WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, página 9 de 166

Classic / British English (Available May 2008) This collection of six short stories, based on Shakespeares plays, is the perfect introduction to one of the worlds greatest writers. Meet the tragic young lovers Romeo and Juliet, mad King Lear, angry young Hamlet, and many more of the most famous characters in world literature

Julius Caesar's exciting plot, brilliant rhetoric, and searching characterisation have made it one of Shakespeare's most popular plays with both readers and theatre-goers. Introducing this thoroughly reconsidered edition, Arthur Humphreys provides a fresh look at the play's date and its place in the Shakespeare canon and examines Shakespeare's transmutation of history into drama. He investigates the play's ethical and moral concerns in a section on Roman values and analyses its fortunes in performance, from its immediately successful first staging to modern productions for cinema, television, and stage.

Classic / British English (Available May 2008) Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. His heart is filled with sadness and pain. Why? Only his two best friends, Horatio and Marcellus, know the true reason. The new king, Claudius, murdered Hamlets father and married the young princes mother. Will Hamlet be strong and brave enough to take revenge? Is he mad? Or does he have a secret plan?

Classic / British English (Available February 2008) Macbeth, a brave soldier, is trusted by the Scottish king. Then a strange meeting with three witches makes him greedy for power. Macbeth wants to be king. He and his evil wife make murderous plans. But how many people will have to die before their dreams come true? This Penguin Reader play is written for acting making English come alive

Since the rediscovery of Elizabethan stage conditions early this century, admiration for Measure for Measure has steadily risen. It is now a favourite with the critics and has attracted widely different styles of performance. At one extreme, the play is seen as a religious allegory; at the other, it has been interpreted as a comedy protesting against power and privilege. Brian Gibbons focuses on the unique tragi-comic experience of watching the play, the intensity and excitement offered by its dramatic rhythm, the reversals and surprises which shock the audience even to the end. His introduction considers how the play''s critical reception and stage history have varied according to prevailing social, moral and religious issues, which have remained highly sensitive. This updated edition contains a new introductory section by Angela Stock, which describes recent stage, film and critical interpretations, and an updated reading list.

King Richard III is one of Shakespeare''s most popular and frequently performed plays. Janis Lull''s introduction to this new edition, based on the First Folio, emphasises the play''s tragic themes - individual identity, determinism and choice - and stresses the importance of women''s roles in the play. It also underscores the special relationship between Richard III and Macbeth, demonstrating that the later tragedy re-examines issues raised in the earlier one. A thorough performance history of stage and film versions of Richard III shows how the text has been cut, rewritten and reshaped by directors and actors to enhance the role of Richard at the expense of other parts, especially those of the women. This updated edition contains a new introductory section covering recent criticism and performances - including the RSC cycles of the history plays - of this perennially popular play. The notes define the play''s language in terms easily accessible to contemporary readers.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet, is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is instructed to enact on his uncle Claudius. Claudius had murdered his own brother, Hamlets father King Hamlet, and subsequently seized the throne, marrying his deceased brothers widow, Hamlets mother Gertrude.Hamlet is Shakespeares longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play seems to have been one of Shakespeares most popular works during his lifetime and still ranks among his most-performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired writers from Goethe and Dickens to Joyce and Murdoch, and has been described as "the worlds most filmed story after Cinderella".The story of Hamlet ultimately derives from the legend of Amleth, preserved by 13th-century chronicler Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum as subsequently retold by 16th-century scholar François de Belleforest. Shakespeare may also have drawn on an earlier (hypothetical) Elizabethan play known today as the Ur-Hamlet, though some scholars believe he himself wrote the Ur-Hamlet, later revising it to create the version of Hamlet we now have. He almost certainly created the title role for Richard Burbage, the leading tragedian of Shakespeares time. In the 400 years since, the role has been performed by highly acclaimed actors from each successive age. Three different early versions of the play are extant, the First Quarto (Q1, 1603), the Second Quarto (Q2, 1604), and the First Folio (F1, 1623). Each version includes lines, and even entire scenes, missing from the others. The plays structure and depth of characterisation have inspired much critical scrutiny. One such example is the centuries-old debate about Hamlets hesitation to kill his uncle, which some see as merely a plot device to prolong the action, but which others argue is a dramatisation of the complex philosophical and ethical issues that surround cold-blooded murder, calculated revenge, and thwarted desire. More recently, psychoanalytic critics have examined Hamlets unconscious desires, and feminist critics have re-evaluated and rehabilitated the often maligned characters of Ophelia and Gertrude.

Al escribir las obras que integran este volumen - Ricardo II (1595-1596) y las dos partes de Enrique IV (1597- 1598) -, el dramaturgo William Shakespeare (1564- 1616) daba un salto atrás en el tiempo. Ya habian aparecido las tres partes de su Enrique VI y el epilogo o cima de ellas que es Ricardo III, cuya conclusion nos coloca en el principio de la dinastia Tudor. Luego de esto, se planta Shakespeare con la imaginacion en la Edad Media para concluir estos dramas historicos.

Cuatro conceptos son determinantes en «Romeo y Julieta»: el Destino, los presagios que preludian un fin trágico; la Acción, propiciada por la enemistad de las dos familias y la precipitación en las d

Classic / British English (Available February 2008) This wonderful story of fairies, dreams and lovers is as popular today as it was in Shakespeares time. In a wood outside Athens, four young people are following their dreams, while fairies play strange games with them. Their world seems unreal but is it really very different from our own

Dominoes are full colour readers with extensive Activities and Project pages. They are suitable for students who need more support in their reading than is provided by traditional readers. The Activities and Projects can be used either in class or as homework. * Graded from Starter to Level 3 (Pre-Intermediate) of the Bookworms grading system. * Two pages of Activities at the end of every chapter. * Five pages of poject work. * Glossary on the page to provide full vocabulary support.

