Things Noticeable this week - Page 1015

**dbailey** · May 10th, 2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

Shakespeare is not 'dull'. But his works had no original plot, no English-speaker ever spoke like he wrote, and his works are 500 years old and hard to understand, especially for foreigners

But some of his sentences are works of art

Most of his sentences are hard to understand by us northerners.

Never have understood the charm, I think it is just sheer snobbery, give me Dylan Thomas or JB Priestly or John Betjeman anyday. at least what they paint an image of has some echo of meaning for a chap like me.

Shakespear...no thanks

Now Terry Pratchett...

**Greenman** · May 10th, 2012, 08:53 PM

Forsooth, and fifthsooth even it seems that even on here Shakespeare is popular but I can see how tha' northern folk might see it as bit hard to understand, no one said it was easy and a lot of his stuff is difficult for even us Southerners to get-he is often misquoted for example "All that glitters is not gold" should actually be "All that glisters is not gold" but who the heck uses glisters these days

Hamlet: "To be, or not to be, that is the question, whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing them end them..." etc. Whichever way you look at it, he was one of the greatest writers and a real tourist attraction for this country. Exeunt, persued by a bear!

**squigg58** · May 10th, 2012, 09:06 PM

I must admit that I hated doing Shakespeare at school. It was Henry the something-th part something if I remember correctly. Not a lot happened in it. Someone might have died at some point, and there were probably a few "exeunts"!

However, all Shakespeare plays are much more fun if you imagine them being read in a Brummie accent!!

**TCO95** · May 10th, 2012, 11:12 PM

At least the members from the British Isles have a cultural background for learning Shakespeare. Some of the terminology and language may sound familiar although a bit dated. Try being a couple of generations removed and an ocean away like I was when they tried to get us to learn his works. Plus we were only 10-12 years old and this stuff was way over our heads. Which leads me to my point. Our literature class followed our religious studies and the language in the bible can be a bit archaic. So our teacher reads us a passage from one of the plays and asked us if we recognized the writer. The student sitting behind me raised his hand and, in all seriousness, asked "Did he write the Bible." The teacher cracked up laughing but more than a few students were nodding in agreement. And that's been my take on Shakespeare ever since, great writer just a little hard to understand.

No one asked but my favorite writer is Dan Simmons.

**billybunter** · May 11th, 2012, 12:48 AM

Was watching a weird bodies type program on TV. First bit a bloke was producing milk from his moobs-oh dear. Next a man who became a woman. I had never seen the results of the surgery. Bloody hell! no wonder blokes get caught out. It looked like a real pussy to me. The face is not feminine enough, but beer googles change that

**haroldeye** · May 11th, 2012, 06:42 AM

Hah! Northerners can understand Will's work as well as anybody. Just need a proper education that's all.

Shakespeare and Tyndale (the man who oversaw the translation of the bible) were contemporaries and produced some of the most beautiful literature ever written.

**haroldeye** · May 11th, 2012, 07:34 AM

I should add that much of those works form the glue that held together the British over several centuries and most certainly since the Education acts of the 1880's.

George Orwell in one of his essays points out the importance of the language and how the British culture is one of the written word rather than art or music.

**haroldeye** · May 11th, 2012, 07:35 AM

200 years ago today a bankrupt madman shot and killed the British Prime Minister Mr Spencer Perceval.

**squigg58** · May 11th, 2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

George Orwell in one of his essays points out the importance of the language and how the British culture is one of the written word rather than art or music.

Well, he would, wouldn't he! If he'd been an artist or a composer, I guess he might have seen things in a slightly different light!

**palo5** · May 11th, 2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

...George Orwell in one of his essays points out the importance of the language and how the British culture is one of the written word rather than art or music.

Britain does have art and some music, it just isn't so well known. The art is much better than the music, imho

May 10th, 2012, 08:53 PM	#10142
Greenman Live Legend of VEF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world Posts: 20,353 Thanks: 30,936 Thanked 383,516 Times in 19,356 Posts	Forsooth, and fifthsooth even it seems that even on here Shakespeare is popular but I can see how tha' northern folk might see it as bit hard to understand, no one said it was easy and a lot of his stuff is difficult for even us Southerners to get-he is often misquoted for example "All that glitters is not gold" should actually be "All that glisters is not gold" but who the heck uses glisters these days Hamlet: "To be, or not to be, that is the question, whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing them end them..." etc. Whichever way you look at it, he was one of the greatest writers and a real tourist attraction for this country. Exeunt, persued by a bear! __________________ There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 20,000: Milestone reached!

May 10th, 2012, 11:12 PM	#10144
TCO95 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: This member is not allowed in your country. Posts: 5,176 Thanks: 47,615 Thanked 64,804 Times in 5,130 Posts	Re: Shakespeare At least the members from the British Isles have a cultural background for learning Shakespeare. Some of the terminology and language may sound familiar although a bit dated. Try being a couple of generations removed and an ocean away like I was when they tried to get us to learn his works. Plus we were only 10-12 years old and this stuff was way over our heads. Which leads me to my point. Our literature class followed our religious studies and the language in the bible can be a bit archaic. So our teacher reads us a passage from one of the plays and asked us if we recognized the writer. The student sitting behind me raised his hand and, in all seriousness, asked "Did he write the Bible." The teacher cracked up laughing but more than a few students were nodding in agreement. And that's been my take on Shakespeare ever since, great writer just a little hard to understand. No one asked but my favorite writer is Dan Simmons.

May 11th, 2012, 12:48 AM	#10145
billybunter R.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 14,404 Thanks: 51,687 Thanked 252,372 Times in 14,171 Posts	Was watching a weird bodies type program on TV. First bit a bloke was producing milk from his moobs-oh dear. Next a man who became a woman. I had never seen the results of the surgery. Bloody hell! no wonder blokes get caught out. It looked like a real pussy to me. The face is not feminine enough, but beer googles change that __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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May 10th, 2012, 09:06 PM	#10143
squigg58 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: My own little world Posts: 2,476 Thanks: 14,113 Thanked 25,970 Times in 2,473 Posts	I must admit that I hated doing Shakespeare at school. It was Henry the something-th part something if I remember correctly. Not a lot happened in it. Someone might have died at some point, and there were probably a few "exeunts"! However, all Shakespeare plays are much more fun if you imagine them being read in a Brummie accent!!

May 11th, 2012, 06:42 AM	#10146
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,715 Thanks: 113,498 Thanked 59,964 Times in 5,707 Posts	Hah! Northerners can understand Will's work as well as anybody. Just need a proper education that's all. Shakespeare and Tyndale (the man who oversaw the translation of the bible) were contemporaries and produced some of the most beautiful literature ever written.

May 11th, 2012, 07:34 AM	#10147
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,715 Thanks: 113,498 Thanked 59,964 Times in 5,707 Posts	I should add that much of those works form the glue that held together the British over several centuries and most certainly since the Education acts of the 1880's. George Orwell in one of his essays points out the importance of the language and how the British culture is one of the written word rather than art or music.

May 11th, 2012, 07:35 AM	#10148
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,715 Thanks: 113,498 Thanked 59,964 Times in 5,707 Posts	200 years ago today a bankrupt madman shot and killed the British Prime Minister Mr Spencer Perceval.