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[kinglouiswasthekingoffrance]

SHAKESPEARE

1-24-23

Act2 scene 1

ANDREW: Here comes the fool.

FOOL: How now, my hearts? Did you never see the picture of "We Three"?

TOBY: Welcome, ass! Now let's have a catch.

I like this exchange from ACT II because it is funny the thought of being a fly on the wall and getting paid to be called an 'ass' and then sing songs.

Act2 scene 4

ORSINO: {giving money} There's for your pains.

FOOL: No pains, sir. I take pleasure in singing, sir.

ORSINO: I'll pay thy pleasure, then.

FOOL: Truly sir, and pleasure will be paid, one time or another.

I really do like this back and forth with the Fool and Orsino, because I think it represents a sincere thought of how the Fool views his role as bringing pleasure through music.

Act 3 scene 1

VIOLA: Save thee, friend, and thy music. Dost thou live by thy tabor?

FOOL: No, sir, I live by the church.

VIOLA: Art thou a churchman?

FOOL: No such matter, sir. I do live by the church, for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church.

I really like this exchange because it is very witty especially from the point of view of the Fool, especially when he says that simply lives by the church, but that does not mean he is a churchman or has anything to do with the church, he just lives close to it.

1-30-23

Act 5 Scene 1

FOOL: Why, "some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them." I think this is a good quote because it is true often in history especially concerning great leaders of history.

Merchant of Venice:

Act 1 Scene 1

ANTONIO: I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; a stage where every man must play a part, and mine a sad one. I like this line because it is line often quoted by Shakespeare.

Act 1 Scene 3

BASSANIO: If it please you to dine with us.

SHYLOCK: Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. I like this exchange because what Shylock is saying about not eating, drinking or praying with Bassanio speaks to the obvious truth that Shylock being Jewish cannot do these things that Christian do because it runs against Jewish religious beliefs.

2-7-23

Act 2 Scene 8

SALANIO: The villain Jew with outcries raised the duke, who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. --By calling Shylock 'the villain Jew,' instead of just 'the Jew,' demonstrates here how Shylock is viewed by many in this play.

Act 3 Scene 1

SALANIO: Now, what news on the Rialto?

SALARIO: Why, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wracking on the narrow seas...

I like this opening scene in Act 3 because I find it kind of funny that Antonio was counting on his ships to help pay off Shylock. Now that the ships are gone, all of a sudden there is this drama about what Antonio is going to do now

Act 4 Scene 1

SHYLOCK: ...you'll ask me why I rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats: I'll answer that: but say it is my humor...

This part of the line in court that Shylock gives to explain why he would rather get some flesh than receive money. His 'humor' is the expectation that Jews only care about money and only money, so to appease this bit of humor that has become his own humor that he now owns, he chooses a pound of flesh instead. I like this line from Shylock, because it demonstrates some of the pressure he has felt about stereotypes Christian and other non Jews feel concerning Jewish motives such as the idea of worshipping money.

Week 5

Coriolanus Act 1 Scene 1

First Citizen: If I must not, I not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side of the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!---------So, this sounds like there is some discontent brewing early in this play. First Citizen's shout 'to the Capitol' makes me think of the march to the Capitol in 2021 in Washington DC.

Act I Scene 2

Aufidius: ...'tis not four days gone since I heard thence; these are the words: I think I have the letter here; yes, here it is [reads] 'They have pressed a power, but it is not known whether for east or west; the dearth is great; the people are mutinous... so they are in the senate discussing the restlessness in the streets of Rome. I like this people it helps to heighten the sense of tension and the concern about what the citizens of Rome might do to harm the government of Rome.

Act II Scene 1

Menenius: In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two have not in abundance? Brutus: He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all. Sicinius: Especially in pride. Brutus: And topping all others is boasting. --------I like this exchange between Menenius and Brutus and Sicinius because it is witty and also because it reveals how the two of them view the character of Marcius

Week 6

Act III Scene 1

Coriolanus: As for my country, I have shed my blood, not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs coin words till their decay against those measles... I like this because as Coriolanus was giving his speech, other senators were expressing that they wished he would just stop talking, he was like why should a man that has gone those so much for his country not be allow to speak fully.

Act III Scene 2

Coriolanus: Let them pull all about mine ears, present me death on the wheel or at wild horses' heels, or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian Rock.... I like this quote because it further expresses the feeling that Coriolanus has regarding how the populous feels about him.

