William Shakespeare's legacy

In 2016 the world is commemorating 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare. This special anniversary year is a truly unique opportunity to dive into Shakespeare. This year we have been enjoying  learning about Shakespeare at our school. We have been studying  his plays because of his mastery of the English language and his talent to write plots which delves into depths of human nature.

Many of his plays have been adapted to films with much success. The comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" is a good example of this.

This play has been adapted to movies in several occasions. The last adaptation of 1999 , "10 Things I Hate about You" serves to highlight the fact that William Shakespeare's writings are timeless and universal. 

Plot  

New boy at Padua High, Cameron James, is attracted to the beautiful and innocent Bianca Stratford at first sight but is soon warned by buddy Michael that she is out of bounds.  Her protective father will not allow Bianca to go out with boys until her elder sister, the unpopular Kat, starts dating.  Cameron and Michael come up with a plan to convince the rich and sleazy Joey Donner to pay school rebel, Patrick, to date Kat, thus leaving the way free for Joey to date Bianca.  In the meantime Cameron stays close to Bianca by tutoring her in French.  After initially spurning Patrick, Kat accompanies him to the school prom where she learns about the deal between Patrick and Joey.  Although the course of true love never runs smoothly, the film finishes with a happy ending for all four teenagers.

I) Post watching activities

1.   Name the characters that fit within the stereotypes below:

• A difficult and unpopular girl   …………………………………………………
• A beautiful and popular girl     …………………………………………………
• A faithful friend                      …………………………………………………
• A lovesick suitor                     …………………………………………………
• An unpleasant rival                 …………………………………………………
• A tough guy who is really a softy ………………………………………………
• An overprotective father          …………………………………………………

   Does this sound familiar?

William Shakespeare was born at Stratford-upon-Avon in England in 1594 and became one of the greatest writers in the English language.  In his play Taming of the Shrew a young man, Lucentio, arrives in Padua to begin his studies at the university and immediately falls in love with Bianca, the beautiful, sweet daughter of wealthy father Baptist.  Unfortunately, for Lucentio, Bianca’s father will not allow her to marry until her elder sister, the ill-tempered and fiery Katherina, is married.  Lucentio disguises himself as Bianca’s Latin tutor so he can be near her.

In the meantime Detruchio arrives in Padua from Verona to find a rich woman for a wife.  He agrees to marry Katherine before even having seen her and despite her reputation for being difficult.  She is rude to him once they do meet.  After they marry Detruchio sets about turning Katherine from a shrew into a loyal and loving wife.

II) Read the plot of The taming of the Screw and 10 things I hate about you and:

a. Find similarities and differences in both plots. 

b. Is there anything that calls your attention in the names which appear in the movie?

III)

 Taming of the Shrew

Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, 

Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, 

And for thy maintenance commits his body 

To painful labour both by sea and land, 

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, 

Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe; 

And craves no other tribute at thy hands 

But love, fair looks, and true obedience- 

Too little payment for so great a debt. 

Such duty as the subject owes the prince, 

Even such a woman oweth to her husband; 

And when she is forward, peevish, sullen, sour, 

And not obedient to his honest will, 

What is she but a foul contending rebel 

And graceless traitor to her loving lord?

- Katharina “Kate” from The Taming of the Shrew

This speech shows Kate, once a shrew, fully submitting to her husband, 

Petruchio. He has tamed her sharp tongue. Shakespeare’s Kate gives in to 

the demands of her time. She must marry and serve her husband to have a 

role in society. If she remained a shrew, a label given to her by others, she 

wouldn’t have a place in society. In the end, being servant to a man is better 

than nothing at all.

At the end of the movie  10 Things I Hate About You, Kat  reads a poem aloud in class as she looks at Patrick . She’s quite a poet. Here’s what she says:

What do you think  Kate ‘s poem means?

I hope you've  enjoyed the lesson!!!