve. Reading the Christmas celebrations in Already well-established by novella so affected the Britain between the end of the 1843 as the author of the historian Thomas Carlyle – Puritan commonwealth in 1660 novels The Pickwick Papers, rarely a man to be overcome and Prince Albert’s importing Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, with emotion – that he went of spruce firs from his native The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby straight out and bought himself Coburg in 1840 – a move often Rudge and Martin Chuzzlewit, a turkey, and fellow Victorian regarded as having established Dickens himself regularly novelist William Makepeace the foundations of today’s wrote ghost stories for the Thackeray, not always an Christmas traditions. Often Christmas editions of admirer of Dickens, called A somewhat over-exuberantly magazines, but 1843 brought Christmas Carol a ‘national credited with having single- about the first of a series of five benefit and, to every man or handedly invented the modern Christmas books (A Christmas woman who reads it, a personal Christmas – his literary Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket kindness,’ whilst an American superstar predecessor Sir on the Hearth, The Battle of Life businessman gave his Walter Scott, after all, did much and The Haunted Man) all on employees an extra day’s to restore the image of a ghostly themes, which he wrote holiday! A theatre adaptation medieval ‘Merry England, between 1843 and 1848. So was produced within six weeks, when/Old Christmas brought successful was he in furthering and Dickens himself performed his sports again,’ in poems such the tradition that, in his essay in public readings to audiences as his ‘Marmion’ of 1808 – ‘Told After Supper’ of 1891, of working people in their Dickens certainly tapped into British humourist Jerome K. thousands. With innumerable 11 theatre, radio, film and to ‘come in and know me as a schoolboy’ and ‘as giddy as television adaptations – to say better, man’; and Christmas a drunken man’, when he nothing of manga, opera, yet-to- come is chillingly awakes to find that he has not musicals, parody in Blackadder ‘shrouded in a deep black died a lonely death, unloved and the indisputable blessing of garment, which concealed its and mourned by nobody, but The Muppets! – Dickens’ ‘little head, its face, its form, and left that, in fact, ‘I am here – the Christmas book ‘stands, nothing of it visible save one shadows of the things that however, head and shoulders, outstretched hand’. would have been, may be triumphantly, above the rest in dispelled. They will be. I know the Christmas ghost story And Dickens does comedy, too: they will!’ because, ‘the Spirits tradition. Why is this? the very name Fezziwig is have done it all in one night. enough to raise a smile, and the They can do anything they like. “A Christmas Carol stands description of the ball which he Of course they can.’ For all this, head and shoulders gives for his employees is rich however, it is, surely and above the rest in the in comic moments, as ‘In they appropriately, the image of the all came, one after another; child which is at the heart of Christmas ghost story some shyly, some boldly, some the tale’s appeal. Scrooge tradition” gracefully, some awkwardly, weeps over the ‘lonely boy, some pushing, some pulling; in reading by a feeble fire,’- his Scrooge himself, with his they all came, anyhow and young self, in fact, left behind at infamous cry of ‘Bah, humbug,’ everyhow. Away they all went, school, when all others have is mired in misanthropy from twenty couple at once; hands gone home for the Christmas the start and is plainly being set half round and back again the holidays – just as he presses the up to be taught a lesson. The other way; down the middle spirit to ‘tell me if Tiny Tim will ghosts – the spirits of and up again; round and round live.’ Social concern beats Christmas past, present and in various stages of affectionate loudly in many parts of the yet-to-come, along with grouping; old top couple novel – in Dickens’ comments Scrooge’s former business always turning up in the wrong on the workhouse, the Poor partner, Jacob Marley, - are place; new top couple starting Law and the treadmill, in his magnificently realised: Marley off again, as soon as they got description of the living and has his trademark chain ‘made there; all top couples at last, working conditions of miners (for Scrooge observed it and not a bottom one to help and sailors, for example – but closely) of cash-boxes, keys, them.’ nowhere is it more vividly padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and horrifying and more scathing heavy purses wrought in steel’. “A Christmas Carol was than in the ghost of Christmas an instant, runaway present’s revelation from success with the reading beneath his robe of ‘two children – wretched, abject, public” frightful, hideous, miserable,’ who, the spirit tells us, ‘are Furthermore, even in his terror Man's,’ and ‘cling to me, at seeing the ghost of his appealing from their fathers. former business partner, This boy is Ignorance. This girl Scrooge essays a small jest by is Want. Beware them both, and observing, ‘You may be an all of their degree, but most of undigested bit of beef, a blot of Christmas past is represented all beware this boy, for on his mustard, a crumb of cheese, a as ‘a strange figure-like a child, brow I see that written which is fragment of an underdone yet not so like a child as like an Doom, unless the writing be potato. There's more of gravy old man’; Christmas present is erased.’ In 1794, half a century than of grave about you, ‘clothed in one simple green before the publication of A whatever you are!’ And who robe, or mantle, bordered with Christmas Carol, the poet of could forget the ‘whooping’ and white fur,’ and invites Scrooge ‘Jerusalem’, William Blake, had ‘frisking’ of Scrooge, ‘as merry 12 written with savage anger in for all primary-age children. novelists, whose social his ‘Holy Thursday’ poem from Not for nothing, when the ghost conscience gives energy and Songs of Experience: of Christmas-yet-to-come visits driving passion to all his them, are the Cratchits reading greatest works, by joining with Is this a holy thing to see of the episode in the gospels in Tiny Tim in the toast which has In a rich and fruitful land,— which Jesus ‘took a child, and echoed down the years, ‘God Babes reduced to misery, set him in the midst of them,’ bless us, every one!’ Fed with cold and usurous and not for nothing does the hand? brave, mufflered figure of Bob Cratchit remind us that Tiny Is that trembling cry a song? Tim ‘was a little, little child’ – Can it be a song of joy? perhaps the young Charles And so many children poor? Dickens of the blacking factory, It is a land of poverty! which, recent Dickens biographer Robert Douglas- And their sun does never shine, Fairhurst reminds us, haunts all And their fields are bleak and Dickens’ portrayals of children. bare, And their ways are filled with “It is, surely and thorns, appropriately, the image It is eternal winter there. of the child which is at the For where’er the sun does heart of the tale’s shine, appeal.” And where’er the rain does fall, Babe can never hunger there, So in a burst of creativity in late Nor poverty the mind appal. 1843 Charles Dickens breathed life into a set of characters who In A Christmas Carol Dickens, so would, over the following clearly Blake’s spiritual heir in century and a half, go well this respect, continues a theme beyond the confines of his red- of concern for the welfare of bound ‘little Christmas book’. children first announced by He would surely have approved him in his second novel, Oliver of our contributing to the Twist, in 1838. If, as Shelley Trussell Trust’s foodbank suggests, in his essay ‘A initiative – but would have Defence of Poetry’, writers of been scandalised to think it fiction are ‘the could still be needed ‘in a rich unacknowledged legislators of and fruitful land’. Nowadays, the world,’ Dickens certainly perhaps, some part of Dickens’ played his part in creating the indefatigable energies might be emotional and moral climate channelled into storyboarding which led to the passing of the next John Lewis Christmas legislation such as Factory Act ad – Snowman II: She Buys Him of 1844, which reduced the Socks? For the small hours of work in factories for masterpiece that is A Christmas children between eight and Carol we can, I think, all be thirteen to six and a half a day, grateful to Charles Dickens – and Forster’s Elementary especially in this year of the Education Act of 1870, which bicentenary of his birth. And made educational surely we can also honour the opportunities available – memory of one of our finest though not yet compulsory – 13
Step into their Skin
Hayley Milner praises “Transition from behind Boo Radley is truly Harper Lee’s stirring ignorance to fascinating, and demonstrates Scout’s developing maturity and portrayl of racial tension understanding is a major understanding. Tom Robinson is theme in the novel.” another of the novel’s ‘mockingbirds’, whose innocent Scout, the narrator of the tale, life is destroyed by the racial lives in Maycomb, with her father, prejudices of Maycomb. He is Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their falsely accused of raping Mayella African-American cook, Calpurnia. Ewell; however, when against a At the beginning of the novel, jury of all-white citizens, his Scout is an innocent, good-hearted attempts at proving his innocence five-year-old child, with a are futile. combative streak. She is initially