Act IV Scene 1

Coriolanus: ....Nay, mother, where is your ancient courage? you were used to say extremity was the trier of spirits... I like how Coriolanus was trying to remind his mother about the honor and courage that she had espoused.

Week 7

Act 1 Scene 1 Henry IV

KING: ....O, that it could be proved that some night-tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle-clothes our children where they lay, and called mine 'Percy,' his 'Plantagenet' ! ----I found it an interesting thought of what a 'night-tripping fairy' would look like?

Act 1 Scene 2

When asked about the time, this is how Prince responded: .....What the devil hast thou to do with the time of day? Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping-houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame colored taffeta, I see no reason why thou shoouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of day.-----This is a really funny answer to a simple question. I love the visuals which are all over this quote.

Act 2 Scene 1

Second Carrier: I have a gammon of bacon and two races of ginger to be delivered as far as Charing Cross. -----There is interesting language sometimes with phrases like 'gammon of bacon,' or 'race of ginger,' which I could only understand if I look up the meaning. It is fun to learn new phrases from Shakespeare!

Week 8

Act 4 Scene 1

HOT SPUR: Zounds, how has he the leisure to be sick in such a hustling time........I like how Hot Spur complaints about something that can't be helped: like being sick.

Act 4 Scene 3

HOT SPUR: The King is kind, and well we know the King knows at what time to promise, when to pay. My father and my uncle did give him that same royalty he wears......after Blunt sends his message from the King, Hot Spur has an interesting reply in that he reminds him of how his father kind of man him the person that he had become.

Act 5 Scene 1

KING: How bloodily the sun begins to peer above yon bulky hill. The day looks pale at his distemperature.......I like this opening line of Act 5 by the King, because it is funny the way he describes the sun as being 'bloody' which is probably an accurate description, but I would never think to use that word, maybe I would say 'fiery red sun' or something like that.

Week 10

Henry V Act I Scene I

When Bishop of Ely stated that the King was 'a true lover of the holy Church, Bishop of Canterbury answered:

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY: "....the breath no sooner left his fathers body but that his wildness, mortified in him, seemed to die too. Yea, at that very moment consideration like an angel came and whipped the offending Adam out of him, leaving his body as a paradise t' envelope and contain celestial spirits..." I like these lines because it helps me as the reader get an idea of what the King's mental condition is.

Act I Scene 2

It is funny how when the bishops are speaking amongst themselves, they are so free to express how they really feel about the King, but the exchange below at the top of Scene 2 demonstrates how he must speak when in the presence of the King:

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY: "God and angels guard your sacred throne and make you long become it."

ACT I Scene 2

A little further down in scene 2 around line 255, the Ambassador and the King have a funny exchange regarding his youthful pastime:

AMBASSADOR: ......"he therefore sends to you, meeter for your spirit, this tun of treasure and, I lieu of this , desires you let the dukedoms that you claim hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks."

KING HENRY: What treasure, uncle?

EXETER: Tennis balls, my liege.

Wk 12 4-4-2023

Henry V Act 4 Scene 1

CHORUS:" ...fire answers fire, and through their paly flames each battle sees the other's umbered face; stead threatens steed I high and boastful neighs piercing the night's dull ear..." I like the opening line from the chorus because it serves to demonstrate what is going on in the field of battle.

Act 4 Scene 1

KING HENRY: ..."'Tis good for men to love their present pains upon example. So the spirit is eased; and when the mind is quickened, out of doubt, the organs though defunct and dead before, break up their drowsy grave and newly move with casted slough and fresh legerity..." I like how when Erpingham speaks of sleeping like a king, King Henry responds by giving a very unflattering account of the effect such a sleep for the King would be like.

Act 4 Scene 1

PISTOL: "The King's a bawcock and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heartstring I love the lovely bully..." I like this exchange between King Henry and Pistol because it's funny how Pistol responses to the King when the King says: "Then you are a better than the King?" and with that he makes a response which sounds flattering because he uses words like 'gold..fame' but he says 'imp of fame' and I kiss not just his shoe but his 'dirty shoe' which makes it extra funny.

Week 13: 4-11-2023

Antony & Cleopatra

Act 1 Scene 1

ANTONY: "Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay..." I think that Antony's attitude in regard to the Roma Empire might be foreshadowing how he might deal with Rome once he gains power.

Act 1 Scene 2

CHARMIAN: Good sir, give me good fortune.

SOOTHSAYER: I make not, but foresee.

