... noting in Elizabethan times, and it seems reasonable to presume that the pun was intended by Shakespeare to signal the importance of observation, spying and eavesdropping in the play. As a plot device, these occurrences propel the action and create humour and tension. The perils of noting incorrectly are portrayed and this leads naturally to the investigation of another major theme, the ... humour until order and happiness are re-established in Messina. However, Shakespeare cleverly employs the many forms of noting (observation, misunderstanding, misreporting) to move the dramatic actio...

• Word Count: 1163
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• Grade Level: High School

... As You Like It, does conform to a typical Shakespearean comedy, in terms of both its employment of dramatic techniques, such as, language, elements of plot and characterization, and ideas which it explores, such as, the idea of identity, the creation of humour and the importance of love. The use ... the importance of love. The changeability of identity is a typical idea of comedy conveyed in As You Like It through the dramatic technique of plot. In a typical Shakespearean comedy, there is often some element of disguise or mistaken identity. This is conveyed in the play As You Like ... ...

• Word Count: 862
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... loves Orsino. Viola is now trapped, because Olivia loves her and she doesn't want to hurt Olivia or reveal her true identity. This scene is the climax of the main plot as Olivia passionately declares her love for Cesario/Viola. Her behavior is unusual for a young lady who is mourning, and who is superior to the young pageboy. The declaration of ... identity a secret, repulse Olivia's love, and continue to plead Orsino's case with Olivia, while suppressing her own love for him and taking care not to hurt Olivia too deeply. The plot therefore becomes further complicated before it begins t...

• Word Count: 1081
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... themes of the play are enjoyable for all people. The dynamic characters are lifelike and show the knowledge Shakespeare had of the human character. The plot is well developed and has exciting twists keeping the reader interested. One of the best tests of the merit of a piece of writing is how ... both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths. The characters are well written and their realism allows the reader to relate to and enjoy the characters. The plot of the story has many twists and these twists excite the reader. The typical Shakespearean work has several subplots, each with a ...

• Word Count: 994
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Thunder, lightning and darkness all play a vital role in the development of the plot in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Shakespeare's thorough use of imagery and symbolic imagery help create a feel for the play. Thunder and lightning cause a sense of fear that adds to the mood. While ... , I) All of these indicate that thunder plays an important role in the appearance of the witches. The thunder symbolizes that something affecting the whole plot will soon be revealed. Every time the witches appear a little more of the plot is revealed and the reader gets a clearer picture of what will happen in the fu...

• Word Count: 592
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... Aristotle's Poetics is considered the guide to a well written tragedy; his methods have been used for centuries. In Aristotle's opinion, plot is the most important aspect of the tragedy, all other parts such as character, diction, and thought stem from the plot. Aristotle defines a tragedy as " an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished ... situation even more painful, his mother has married his uncle whom he suspects is responsible for the tragedy. As the plot progresses, it becomes clear that the king is plotting to kill Ha...

• Word Count: 601
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... overheard one another and consequently making a great deal out of "nothing." False observations and misinterpretations provided the basis for much of the plot. Many of the characters participated in the actions of observing, listening, and writing. In order for a plot based upon deception to be successful, the characters must note one another constantly. For example, when the women manipulated Beatrice into believing ... (III.i.24-25). Each line the women spoke was a carefully placed note for Beatrice to consider. The same characteristics were true of the plot to convince Benedick of Be...

• Word Count: 940
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... need of each individual and it is important for each person to feel and know that they are loved. Love played was an important part of the plot of the story. The author used a narrator to dictate in first person the troubles of Miss Emily. The narrator told the story with the tone of ... that Willy is the best man in the world and keeps supporting him. However, it's her blindness to the truth and constant support that contributes to the plot of the story and leads to Willy's death. The more she supports him, the more incorrect ideas she gives him. She loves him so much that ... Miller's...

• Word Count: 1074
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• Grade Level: High School

... move along with play. The best thing about these sub plots is that they do not tend to drift away from the main plot of the play, but instead enhance the play. Polonius" family is the first sub plot that includes his two children, Ophelia and Laeretes. Polonius is the lord and counselor to the king, and is totally deceived by Hamlet ... also knows of the main motive behind the unusual enactment of the play "The Murder of Gonzango". Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's two other "excellent good friends" form the third sub plot. They on instructions from the royal couple try to extract ...

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... romantic desire for the woman herself. The idea that the woman holds the power is different from most stories written during that specific time period. Typically, male power would dominate a plot line with weak women as supporting characters or damsels in distress. In and outside of literature, women are stereotyped as the weaker sex. However, Marie de France is is able ... needing the woman to help heal him in his time of distress. This was unheard of during her time period and a strong female lead character was somewhat a myth. Centralizing the plot line on a woman's power and control...

• Word Count: 1221
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... because he knew it was impossible. The coherence of The Merchant of Venice is not intellectual or psychological." (Murry, 192) Shakespeare did not want to put any reasoning behind the plot of his play because he knew it was going to be a hard task to accomplish so Shakespeare decided to let the pieces fall themselves without carefully placing them strategically. "The ... take the side of John Middleton Murray in stating that the play was written by Shakespeare as a fairy tale that did not involve developing intellectual and psychological ideas within the plot. The Merchant of Venice is ...