"You never really understand naive to the evils present in “To Kill a Mockingbird society, however, as the novel a person until you consider remains a warm and progresses, Scout is forced to things from his point of view - acknowledge evil’s existence as humorous novel” until you climb into his skin she is confronted with evil in the and walk around in it" form of racial prejudice. Her Despite concerning the serious attributes and character develop burdens on people’s lives, To Kill a Despite a scattering of mistakenly through such experiences, and her Mockingbird remains a warm and negative reviews from those who transition from ignorance to humorous novel, almost studied this novel for GCSE, understanding is a major theme in impossible to set down once your Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird the novel. Thanks to Atticus’s fingers have brushed the pages. is a thought-provoking and wisdom, Scout learns that The characters are captivating and inspirational work of fiction that although humanity has a great the storylines are riveting, both remains as prominent today as it capacity for evil, it also has a great intellectually and on an emotional did in the 1960s. capacity for good, and that the evil level. If I was to create a “must- can often be mitigated if one read” list of English Literature, To “A thought-provoking considers situations from Kill a Mockingbird would, without another’s “point of view”. Though a doubt, be on it. and inspirational work of she is still a child at the end of the fiction” book, Scout’s perspective on life develops from that of an innocent Set in the Deep South, this stirring child into that of a near grown-up. portrayal of racial tension and prejudice is told through the eyes Through-out the novel, the of Scout, a young girl whose tale audience connect with the many addresses issues of social ‘mockingbirds’ created by Harper inequality, racism and sexism, Lee. Boo Radley can be seen as a whilst demonstrating the symbol of goodness, who has been importance of moral education, trampled on by the evils of truth and courage. Predominantly, mankind, and forced into hiding. To Kill a Mockingbird is a tale of He dominates the imaginations of how prejudice must be Scout, Jem and their best friend confronted, fought and overcome, Dill, initially viewing him as irrespective of how difficult it is to “malevolent”. However, the do so. novel’s exploration into the truth
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In Chase of Fool’s Gold
Cameron Szedy reviews The con, the grift, the scam. screaming into the 21st the Liverpool Playhouse Along with alchemy, they’re century” performance of Ben amongst the oldest games in The three scheming fraudsters, town, and the Liverpool Jonson’s The Alchemist Subtle (Ian Bartholomew), Face Playhouse’s retelling of Ben a.k.a. Jeremy (Nicolas Tennant) Jonson’s farce ‘The Alchemist’ and Dol (Lara Rossi) are the is packed full of them. At its bankers of today with their core, this play is about greed, 17th century con tricks, and the ease with which people conspiring how to get money are led by the nose, when the out of the local populace with fool’s gold of sex, riches and promises of great wealth and power are dangled in front of good fortune. Jonson’s play is a them. Of course, while it was comedy that fully encapsulates first written and performed in the times of yesteryear when it the 17th century, those central was believed that magic, wit tenets hold very true today, and and rudimentary chemistry it’s upon those foundations that could change base metal into ‘The Alchemist’, is able to reach gold. Jonson had a knack for and engage a modern audience. noticing and pointing out the Director Robert Icke takes flaws of mankind, and in this th Jonson’s original 17 century play he particularly satirises text, and brings it kicking and human gullibility. st screaming into the 21 century with modern costumes, a “Jonson satirises human fantastic, deliberately rickety set and a number of choice gullibility” swear words, which all work together to create an ultimately We have farcical scenarios, engaging and enjoyable with the main protagonists performance. donning many wondrous and When the master of a house in ridiculous costumes to make London (Roger Watkins) has to fools out of their many visitors, flee the city after an outbreak tricking them out of their of plague, it is left in the care of money and goods. The rough his “reliable” butler, Jeremy. stage setting is appropriate to Along with two other dastardly the shoddy dealings of these swindlers, he sets about three villains, and the ending is exploiting the unwitting public a brilliant statement of what all for his financial gain. the audience has seen in the previous hours. Ultimately the “Director Robert Icke tricksters become the tricked as their final grand con slips off takes Jonson’s original the tracks at the last minute; 17th century text, and the conniving Face becomes a brings it kicking and plausible butler of the house again, essentially blackmailing his fellow charlatans, leaving 15 them empty handed while he well as the half-wit tobacco reaps the financial rewards