CHARMIAN: Pray the, foresee me one.

SOOTHSAYER: You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

CHARMIAN: He means in flesh.

IRAS: No, you shall paint when you are old.

CHARMIAN: Wrinkles forbid!

I just found this to be a fun exchange and it will be interesting to see if this interaction will play an important role later in the play.

Act 1 Scene 3

CLEOPATRA: Why should I think you could be mine, and true-though you in swearing shake the throned gods-who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, to be entangled with those mouth-made vows which break themselves in swearing. ------These are great lines from Cleopatra as she is going back and forth with Antony...and it is funny to see how Antony is trying to reassure her that everything is okay in his response to her concerns.

Week 14 4-18-2023

Act 1 Scene 4

CAESAR:" ....On the Alps it is reported thou didst eat strange flesh which some did die to look on." I like how Caesar here is tearing down the character of Pompey's military coming over the Alps to invade Rome.

Act 2 Scene 1

When Menas speaks of how ignorant they are, and that they are begging for their own harm, Pompey responds like this:

POMPEY: I shall do well. The people love me, and the sea is mine; my powers are crescent, and my auguring hope says it will come to the full. Mark Antony in Egypt sits at dinner, and will make no wars without doors. Caesar gets money where he loses heart. Lepidus flatters both, of both is flattered; but he neither loves, nor either cares for him. --------I just like the way that Pompey knows how to characterize all of this adversaries which is a good quality I think.

Act 2 Scene 2

Antony here says something interesting in regard to Pompey:

ANTONY: "I did not think to draw my sword against Pompey, for he hath laid strange courtesies and great of late upon me...." ----I am just picturing Pompey saying and doing all kinds of nice things to Antony to disarm him and cause him to like him.

[kinglouiswasthekingoffrance]

Commonplace Book Project

Wed. 8-24 wk 1

"In the harbor stood a ring-prowed ship, glorious, by the mast. There were many treasures loaded there, adornment from distant lands; I have never heard of a more lovely ship bedecked with battle-weapons and war-gear, blades and byrnies." P. 85 lines 33-40 My thought while reading these lines is I would love to see this ship as it actually looked with all those treasures onboard!

"Then the work, as I've heard, was widely proclaimed to many nations throughout this middle-earth, to come adorn the folk-stead." P. 86 lines 74-76. I wonder what this 'middle earth is? Is it another unknown area unseen by most people?

"Long have I been the coast-warden, and kept sea-watch so that no enemies with fleets and armies should ever attack the land of the Danes." P. 88 lines 240-243. I wonder what the qualifications were to hold the position of 'coast-warden.'

8-30-22 Wk 2

"He fell in battle, it cost him his life, and now another has come, a mighty evil marauder who means to avenge her kin, and too far has carried out her revenge, as it may seem to many a thane whose spirit groans for his treasure-giver, a hard heart's distress-now that hand lies dead which was wont to give you all good things." P. 103 lines 1337-1344. It looks like someone is coming along soon for a revenge killing, which tells me as a reader to keep my head up for more scenes of combat.

"I will reward you with the ancient riches for that feud, as I did before, with twisted gold, if you return alive." P. 103 lines 1380-1382. I was just wondering if 'twisted gold' is more valuable or desirable than untwisted gold? Or, what is twisted gold anyway, it sounds intriguing.

"At last his portion of pride within him grows and flourishes, while the guardian sleeps, the soul's shepherd-that sleep is too sound, bound with cares, the slayer too close who, sinful and wicked, shoots from his bow." P. 108 lines 1740-1744. I like this passage because I think that it represents the eternal struggle we all face between the the forces that keep one on the right path, and the 'slayer' that seeks to brings all down a dark and narrow path of destruction.

9-6-22 wk 3

"I have never seen such rudeness-when someone's dogs make a kill, you don't set your own dogs on their stag! I call that rude. And although I won't beat you up over a stag, I swear to God, I will do a hundred stags' worth of damage to your reputation." P. 159 I read in the introduction to this story, that one's reputation was the one thing everyone wanted to uphold above all else. So, the thought of damaging his reputation was much more serious than physical punishment would be.

"King Arthur, the valiant and courteous, was staying at Carlisle on account of the Scots and Picts who were ravaging the country: they came into the land of England and repeatedly caused destruction there." P. 188 lines 5-10. These are some of the first few lines of 'Lanval,' and I found it interesting that King Arthur, a person I have always heard about, was mentioned 'holding court' against the Scots and Picts invaders.

"To the members of the Round Table-they had no equal in all the world." P. 188 lines 15-16 I always remembered that King Arthur had this Round Table, and it seemed like the centerpiece of the everything that happened in the tales about King Arthur.

Wk 4 9-13-22

"Sometimes he fights dragons, and wolves as well, sometimes with wild men who dwelt among the crags; both with bulls and with bears, and at other times boars, and ogres who chased him across the high fells." P. 245 lines 720-723. I like this passage because it puts an image in mind of of Gawain struggled to fight off all of these powerful beasts and wild men, it is just something I would like to see depicted in film.

"Still dressed in his armor they brought him into hall, where a blazing fire was fiercely burning. Then the lord of that company comes down from his chamber, to show his respect by meeting Gawain there. To show his respect by meeting Gawain there, he said, "You are welcome to do as you please with everything here; all is yours, to have and command as you wish." PP. 247-248 lines 831-837. I like this passage because it demonstrates how welcoming the noblemen of this castle were, and the way they had such overwhelming respect and honor for Gawain, as describes by the way they took him as a respected hero.

"And the good man Gawain lies in his fine bed, lying snug while the daylight gleamed on the walls, under a splendid coverlet, shut in by curtains." P. 256 lines 1179-1181. I just like the imagery of Gawain lying on his comfortable bed as the morning light shone through the windows.

Wk 5 9-21-22

"To bring me home some gay things from the fair

They were glad when my speech to them was fair"

I choose these lines using the modern translation of the 'Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale," I liked these lines because throughout this poem, there are such great end rhythms throughout the poem. I like the how the word 'fair' at the end of both of these lines use the same word but with different meanings.

"Lo, here is the wise king, Don Solomon; I think he had some wives, well more than one. Now would to God it lawful were for me to be refreshed here half so much as he!" I like these lines from 'Bath's Prologue and Tale,' because she is defending the fact that she has had 5 husbands, but that can't be as bad as Solomon from the Bible whom had many more wives then that.

"And when my husband from this world has passed, another Christian man will wed me fast; then the apostle says that I am free to wed, by God, where it most pleases me. He says to be wedded is not sinning; Better to be wedded than be burning." Now, this passage from 'Wives of Bath' was interesting to me because I was not sure what she meant in the final line about 'burning.' Was she speaking of burning at the stake, or burning in hell forever?

Wk 6 9-28-22

"Don't be so quick to repulse me, you'll get plenty of money from my hand." P. 661 This line from 'Welshman and an Englishwoman,' is interesting because it concerns the monetary transaction that this man is to make to the woman.

"In the old age black was not counted fair, or if it were, it bore not beauty's name." P. 894 Sonnet 127 I like this line from this sonnet because it kind of speaks the true about the fact that old age is still till this day not thought of as being 'fair'.

"Rich fools there be, whose base and filthy heart lies hatching still the goods wherein they flow," P. 732 stanza 24 of Astrophil and Stella is a thought which is probably timeless because there seems to be plenty of rich people that do foolish things especially as deals with matters of the heart.

Wk 7 10-6-22

"Father, you have devised well, and whilst our flock doth roam up and down this pleasant green you shall recount me, if it please you, for what cause this tree was dedicated unto Neptune, and why you have thus disguised me." lines 6-10 of Act I in Galatea. I like these lines because it serves as foreshadowing of what is about to come later in the story.

"The condition was this: that at every five years' day, the fairest and chastest virgin in all the country should be brought unto this tree, and here being bound (whom neither parentage shall excuse for honour, nor virtue for integrity) is left for a peace-offering unto Neptune." lines 47-51 of Act I in Galatea. This is great because it is the father informing the son of the five year ritual so that he can better understand by he is being disguised.

"It is a pretty boy and a fair. He might well have been a woman, but because he is not, I am glad I am. For now, under the colour of my coat, I shall decipher the follies of their kind." lines 21-24 of Act II in Galatea. It seems that Phillida intends to perform some research into the dudes in a covert manner. This could be interesting.

"That is my spirit, for my silver is so quick that I have much ado to catch it, and when I have it, it is so nimble that I cannot hold it. I thought there was a devil in it." lines 59-61 of Act II in Galatea. This is Rafe responding to Peter after he mentions what the first spirit is which is quicksilver. I like the quote because it does a good job describing the nature of mercury. It could also be a reference to the god of Mercury also.

