/lit/ - Literature

>ctrl+f "bowdlerize"
>no hits

Are you people really this historically ignorant?

>Thomas Bowdler (/ˈbaʊdlər/; 11 July 1754 – 24 February 1825) was an English physician and philanthropist, best known for publishing The Family Shakspeare, an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work, edited by his sister Henrietta Maria Bowdler, intended to be more appropriate for 19th century women and children than the original. Although early editions of the work were published with the spelling "Shakspeare", after Bowdler's death, later editions (from 1847) adopted the spelling "Shakespeare", reflecting changes in the standard spelling of Shakespeare's name.[1]
The verb bowdlerise (or bowdlerize)[2] has associated his name with the censorship not only of literature but also of motion pictures and television programmes.

Prudes have been censoring Shakespeare for centuries and it's always backfired. This is either a publicity stunt, an act of literary hubris, or both, that will be mocked and quickly forgotten.

>The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse if imagination amend them.

/lit/, in your opinion, what's the best complete Shakespeare collection out there? This is something I've been meaning to buy for a long time, and I have money now. Is the pelican shakespeare edition any good?

>>2118269
How so?

Is Shakespeare truly the greatest? If there was no Shakespeare, would we need to invent him? Would we simply find another writer who we say surpasses and influences everyone?

I don't want to suggest that Shakespeare is overrated, but rather can we truly say that he is better than say James Joyce or Dante? And even if say Joyce was objectively greater than Shakespeare, would we be able to recognize that and accept it? Do you think Shakespeare would find his position in world literature a little misplaced?

Harold Bloom says that genius and great works are not created in collaboration, but what if Shakespeare had been a collaborative effort? What would that do to our idea and idolatry of lone genius?

Discuss.

Would someone please help me? I need a paragraph translated in to archaic english! Here's the paragraph:
I beg that you please help me with a
horrible problem with Romeo and Juliet, and
I know you will be able to fix this with ease. On
Sunday, Romeo and Juliet met at a party, and
fell in love immediately. They exchanged words
later that night and one proposed that they get
married. The next day, I ,a fool, barried the two
fools. Shortly afterward, Romeo went to his two
friends to share the news of his recent marrage,
but was attacked by the villian Tybalt. Mercutio
tried to defend Romeo, but was slain by Tybalt.
Then, in a rage, Romeo attacked Tybalt, sending
him to his final resting place. At this point, as you
know, you banished Romeo. Now, they are
vowing to commit suicide if they cannot meet.
Aswell, Juliet's parents are forcing her to wed
Count Paris. I beseech that you revoke Romeo's
Banishment and calm the storm, as my unworthy
hands can do nothing compaired to your glorious
mind.


Ty for any help guys!

I was at the local starbucks today, and I noticed a composition notebook lying on the table next to me, and found.... Terrible Poetry and drawings. I'd like to share this voice of a generations work with you /soc/.

what's your favorite of shakespeare'[s work?

Brevity is the soul of wit.

Was Shakespeare sexist or chauvinistic?

Does anybody have any tips on how I can understand Shakespeare better?

I just feel like I'm really missing out on something amazing, by not being able to understand Shakespeare, you know? Like being deaf and never hearing Mozart or The Beatles.

/lit/, I think my teacher bullshitting me.

On our week coming back winter break our AP teacher made us watch A Midsummer.

This pissed me off because it was on my schedule of Shakespeare plays to read in the coming weeks. But I read it so that I could revel in the poetic language.

Our teacher told us that there was a tragedy/tragic character within the play and then he told us it's very hard to miss. The class didn't get it and I don't think I do either. He said it was very simple and this leads me to belive that he's referring to the play within a play that is staged by Bottom and the crew; Thisbes and Pyrasmus. But I think this is way too obvious.

So another part of me thinks the tragedy is Demitrius and how his free will to love was overuled by a supernatural force and thus made to love Helena. You could argue that's a good thing but there's something about brainwashing that's a little tragic to me (sure as hell was in 1984 and We).

So /lit/, is there a tragedy in A Midsummer Night's Dream or is my teacher just spouting bullshit?

>>1390312
You bastard.

What does /lit/ think of Shakespeare? I'm taking a class on him right now, and I'm really enjoying it. We just got done reading Othello, which I really liked. In fact, we put on a small classroom production of act 3, scene 3. I played a hammy and obviously evil Iago, which was very fun.

>But with a little act upon the blood.
>BURN LIKE THE MINES OF SULPHUR.

>>1276885
kinky ^_^

and yea, i'd take Will for a ride

ITT: we discuss Shakespeare being an overrated faggot.

Shakespeare sucked! He is the equivalent of Seth Macfarlane, a filthy writer.

People like Shakespeare don't deserve such fame.

Maybe I would respect shakespear if his plays or poems rhymed but they don't, why does he suck so much?

/lit/, I've been reading some Shakespeare. Last night, I finished Cymbeline. This play lacks a lot of the qualities other Shakespearean plays possess; however, there's only one thing I simply can't understand about this play: why is it considered a tragedy?

Okay, so is Shakespeare really THE greatest? I personally can't feel justified saying so, what I've read of his was amazing but I haven't read enough of him or enough literature in general to say with confidence.

I feel like the majority of these 'critics' who claim he's the greatest are english monoglots who feel satisfied knowing the greatest author of all time wrote in their language, thus reinforcing the English world hegemony. Are there many critics/authors of other languages who view Shakespeare as the greatest?

Perhaps once we settle the matter we can move on to the dubious question of Shakespeare authorship...but I digress.
; )

Anyway, discuss

Pon which standards can art be judged? Tell, tell, for time is short as my temper.

Why do people like Shakespeare?

My english teacher once asked us why we thought he was so popular, and he only wanted our opinion and didn't give his.

So I ask you /lit/, why is this guy so popular?

inb4 "becuz he's good"

He's more fun to watch than to read anyway.