Coriolanus is perhaps the most brilliant political play ever written. Set in Ancient Rome, it remains a gripping psychological study of the relationship between personality and politics. The introduction to this new edition considers Shakespeare's adaptation of his historical material (Plutarch's Lives) in relation to the social and political conditions in London and Stratford at the time of the play's composition, also offering new evidence that it was written in 1608. Professor Parker examines the play's history and particularly its staging at the Blackfriars theatre, where it was probably the first of Shakespeare's plays to be presented and for which it may have been written. A thorough commentary pays special attention to the needs of actors and directors.

Vive con Romeo y Julieta la historia de amor más trágica jamás contada.

Partint del text original de l’any 1623, Lluís Soler Auladell (actor professional) ens presenta una traducció de La tragèdia del rei Lear on preval mantenir la intentencionalitat de l’autor i de les

"Cymbeline" is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare and one of his later ones. Near the end of his career, William Shakespeare wrote a group of beautiful and confounding plays that did not easily fit into any of his previously chosen genres, or categories of literature. These plays are neither tragedies nor comedies, though they contain elements of both at times. They also often feature exotic locations, elaborate special effects, and magic. Shakespearean critics have classified this group as Shakespeares romances. One of these romances is "Cymbeline", first performed around 1611.Gullible Cymbeline, King of Britain, takes a new wife who has an arrogant son called Cloten. Cymbelines beautiful daughter Imogen is expected to marry Cloten. Instead Imogen marries the brave, but poor Posthumus Leonatus. Cymbeline is furious when he finds out about the marriage and banishes Posthumus who goes to Rome. The couple have time to exchange love tokens and Imogen gives Posthumus a diamond ring and he gives her a bracelet. The villain of the plot is Iachimo who bets 10,000 ducats against Posthumuss diamond ring that he can seduce Imogen. Various plot lines ensue involving deceit, cross-dressing, poison and treachery. The story has a happy ending when Iachimo confesses and Imogen reveals her true identity and is reunited with Posthumus.

"La tempestad" es un drama en cinco actos en verso y prosa escrito en 1611 por el maestro William Shakespeare y estrenado el mismo año."La tempestad" está considerada como la invención más sincera y original de Shakespeare. Es tambien la summa de su cultura acumulada a traves de los años, y sobre todo de su experiencia teatral. Es ante todo un experimento en el ambito del espectaculo: explota, deliberadamente, como ninguna otra obra precedente, los recursos y trucos de escena y hace del elemento musical y de todos los efectos sonoros una estructura que recorre la obra.En este drama, compuesto al final de su carrera (y al igual que en "El sueño de una noche de verano", escrito al comienzo), Shakespeare introduce elementos sobrenaturales recurriendo al mundo maravilloso de los elfos y de las hadas, y funde admirablemente las acciones de estos seres fantasticos con las aventuras humanas, con lo que estas ultimas ganan en donosura y profundidad. ResumenUna tormenta naufraga a Antonio, Alonso, el Rey de Napoles, y su hijo Fernando en una isla cuando regresan de una boda. La tormenta fue causada por Prospero, un viejo hechicero que fue exiliado a la isla con su hija, Miranda, de Milan hace muchos años cuando sus hermanos lo traicionaron. Esta decidido a vengarse de sus hermanos por su traicion. Ferdinand esta separado de su padre y cree que esta muerto, pero se encuentra con Miranda y Prospero mientras se pasea por la isla. Inmediatamente se enamora de Miranda, que forma parte del plan de Prospero. En un principio finge oponerse al sindicato. El asistente sobrenatural de Prospero Ariel comienza a hacer trucos sobre el rey y sus hombres mientras vagan por la isla.Prospero organiza un banquete fantasma para aparecer y desaparecer repentinamente delante de Alonso, Antonio y sus hombres. Ariel aparece como una arpia y declara que Alonso, Antonio y Sebastian han sido llevados a la isla para ser castigados por lo que le hicieron a Prospero. Los hombres quedan completamente asustados, y Prospero los aprisiona.Prospero finalmente da su consentimiento para que Miranda y Fernando se casen. Entonces se siente mal por encarcelar a los hombres, asi que le dice a Ariel que los traiga para que pueda realizar su hechizo final. El revela su identidad. Alonso se disculpa, y se siente aliviado al descubrir que Ferdinand esta vivo despues de todo, y comprometido con Miranda. Prospero propone que todos regresen a Milan para la boda, donde tambien se retirara. El barco es magicamente reparado, y Prospero pide a la audiencia que lo libere con sus aplausos.

William Shakespeares "Much Ado About Nothing" is one of the Bards most popular comedies. First written and performed in 1598 or 1599, it has been performed almost constantly ever since, as generations of great Shakespearean actors and actresses take on the roles of bickering lovers Beatrice and Benedick.The play was also the basis for one of the most popular film adaptations of Shakespeare of all time: director Kenneth Branaghs 1993 version starring himself, Emma Thompson, and Denzel Washington among others. And in 2012, in between making Avengers movies, director Joss Whedon also made a highly acclaimed film adaptation.Much of the focus around Much Ado always centres on Beatrice and Benedict, two of Shakespeares greatest comic creations. But, the quarrelsome duo are actually only supporting characters in the play, and there is a lot of other action happening.Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Heros cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrices love defending her cousins honour, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead.