One last draft of the Authentication Videos

The comparisons for Caesar and Troilus and Cressida, I added Kent's voice in for the transitions.

Reviewing the Learning Outcomes

How have I gained Shakespeare Literacy?

• Over the Semester I have been able to read 6 plays. The Tempest, King Henry V, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, Much ado About Nothing, King Lear, Loves Labour's Lost, and helped discover a lost Shakespeare play titled Meleager.

How have I analyzed Shakespeare critically?

• My knowledge helped me on the final to make sure we stayed true to Shakespeares methods. I have learned alot through reading all the plays and have critically analyzed in several blog posts one example can be seen here.

How have I engaged Shakespeare creatively?

• I was able to help write and produce a scene for a Shakespeare Played called Meleager. I was able to act and learn lines for the play we didn't end up using them all in the final production but it was a great opportunity. I was able to attend a production of the Merchant of Venice and I posted a review. Another way is, I have been able to see 2 video production’s of Shakespeare. I saw Henry V, and also Hamlet on video.

How have I shared Shakespeare meaningfully?

• I have been sharing my Shakespeare through conversation’s with a lot of different people. People became much more interested and were more engaged when I started talking about our final project. They were all eager and interested to see how we were going to make it work. It seems everyone has had a chance to doing something with Shakespeare. I tried reaching out through twitter, but I think I didn't get much of a response because I just created my account.

How have I gained digital literacy?

• I now have posted 5 videos to YouTube. I had never done that before. I have become proffecient in using Blogger and no how to use the Vidyo conferencing equipment fairly well. I learned how to edit video's in Camtasia. I learned how to post content to twitter and how to subscribes blogs to a google reader account.

This one is shorter and you can hear this time. Getting closer to a final draft.

Commen Elements Meleager to Caesar

This is what I have been working on.

I want to shorten it to 1 minute. I also edited the audio with headphones so unfortunately some parts of my commentary aren't loud enough. Let me know what you think so far.

Common Elements Meleager to Troilus and Cressida

I want to shorten this one to under a minute as well.

Analyzing Shakespeare's Fight/Murder Scenes

So we are well underway with the fight scene for Meleager, as part of the proof we want to compare it to other scenes from Shakespeare's plays. What are the common elements you can see between these two?

Julius Caesar
_____________________________________________________________

Troilus and Cressida
_____________________________________________________________

What other plays should we look at?

Why Meleager was lost.

Through research we have found that the play Meleager had a short lifespan. It was written just prior to Troilus and Cressida. The reason it was short lived the terrible production of Shakespeares script and the actor's unbelief in the success the play could have. After just a handful of plays the everyone burned their scripts, and the play was history. Or so they thought... little did they know it would show up in the First Fauxlio and be reintroduced to the world.

Setting for Meleager

The story of Meleager takes place in Ancient Greece more specifically in Aetolia as can be seen in the map below the land wasn't flat and the ports and rivers were great resources for the people.


In this picture you can see a typical landscape, demonstrating the many hills and trees that cover the location of where Meleager lived and wandered.

Pitching Meleager

We met today and came up with a pitch for the play! Doesn't this make you want to see it produced?

Kent did this in one take...

Common Elements tied to Shakespeare Plays

I have added a column to tie the common Elements in Meleager to other Shakespeare plays. Check it out here.

Is this a shakespeare play?

I am working on a 30 point checklist of determining the validity of a Shakespeare play. This is what I have found with Meleager so far.

