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If I'd Meant That, I'd Have Said It

Part A. First and foremost, Shakespeare is a poet. He uses language in imaginative ways to catch the fancy of his audience. For example, an actor in the film observes that instead of one character in the play telling another to hurry up, he says, "Be like Mercury..." Collect examples of Shakespeare's figurative language. In the space below, or on another paper, first write your example, then explain what it means literally.

1. Be like Mercury	Hurry up
2. Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York
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Part B. In the film, Al Pacino observes that to enjoy Shakespeare, one must get used to his language -- "tune up" to it as one does to rap music. Undoubtedly, if Shakespeare were alive today, it would take him awhile to tune up to Snoop Doggy Dogg! Find examples in contemporary song lyrics, newspaper headlines, even sports coverage, of the imaginative or figurative use of language. Collect some you think are particularly colorful and effective and write them below.

1. "Giants Deck Cards" (baseball score) [example]

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Part C. Select a brief scene between two or more characters in Richard III and "translate" the language so the characters speak to one another in rap, "Valley girl" talk, or some other highly characteristic manner of speaking. Please note the scene selected. Use another sheet of paper if you need to.

Part D. Looking for Richard makes it clear that in preparing a play, the actors must grapple not only with the meaning of Shakespeare's language, but with the characters' motivations as well. The actors' often heated discussions show that there are no simple, clear-cut answers to questions of interpretation. With a group of your classmates, select a scene from the play to perform. Discuss among yourselves how you believe each actor should read his or her lines. Assign one person to take notes on the main points of your discussions. After you have performed the scene for the class, give the gist of your arguments and get your classmates' views on your final decisions.

Copyright ©1996, Youth Media International; used with permission.