merchant, and Dame Pliant (and is pardoned by his master (Ellie Kirk) is wondrous as a for helping him obtain a rich modern-day ‘wag’, blonde hair widow, who despite having and photo-ready smile, though only two lines is played with no sense between her brilliantly by Ellie Kirk); ears. despite this, his plea to the audience for forgiveness leaves There is much shouting and a somewhat bittersweet taste, a banging on tables as Kastril perfect ending to this farcical (Hasan Dixon) and Ananais genius. (John McGrillis) roar their way through the show, perhaps “The tricksters become with the volume a tad too high. the tricked as their final But what is fun are the grand con slips off the pantomimic antics of the cast as they fall and jump into tracks” audience and run amok in the balconies and boxes, and if you The dialogue is fast and furious, are in the stalls you’ll be and due to its 17th century squirted with water and may script sometimes the odd word find bread landing on your can slip through your fingers. head! As this is written in Jacobean language one has to But it is the main trio who are concentrate and listen to every the tour de force of this line; fortunately having an production with Bartholomew, English teacher who can Tennant and Rossi ably holding understand the quick it all together. In the end they exchanges of old language all have their comeuppance – as means that the moments that is expected. Although I have were appropriate to laugh at (almost) managed to refrain were fairly obvious. I from making any poorly recommend anyone who is conceived and downright going to see a play written in unnecessary gold-related puns such times, to take Dr up to this point, Ben Jonson’s McMahon with them. The brilliant antique language ingenuity of Robert Icke’s already provides for some direction keeps you on your comic gold with Icke’s genius toes as the players rush in and modernization of the play out of doors and up and down bringing the production up to stairs. This twelve-hander the full carat. leaves no time to be bored, though at times you may be confused! There are many interesting characters, including Sir Epicure Mammon (Simon Coates) who is happy to divest himself of his money to gain greater riches. Coates, dressed as a country gentleman is engaging, whilst Abel Drugger (Kristian Phillips) does 16 The Fool Doth Think he is Wise...
Chris Robson explores It need first be noted that themes of wisdom and Twelfth Night is, by its very delight in such a barren rascal,” foolery in Twelfth Night nature, applicable to it is clear he thinks himself Touchstone’s lines, especially wiser than such characters as when taken in the context of Feste; ironically it is this which Elizabethan society. Indeed, leads to his later folly Twelfth Night was a name for concerning Olivia, supporting the festival of Epiphany the claim “The fool doth think he occurring on the 6th of January, is wise”. Upon finding the fake which often involved a reversal love letter written by Maria, he in social order; traditionally the assumes “my lady (Olivia) loves king and nobles dressed as me,” and goes on to follow the peasants, while their subjects ridiculous commands within pretended to be nobility. the letter, a result of his belief Having taken its name from in his own wisdom. As Maria these festivities, it makes sense says, “he will come before her in It is a recurring theme of for Twelfth Night to have other yellow stockings… a colour she Shakespearian drama for the similarities with them, most abhors: and cross-gartered, a Fool to appear wiser than those notably the reversal of social fashion she detests; and he will he professes to fool for. Evoked order; mirroring the festivities smile upon her, which will now by the words of Touchstone, of Twelfth Night, the play’s be so unsuitable to her from As You Like It, “The fool ‘noble’ characters are disposition, ”and hence make a doth think he is wise, but the portrayed as foolish (as an fool of himself. wise man knows himself to be a example, we have Olivia’s fool”, it is a line particularly foolish pursuit of Cesario, “Much of the comedy… applicable to Twelfth Night; which lead to much neglect on lies in the humiliation of Malvolio believes himself wise her part), whereas Feste, one who thinks himself Olivia’s Fool, is portrayed as in pursuing Olivia, whereas he better than others” is in fact being foolish, and wise. It would appear the words “The fool doth think he is Feste, in playing the fool, often It should also be noted that appears the wisest character of wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool” follow the such attire is evocative of the all, foreseeing much of the comical clothing worn by court foolishness that other play’s main themes: the wise man becomes a fool, and the fools. Upon his meeting with characters commit. Of course Olivia her reaction is one of there are other examples of this Fool turns out to be a