Common Elements in Shakespeare Plays
Murder Death Plans thwarted	Not Yet
Stabbing the wrong person	Not Yet
Fatal Flaw with the main Character	Yes
Marriage	Not Yet
Across Class conflict	Can be developed
Confusion
Cross Dressing	Atalanta in the Hunt
Revenge Betrayal	Euriponditis with the log
Rise of Power
The Woods	All of the Hunts
A Storm	Not Yet
War
Love	Yes
Entire Army Cross Dress	No
Battle of the Sexes	Meleager vs. Atalanta
Word Play	Meleager and Euriponditis
A line and B line story lines	Yes
Everyone Dies	Almost Everyone
Mental Illness	Not Yet
Forgiveness	Meleager forgiving Euriponditis
Secrets	Lots
Shakespeare gave characters depth	Working on
Include a historic Event	Not Yet
Different Nationalities/Accents
Audience feel pity for main Character
Chiasmus	Yes
Education
The word "Esoteric"
Comic Relief
Honor

Hopefully we can find all of these in Meleager. Let me know if I need to and anything.

Euriponditis

Euriponditis

Young aspiring blacksmith with a specialty in weaponry. Has a hard time being respected because of his youth and inexperience in hunting. He has fallen for a married woman but is weary of pursuing it. He decided to prove the superiority of his weapons he would capture the White Stag. Through great frustration he is never able to catch the Stag. Throughout this process he pleads with God to help. Finally Meleager leads him to the stag and he curses Orion for forcing him to lose everything to find this Stag. Unfortunately he loses The Stag and Meleager is furious. Euriponditis becomes Meleagers servant and weapon provider.  Euriponditis never forgives the God's. This leads him to kill the husband of his future wife.

Quest for the White Stag, Act II

This is the story of Meleager and Euriponditis. How Euriponditis became Meleagers Sidekick, adapted from Nickson's story “The Calf and the Hyena.” Then adapted to fit with the White Stag

Euriponditis was an inexperienced Hunter but a great weapon maker, to establish a stronger reputation he felt the need to capture the White Stag to show the great quality of his weapons. During this hunt Euriponditis was having grave struggles greater struggles than he had ever had before. He pleaded with God to aid his hunt. Time went by and he became more and more frustrated. He would sell everything he owned to gain knowledge on how to catch the White Stag, he lost everything.

One night at a Tavern near his home Euriponditis overheard a man named Meleager who claimed to be the ultimate Hunter. Euriponditis thought that maybe Meleager could lead him to the White Stag. Euriponditis confronted Meleager and challenged him  to prove he was a great hunter by capturing the White Stag. Meleager with a war of words guarantees success. Atalanta overhears this conversation and decides to go and observe this hunt. The next day the hunt begins, and Meleager with his superior skill captures the White Stag quite easily. Before he returns he decides he might as well relax for a bit to appear as thought it wasn’t too easy, and that it took a little fight.  As Meleager is resting Euriponditis comes across the White Stag who is tied to a tree.

When he sees this Euriponditis curses the gods. "To all the gods of mountains and trees, you can't claim to have helped me find this stag," the Euriponditis said. "And to you, who claims to be the provider of everything and my mighty creator, I have nothing to do with you but to let you know that I'm very disappointed. Wait a minute! Don't even try to trick me that you provided this to me. No, this is entirely my efforts. Where were you when I sold all my belongings? Was it too difficult for you to bring this boar closer to me when I hadn’t sacrificed anything? Now, if you would excuse me, I want to enjoy this prized stag, and if you feel like you are the one who brought it, try and take it away from me."

So Euriponditis decided to capture the White Stag, but to prove he didn’t need God to help him decided to let the Stag go first and then recapture the Stag.  He started to loosen the rope, and prepare for the fight. He loosed the rope, and the White Stag went loose. Euripondits could never catch the Stag. Poor Euriponditis, that was the closest he got to his prize. He started crying and wailing and telling Orion that he was kidding, but that didn't help. Meleager came back to obtain the White Stag and was surprised to find Euriponditis sitting in the place of the Stag. With great sorrow in his eye Euriponditis pleads with Meleager to help him prove his weapons, Euriponditis offers to be his sevant, and provide him weapons for the rest of his life. Meleager not necessarily liking this man but keen of the idea of free weapons helps him catch the boar and give Euriponditis the credit and they have been friends ever since.  This relationships proves beneficial to both sides Euriponditis providing superior weapons to Meleager and Euriponitis increasing his reputation for fine weaponry.

Little did they know Atalanta saw and heard everything. She rubs it in Meleager’s face that Euriponditis is a better hunter, and said that she could hunt better than him as well. Atalanta challenges Meleager to a Boar hunt. But is denied the attempt because she is a woman, and women have no place in the hunt.

Found Plot for Lost Shakespeare Play!

We are still working to discover the name of this play, but have dug deep and found the basic plot for a lost Shakespeare play. There are still missing parts that need to be found please post if you find some of the missing pieces to the plot.


Basic Plot


Prologue: Introducing Meleager

• Birth
• Prophecy - Fates
• Mention him growing up and also Jason and the Argonauts

Act I

• Returns Home to Calydon and Aetolia
• Meets Atalanta
• Meets Euriponditis
• War of words
• Meleager challenges Euriponditis to capture the White Stag
• Atalanta overhears and conspires with friends to watch the challenge.

Act II

• Euriponditis and Meleager kill the White Stag.
• Euriponditis becomes Meleagers Servant
• Atalanta mocks at how long it took Meleager to catch the Stag
• Demands entry in the Boar hunt
• Denied because she is a woman

Act III

• The Boar Hunt
• Atalanta dresses as a man to participate
• Atalanta draws first blood on the Boar
• Meleager finishes the Boar off
• Meleager gives skin to Atalanta

Act IV

• Death Scene
• Meleager kills his brother Toxeus and uncle Plexippus
• Because they mocked him for giving the skin to Atalanta
• Euriponditis kills Iphicles and Eurypylus
• Iphicles is the husband of Euriponditis’s love.

Act V

• Meleager dies
• Althaea (Meleager’s Mother) convinces Euriponditis to throw the log in the fire.

Key plot ideas we are searching for the answers.

1. Kleopatra and Atalanta
1. Wife vs. True Love
2. Euri’s love story
1. Fall in love with a married woman
2. Could be Iphicles’s wife Chloe
3. The Boar Hunt
1. What occurs
2. Does Euriponditis become a friend or a servant?
3. Significants of the Boar Hunt
4. Meeting of Meleager and Atalanta
1. In an Inn or Tavern
2. Dynamics
3. Atalanta overhears conversation of Meleager and Euriponditis and conspires with friends to cheer on Meleager.
5. Meeting of Meleager and Euriponditis
1. War of Words
2. Meleager learns of Euriponditis’s superior weapons
3. They are competing for the whitestag.

Meleager's Sidekick

Building off of Kent, Rebecca, and Nickson's blogs.

This is the story of Meleager and Euriponditis. How Euriponditis became Meleagers Sidekick, adapted from Nickson's story “The Calf and the Hyena.”..

Euriponditis was an inexperienced Boar Hunter but great weapon maker, to establish a stronger reputation he felt the need to capture a boar with his weapons. During this hunt Euriponditis was having grave struggles greater struggles than he had ever had before. He pleaded with God to aid his hunt. Time went by and he became more and more frustrated. He would sell everything he owned to gain knowledge on how to catch a boar, he lost everything. As he continued his search he found a boar stuck tied to a tree.

"To all the gods of mountains and trees, you can't claim to have helped me find this Boar," the Euriponditis said. "And to you, who claims to be the provider of everything and my mighty creator, I have nothing to do with you but to let you know that I'm very disappointed. Wait a minute! Don't even try to trick me that you provided this to me. No, this is entirely my efforts. Where were you when I sold all my belongings? Was it too difficult for you to bring this boar closer to me when I hadn’t sacrificed anything? Now, if you would excuse me, I want to enjoy this prized boar, and if you feel like you are the one who brought it, try and take it away from me."