"Virgin's hearts I perceive are not unlike cotton trees, whose fruit is so hard in the bud that it soundeth like steel, and being ripe, poureth forth nothing but wool; and their thoughts like the leaves of lunary, which the further they grow from the sun, the sooner they are scorched with his beams." lines 20-25 of Act III in Galatea. This is taken from the opening lines of Telusa and I like it because Telusa is saying that virgin hearts are hard hearted when they are children and when they grow to adulthood they don't have useful thoughts (like wool) and become crazy (with their leaves of lunary). This story is endlessly quotable!

Week 8

MARCELLUS: "'Tis gone. We do it wrong, being so majestical, to offer it the show of violence, for it is as the air invulnerable, and our vain blows malicious mockery." This line speaks a truth that you cannot hurt a ghost with violence because a ghost is like air which cannot be hurt. Act 1.1 P. 9 in Hamlet.

HAMLET: "His beard was grizzled, no? HORATIO: It was as I Have seen it in his life, a sable silvered. HAMLET: I will watch tonight. Perchance 'twill walk again." This back and forth with Hamlet and his guards makes me think that Hamlet were likely to believe anything he heard. I would have not believed them at all. Act 1.2 P. 20 in Hamlet.

HAMLET: "Thou com'st in such a questionable shape that I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane. O, answer me!" Now that Hamlet has seen the ghost of his father, it is clear from the way he addresses the ghost that he misses his presence in the here and now very much. I think I can understand that emotion. Act 1.4 P. 28 in Hamlet

Week 9 10-20-22

POLONIUS: "I will be brief. Your noble son is mad. Mad call I it, for, to define true madness, what is't but to be nothing else but mad?" I like the way that Polonius reports to the Queen the condition of Hamlet. He says a lot of stuff but doesn't really say anything much at all is what makes it entertaining to me. Act 2.2 P. 46 in Hamlet

HAMLET: "You are welcome. But my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived." GUILDENSTERN: In what, my dear lord? HAMLET: I am but mad north-northwest. When the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw." I wonder if being mad in the north but perfectly sane in the south has something to do with something which is happening in those directions. Otherwise, it makes no sense and it therefore would reinforce the notion that he is in fact completely mad. Act 2.2 P. 54 in Hamlet.

KING: "And can you by no drift of conference get from him why he puts on this confusion, grating so harshly all his days of quiet with turbulent and dangerous lunacy?" I feel like the king would sincerely like to know if there is any way to cure is crazy delusions like seeing his father's ghost and they having conversations together. Act 3.1 P. 62 in Hamlet

Week 11 10-30-22

"Take you a course, get you a place, observe his honour, or his grace, and the King's real, or his stamped face" lines 5-8 of The Canonization of page 916. I like these set of Iines because I think it speaks to something we should all strive to do. Namely, go get yourself a good job and make good money, and let the image of the King or whomever is on money inspire you to continue to make more of it.

"Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire." pp. 1017-1018 lines 1-7 of Book I Paradise Lost. I like this line because it seems to paraphrase the essence of the one thing that happening in the Garden of Eden which lead to them being brought out of Paradise, namely eating from the tree of life. It also provides an idea of what this tale will be about.

"If then His Providence out of our evil seek to bring forth good, our labour must be to pervert that end, and out of good still to find means of evil; which oft times may succeed so as perhaps shall grieve Him" P. 1020 lines 162-167. The way I read this excerpt is that its good to seek of God's help to stay on the right path of good, but that even though we may be on the working hard to stay on the righteous path, evil always finds a way to divert our attention and cause us to take a detour back to the road of sin.

Final Week

"The wind that wantoned in her hair, and with her ruffled garments played, discovered in the flying maid all that the gods e'er made of fair. So Venus, when her love was slain, with fear and haste flew o'er the fatal plain." from lines 125-130 on page 1233 of "The disappointment" by Behn I like the way the the words rhythm in this section, I think that it demonstrates the imaginative writing which has a way of putting images in ones mind as to what she is describing here.

"He was therefore no sooner got to his apartment, but he sent the royal veil to Imoinda, that is, the ceremony of invitation." p. 1240 "Oroonoko" The reason that I chose this passage is because I found it interesting that they had apartments in those days. I always that they were more modern places to live.

"We are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets. Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle or other cause of public rejoicing, is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion." p. 1723 "Interesting Narrative..." by Equiano. I do really like this passage, because it provides some interesting insight into the culture. I do find it interesting that they tend to have a dance ceremony for important events that happen with them.