wise man. horror, “What is the matter with within the play, such as thee?”,however Malvolio is Orsino’s foolish pursuit of The events of Twelfth Night most overtly applicable to the unrecognising of this, and Petrarchan love or Sir Toby’s assumes her worried foolish manipulation of Sir claim, “The fool doth think he is wise,” are those surrounding questioning, “Wilt thou go to Andrew, yet it is Malvolio and bed, Malvolio?” is simply Feste who appear most Malvolio. Indeed Malvolio is portrayed as thinking much of confirmation of her love, “To relevant to the matter and bed? Ay, sweetheart, and I’ll therefore merit further himself, “O you are sick of self- love, Malvolio”, and from the come to thee.”So well has he investigation. convinced himself of her love, way he insults the Fool’s wit, “I marvel your ladyship takes that he doesn’t recognise his 17 own folly. In fact much of the is perhaps the only character I conclude that Touchstones comedy within the scene lies in who avoids making a fool of words “The fool doth think he is the humiliation of one who himself throughout Twelfth wise, but the wise man knows thinks himself better than Night, hence appearing much himself to be a fool” are entirely others, as a result of his own wiser than such foolish applicable to Twelfth Night. folly; the claim that “The fool characters as Malvolio, who we Many of the characters within doth think he is wise” appears so often laugh at; in contrast to the play appear foolish because entirely applicable. these, we “never laugh at Feste”, of a belief in their own wisdom only at his wit or those he is and the Fool himself seems to This comedy was probably making a fool of, as is proposed be the wisest character of all. even more effective in the by A.C Bradley. This is likely Not only is this the case, but context of Elizabethan society, due to the fact that he stands at Twelfth Night also makes direct due to Malvolio’s portrayal as a remove from much of the allusion to the words of “a kind of Puritan”, as with its action and rarely becomes Touchstone; Feste notes, connotations of disliking any emotionally entangled in the “Better a witty fool than a form of revelry, this satire of events of the play; as such, he is foolish wit” and tells Olivia “I puritanism would have been able to observe the other wear not motley in my brain”, all well received by the audience. characters from afar, providing but proclaiming Touchstone’s Furthermore, Malvolio could be a commentary upon the folly of proverb. Not only that, but it is a direct comment by their actions, which they also mentioned by the Viola, Shakespeare upon the themselves appear unable to “This fellow is wise enough to puritanical movement itself, recognise. play the fool… for folly that he stating that while the puritans wisely shows is fit; But wise men, might think it wise to shut “We never laugh at Feste” folly-fall’n, quite taint their wit.” down the theatres, they are in – A.C Bradley With such a prevalent theme fact fools for wanting to do so. occurring covertly and being Perhaps the most striking proclaimed outright, it would example of this is when he seem the fool does indeed think recognises Olivia’s foolishness himself wise, while the wise in mourning her brother’s man knows himself to be a fool. death: “The more fool, Madonna, to mourn your brother’s soul, being in heaven”, chiding her for excessive, melodramatic actions. It can be argued that this insight lends him a chorus like nature, so that he becomes “a mirror to the other characters” and provides Shakespeare’s “own comment on the story”; alongside his prophetic songs, this might imply he is the wisest character in the play. It seems that “the The character of Feste would wise man knows himself to be a appear to attest to the latter fool”. half of Touchstone’s claim, that “the wise man knows himself to Feste “provides be a fool”, for by his very Shakespeare’s own profession, Feste seems to admit his foolery, whilst comment on the story” appearing very wise. Indeed, he
18 Sin and Vengeance
Nia Hughes sings praise Carrie oppressed at home. thought-provoking when for Stephen King’s Carrie School is no better, with considered as a whole. ruthless bullying by her peers on a daily basis, and little to King “puts your logic and look forward to in later life; this conscious into conflict” is the sort of life many of us would consider unbearable. The fact that this book does get you thinking is probably the Ultimately, what King has best thing about it. Not to give created in Carrie is the classic anything away, but Carrie has a downtrodden character: not lot to answer for in the end; yet really unusual, common to you can't help but feeling that many books. But then he gives she’s still the main victim. her the telekinetic powers, and Taking into account the when she discovers these devastation she causes, this is powers for herself, the whole an impressive accomplishment town pays. of