So Euriponditis decided to attack the Boar, but to prove he didn’t need God to help him decided to let him go and run a bit and then catch him later. So he started to loosen the rope, and prepare for the fight. He loosed the rope, and the boar went loose. Euripondits could never catch the boar. Poor Euriponditis, that was the closest he got to food. He started crying and wailing and telling his creator that he was kidding, but that didn't help. Meleager came back to obtain his boar and was surprised to find Euriponditis sitting in the place of the Boar. With great sorrow in his eye Euriponditis pleads with Meleager. Meleager having pity on Euriponditis helps him catch the boar and give Euriponditis the credit and they have been friends ever since.  This relationships proves  beneficial to both sides Euriponditis providing superior weapons to Meleager and Euriponitis increasing his reputation for fine weaponry.

Hamlet's Thought Process

Some of the most prominent lines in Hamlet  are Hamlet’s soliloquys.  These are instances in the play when Hamlet is speaking to himself, giving the audience the ability to know his thoughts.  In these soliloquys we are able to see and feel Hamlet’s thought process and his changing mood. One such instance is in Act II Scene ii. At this point in the play Hamlet has come to believe that Claudius killed his father, he comes to believe this through a ghost visitation.  In these lines at the beginning he is mourning his inability to act,

“Now I am alone.

 O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

Is it not monstrous that this player here,

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,

Could force his soul so to his own conceit

That from her working all his visage wann'd,

Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,

A broken voice, and his whole function suiting

With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing”! (II.ii.529-537)

As Hamlet continues his tone shifts to an idea he has to catch Claudius and gain greater assurance of Claudius’ evil act. Hamlet states:

“Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! I have heard

That guilty creatures sitting at a play

Have by the very cunning of the scene

Been struck so to the soul that presently

They have proclaim'd their malefactions;

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;

I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,

I know my course.” (II.ii.570-580)

Hamlet’s thought process can be followed throughout his soliloquys. You can see his want to act quickly according to what the Ghost has said. However, you can also see his inability to act and follow through on what he knows he should do. Hamlet finds a way that allows him to pass the burden of what he has to do for a little while, by setting an interim goal. However, Hamlet needs to remember to look at the means and the ends. If the means are aligned with the ends than what we are doing is worthwhile. In speaking in these terms Hamlet’s decision to catch the king through performing the play could be considered the means of the play justifying the ends. But as we see later on, Hamlet will put another obstacle in along the way. 

Trying to share the burden of what we have to do.

In Hamlet we see a struggle of Hamlet reaching out to others to fill his desire to revenge his father’s death.

One issue, is his determination to prove the guilt of Claudius and when speaking to Horatio states.

    “Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt

    Do not itself unkennel in one speech,”(III.ii.75-76)

If I knew who killed my father I would do everything in my power to bring justice, including catching the guilt of the murderer.

Hamlet also expresses his grief to Ophelia.

"for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks,

 and my father died within these two hours.”(III.ii.109-110)

A good friend of Hamlet doesn’t see his pain. At times in my life I have opened myself up to seek support and help, and it hurts when those you confide in aren't able to help.


     Hamlet even tries to open his mother’s eyes.
       "Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear,
       Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?” (III.iv.64-65)

He finally laments to himself.

“How stand I then,

That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,

Excitements of my reason and my blood,“ (IV.v.56-58)

Hamlet turned in many ways to others to help him grieve over his father. Every method he tried failed to fill the grief and pain he was experiencing. I could picture myself going from one hope to another trying to find peace and being unsuccessful. This characteristic of trying to fill the void can be found in Hamlet.  Hamlet is cunning and smart in some of his decisions but tends to procrastinate when things need to be finished.

Final Project: what we can include.

