Category: Literature

To what extent are Shakespeare’s works still relevant today?

Keywords: ‘To what extent …?’ and ‘still relevant’.

• Shakespeare keeps the reader/listener engaged: explores pertinent issues: challenges thoughts/opinions: plot, characters and themes are cleverly interwoven: emerging themes and ideas are timeless
• human flaws/faults, dilemmas and relationships transcend time
• characters being human is fallible, e.g. Macbeth being too ambitious and Hamlet struggling to come to terms with the death of his father
• love, friendship, betrayal and vengeance are timeless themes
• a voice is given to those marginalised in society, e.g. females in the later sixteenth/early seventeenth century
• the enrichment of the English language, e.g. Shakespeare is the most quoted author in the Oxford dictionary
• examples: ‘all’s well that ends well’, ‘the world is my oyster’ and ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’
• the entertainment value and range of subject matter, e.g. war, religious conflict, racial prejudice, class division

‘It is not the singer but the song that counts.’ How far do you agree?

Keywords: ‘singer’ and ‘song’ and ‘How far’ and ‘agree’.

Musicals – songs linked with the plot e.g. Evita and Les Miserables show that the performance is more important than the song.
Classic songs covered by many but original singer captivates audiences, eg Elvis
Song-writing requires talent and creativity. Singing can be practiced and improved. Songs can be personal/emotional/universal in theme – people identify with them
The popularity of karaoke – singer entertains despite variable quality
Recognition of the need for a ‘good voice’ – ability to capture the emotions of words through pitch and tone. Hitting the right note is important for legedary songs, eg John Lenon’s Imagine
A singer could ruin the song
Melody or rhythm can be more important than the song