King’s. He puts your logic and conscious into conflict, “Ultimately, what King whilst also questioning the has created in Carrie is hypocrisy of religious fanatics, Carrie was Stephen King’s first the classic downtrodden and the way society treats its published novel, and only came character” outcasts. to print after being rescued from the dumpster by his wife. This book is one of my Despite its somewhat Carrie was inspired by two girls favourites because I have depressing plot, this is a book I from Stephen King’s past, both honestly never come across found impossible to put down, of whom had lived and died anything like it, even in King’s and I would highly recommend tragically; although he had later works. The 'Chapters' it to anyone, whether or not been toying with the idea of a (for want of a better word) they already have an interest in book about telekinetic powers comprise of Carrie’s own the horror genre. for some time, these girls were outlook on life, the narrations the true inspiration, and King of fellow characters, police used aspects of both when reports, transcripts of court creating his main protagonist, case hearings and more; this Carrie. makes the book appear more real, and gives you the feeling “Carrie was inspired by that you're missing something two girls from Stephen throughout the entire book, King’s past” without giving away what it actually is. There are also many Like both these girls, Carrie quotes from popular culture, lives the life of a social misfit. such as lyrics from John Lennon She's brutalised by her songs, usually appearing at the religious fanatic of a mother, beginning of each 'Chapter'; whose beatings and religious while on the surface these don't ‘cupboard of punishment’ keep seem like much, they are
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Games and Competitions
Hand in a completed version of the crossword to Chris Robson by the Across st 1) Pen-name of Charles-Lutwidge 1 of February for the chance to win a chocolate prize! Dodgson (5,7) 3) What is ‘Bilbo’ in Lord of the Rings? (6) 4) Superlative of rude (6)
5) The name given to non- magical humans in Harry Potter (7)
7) The number of novels Charles Dickens wrote (8)
8) Vicious (9)
9) The Hunger Games protagonist, Katniss... (8) Down 2) A word or phrase to denote something else (8) 5) Herman Melville’s book, also known as “The Whale” (4,4) 6) This author wrote about his war experiences in “Memoirs of a foxhunting man.” (7) 8) Shakespeare’s sonnets numbered one hundred and... (5,4) 20
Picture References
Macbeth: Shakespeare’s greatest hero or worst villain?: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570337/
Prejudice and Heartache: A review of Kathryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’: http://thefeministwire.com/2011/08/kathryn-stockett-is-not-my-sister-and-i-am-not-her-help/
The Poetry Corner: http://sites.duke.edu/english109s_02_s2012/2012/04/23/r12-stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy- evening/
The Road Less Travelled: A review of Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cormac-McCarthy/e/B000APT0OW http://bookcoverarchive.com/book/the_road_oprahs_book_club
The Girl from the Tower: Part one: http://www.pxleyes.com/photography-picture/4e87e5b36ef63/Gothic-Spires.html
What the Dickens! An analysis of Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’: http://chicagotheaterbeat.com/2010/12/05/a-christmas-carol-goodman-theatre-chicago-review/ http://graceuniversity.edu/iip/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/a_christmas_carol.jpeg
Step into their skin: a review of Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird: http://naturallyalise.com/blog/2012/03/belated-chats-and-other-things-of-a-belated-nature/dead- mockingbird/
In Chase of Fool’s Gold: a review of Ben Jonson’s ‘The Alchemist’: http://www.clickliverpool.com/culture/reviews/1217262-the-alchemist---rumbustious-16th- century-comedy-fun-at-the-liverpool-playhouse.html http://www.everymanplayhouse.com/News/Critics_heap_praise_on_Robert_Icke%E2%80%99s_%E2 %80%9Cfresh_sharp_and_very_funny%E2%80%9D_The_Alchemist/867.aspx http://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2012/09/the-alchemist-reviewed/
“The fool doth think he is wise...” a critical analysis of ‘Twelfth Night’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester http://shakespeare-art-museum.com/Rummy/Rummy06.html
Sin and Vengeance: a review of Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’: http://stephenking.wikia.com/wiki/Carrie_(2013_film)
Games and Competitions: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/mar/02/best-advice-writers-read
Preview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost
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Thanks for Reading! Students who wish to write for the King’s English should Contact Ann Marie McMahon, Ros Harding or Chris Robson
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