Common Elements

1. Murder Death Plans thwarted
2. Stabbing the wrong person
3. Fatal Flaw with the main Character
4. Marriage
5. Across Class conflict
6. confusion
7. Cross Dressing
8. Revenge/betrayal
9. Rise of Power
10. The woods
11. A storm
12. War
13. Love
14. Entire Army Cross Dress
15. Recurring Symbols
1. Honor
16. Word Play
17. A line and B line story lines
18. Everyone Dies
19. Mental Illness
20. The battle of the sexes
21. Forgiveness
22. Education
23. The word “Esoteric”
24. Comic Relief
25. Include a historic event
26. Different Nationalities/Accents
27. Audience feel pity for main Character
28. Shakespeare gave characters depth
29. Secrets

How often are we deceived by our ears?

A common occurrence I have noticed throughout Much Ado About Nothing is the act of eavesdropping. Or even just 2 people hearing things differently. I have scene this with Beatrice and Benedict, with Leonato, with Don John and several others.  Why is it that this occurs? It appears communication has always been an issue amongst mankind. I am compiling these occurences while I read and hopefully I can put them together to gain a better understanding of why and how this happens. Let me know what instances of misinformation have been in the plays you have studied as well.

Midterm

Midterm Self-Assessment

How have I gained Shakespeare Literacy?

• Over the past month I have been able to read 4 of Shakespeare’s plays. I have read The Tempest, King Henry V, The Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet. In addition to reading I have also been able to discuss the plays weekly in class where I have had the opportunity to understand the plays even better.

How have I analyzed Shakespeare critically?

• Over the last several weeks Professor Burton has been teaching us how to critically analyze Shakespeare. I have begun to do this as can be seen here, and which I will be doing more in depth on the play I get to read independently. My focus in reading thus far has been to get a wide knowledge, and I look forward to digging deeper and more focused in the upcoming weeks.

How have I engaged Shakespeare creatively?

• I was able to attend a production of the Merchant of Venice and I posted a review. Another way is, I have been able to see 2 video production’s of Shakespeare. I saw Henry V, and also Hamlet on video. This helped me to visualize and get a different take on the plays. Kent and I have been talking of doing some recordings, and then putting them together I am excited to see how they can turn out.

How have I shared Shakespeare meaningfully?

• I have been sharing my Shakespeare through conversation’s with a lot of different people, I can see that I missed documenting a lot of this in my blog. I have enjoyed reading others blogs and having others read and comment on my own. Most of my Shakespeare sharing has been through this blog. I plan to begin connecting more to others as Professor Burton has shared.

How have I gained digital literacy?

• I consider myself fairly sufficient in my digital literacy. I have posted on blogs that others have created but this is my first experience creating and blogging on my own.  I am not converted to ebooks yet I find myself missing having a physical copy of what I am reading sometimes. Probably because that is the way I read growing up.  I look forward to learning more with some audio and video editing software. I have had an interview through video conferencing before, I used G chat and I chatted from the top of the Hill Cumorah, I don’t think many people can say that, but I look forward to trying it again.

Self-directed Learning

• I have found myself thinking about how I can fulfill the learning outcomes. This is a great part about the class, because it gives us a chance to fit our learning styles to meet the guidelines Professor Burton has set.  I haven’t picked up on applying what is taught in class to my blog post as much as I should, but I think I am more aware of it now.  I have seen Rebecca dedicate herself with blogging every day and it has helped urge me to be more creative, but I have seemed to put off blogging, in feeling that I don’t have much to say.  I have enjoyed each person’s take on blogging styles and specifically how each person analyzes different parts in different ways. I feel like I am starting to get into phase II, throughout the first few weeks I was posting mainly to post, and now I have begun to post more of what I am learning and different thoughts that I have.

Collaborative and Social Learning

• Kent and Rebecca have been a big help for me in this class, there is a different relationship when you are in the same physical location as other people.  We have had fun discussing our struggles and successes with Shakespeare. I have seen good support from the comments of Sarah and Emily, and have really enjoyed all the different perspectives in others blogs. Class time has been a time to look forward to, I like how we take time to discuss the things we have learned through the week. I think we could learn more of analyzing Shakespeare critically and take time in class like we did last week to study and then collaborate and discuss. My connecting outside of class has been poor so far, and I am working on connecting with others. I am however, engaging in learning on my own through blogs and other media sources

Looking Ahead

• I look forward to studying more thoroughly an individual play in the coming weeks; I have also been talking with Kent about doing an Audio/Video project to one of Shakespeare’s plays stay tuned for what comes.

Skype Midterm Interview

So the last time I had an interview over the web, I was applying for a job at the MTC. My family and I were on vacation and the time of my interview was during the time we were going to be in Palmyra, New York. Fortunately we had a mobile hotspot I could use to get online. Only problem the signal was terrible except on top of the Hill Cumorah. So, that is where it ended up happening. I didn't end up getting the job... hopefully this one ends up better.

Different Connections

I was working on my Midterm Assignment, and I started thinking about the connection I have in this class.  It was nice actually seeing some of the people in our class in person at the Merchant of Venice down at BYU Provo.  Does being in the same location physically with others really make that big of difference? I feel like there is alot of learning especially in a class like this that happens with those around you.

A deeper look

I mentioned in a previous post about the financial decisions of Antonio, Bassanio, and Shylock made in the play. I now want delve a little deeper and show where these mistakes were made, and what lessons I hoped they learned and what we can learn.

Antonio

      Is a successful businessman who has a place in his heart for a good friend.  When Basanio comes and asked for help Antonio can’t say no even though he has no money.  He breaks one of his own rules because he doesn’t want to let his friend down. When negotiating with Shylock Antonio states, “although I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving of excess, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom.” He agrees to a loan with no collateral to back it. He uses his own life as collateral. Antonio is confident his ships will return. He assures Bassanio, “Come on: in this there can be no dismay; My ships come home a month before the day.” Unfortunately his ships didn’t come back in time.  I hope Antonio learned these 3 things. 

1. Do not put all of your eggs in one basket; you need to diversify your investments.
2. Even if you qualify for a loan it may not be wise to take it.
3. If everything else fails make sure you have a good lawyer.

Bassanio

Bassanio came to understand what happens when you rely on others to help you get money, when Shylock and Antonio are negotiating terms, Bassanio realizes things are getting pretty deep and states, “shall not seal to such a bond for me: I'll rather dwell in my necessity.” The assurance from Antonio quiets his concerns. However a few months later when he receives a letter from Antonio his worst fears occur. “Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love.” It could have ended a lot worse but I hope Bassanio learned these things:

1. Don’t put your financial obligations on someone else. 
2. The burden of a penalty coming due is greater if you have no power to affect the outcome.

Shylock

Shylock was persecuted, and this wore him down, he became greedy and thought his desires could be satisfied by the law being fulfilled. When negotiating the contract he was eager to take a pound of flesh from Antonio if the payment didn’t come in full. This is what he wanted and he wouldn’t accept anything else. “What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them: shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds Be made as soft as yours and let their palates Be season'd with such viands? You will answer 'The slaves are ours:' so do I answer you: pound of flesh, which I demand of him, Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it. If you deny me, fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?” Even after Bassanio offers him 3x the sum owed even 10 times. Shylocked continued, “An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.” With one last effort Portia pleads, “A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.” Shylock has become narrow minded and Portia must confide, she informs Shylock of all the stipulations of removing the pound of flesh. Basically making it impossible to complete without Shylock losing everything at this point Shylock back tracks, he says, “I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go.” But it was too late Portia has to continue, “Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: He shall have nothing but the penalty.” Shylock loses everything, his greed led to his demise. I hope Shylock learned these things:

1. Be willing to negotiate when the contract is due. Be Christlike and show mercy
2. Contract language is difficult and can be interpreted differently if you are not very careful
3. Always focus on the bigger picture and try not to become narrow minded and close your mind.

I hope you can gain something from these lessons that these men have taught us, if you think of any others let me know.