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... , and the issues it deals with, are timeless. This is certainly demonstrated in the play "Much Ado about Nothing" which shows strong themes of deception, love, and society. The entire plot of "Much Ado about Nothing" is based on elaborate deceptions, some spiteful and others benign. Each of the main characters was, at one point, the victim of deception, and it ... Claudio and Don Pedro results in Hero's disgrace. Conversely, the scheme involving her death [instigated by the friar, of all people] allows her redemption and reconciliation with Claudio. All Characters plot to deceive Beatric...

• Word Count: 688
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... relationships between the characters and the two settings for the play, Belmont and Venice. Shakespeare often incorporated the themes of love and hate in his plays, either as the main plot, or a sub plot as such in The Merchant of Venice. Love and Hate are the backbone of the main ... ...

• Word Count: 1018
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... is love. Love is portrayed in this play through Portia and Bassanio. Without the theme of love, ANtonio would not have made a bond with Shylock and therefor leaving no entertainment plot in the story. Bassanio married Portia by choosing the correct casket of lead which says, "he shall hazard all he hath", which is a sub ... -plot in the play. THus, love is a main theme in the Merchant of Venice. In WIlliam Shakespeare's play, the theme of friendship is present. THe universal theme of friendship is presented ... he does not pay back what he owes, a pound of Antonio's flesh will be taken...

• Word Count: 413
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... play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and all of them play crucial roles in the play's development. Besides the main characters, there are many smaller roles that contribute enormous amounts to the plot and setting of this comedy. Oberon is the king of the forest, and is very powerful- possibly the most powerful in the play. It can almost be said that he ... is the one who develops the plot because he is the one who sets the play in motion with the love potion and magic spells. Throughout the play, Oberon is fighting with Titania, and it seems as ... strange looking characters that portra...

• Word Count: 1160
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... and his astonishing stylistic grace shifts our attention away from the rudimentary nature of the device itself, as a way of keeping his plot on the move." The fantasy is shown through the simple descriptions as well as through whole plot of the play. An obvious condition of a typical performance in the late sixteen-century is cross-dressing – where young male ... ...

• Word Count: 825
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... such "10 Things I Hate About You," based on "The Taming of the Shrew." The Indian film industry has drawn heavily on Shakespeare as seen in movies like Angoor, where the plot is drawn almost entirely from "A Comedy of Errors" and Omkara, an adaptation of Othello. One of his most most respected and beloved plays, "Romeo and Juliet," has inspired scores of ... major characters in all of his plays is intricate and inclusive. Few writers have been able to provide such consistent renderings in their works. Such detailed development in terms of plot and character has so far not been rivaled. ...

• Word Count: 1032
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... plays an important role in Shakespeare In Love in bringing two people who have a forbidden love together. It is used to captivate the audience and draw them deeper into the plot of the movie. The sex scenes are not necessary in the movie, but it has been proven that sex sells. The directors add sex in to help them make more ... money. The sex they have is a forbidden one: a low-class writer with a high-class lady. This just adds to the appeal of the plot. If discovered, the two lovers would be outcast by society and lose everything they know, but yet they still have their affair because...

• Word Count: 971
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... did not seem to fit well in this contemporary version. Iago/Hugo's unexpected "from this point on I speak no more" is random and arbitrary in the context of the movie's plot. The idea of giving a scarf (that looks like a handkerchief) as a present is incongruous with the film's modern setting. The use of music from Verdi's Otello is a playful twist on the ... is a film that is fun to watch because it is so closely related to Othello, without really being something that can really be considered of the same vein. The outside plot elements inserted into the film (Othello's history as a dub...

• Word Count: 570
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... that Duncan will be facing danger if he stays the night at Inverness. When Shakespeare uses this sort of symbolism in Macbeth it is used to set the theme and plot for the future of the story. This style of symbolism also gives reader an indication of what is going to happen in the future of the play. Personification gives something ... suggest that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth can never be rid of their sin because their guilt will always be prevalent. The guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience sets up the plot for the rest of the story. For example, Macbeth is so worried about someone di...

• Word Count: 945
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Shakespeare has always incorporated plots and subplots in a skillfull and creative way. In Act 4 of Hamlet, he has incorporated three very important events to ihdentify the plot and create excitement for the audience. The events in Act Four being discussed (in order of time) are: the madness of Ophelia, the return of Laertes to avenge the death ... of his father and finally the death of Ophelia. All events were put into Act four to bring together the main plot(s). The death of Polonius was a shock in the end of act three. It was certain to cause a problem in act four but we did not suspect so...

• Word Count: 324
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... range of audiences are becoming familiarised with Shakespeare's language and ability to create original and interesting characters. In "The Merchant of Venice" Shakespeare uses these elements as well as inspired plot and visual imagery to create a play that is increasing in popularity today. Many of Shakespeare's plots have been reused numerous times throughout history. "The Merchant of Venice" contains four intertwined ... plots, which allows Shakespeare to include elements that appeal to all audiences, including revenge, romance and humour. The use of an intertwined plot has become a ...

• Word Count: 809
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... life have disappeared. This is how Shakespeare used madness to show the differences between Ophelia and Hamlet. He showed brilliantly and skillfully true insanity and faking. Hamlet had a very brilliant plot of avenging his father, which certainly worked, though, surely, Hamlet wasn't planning on so many deaths. The careful, skillful setup of the ... ...

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... Scotland. After all of that, the prophesies of the three witches continue to come true, and the story continues, thanks in part to the supernatural figures who allowed for a thicker plot to develop. Another similarity between the two stories is the theme of death. In both, there were there were generally several different deaths, in the case of these stories there ... were at least three . In addition to that, the plot of each story is also based upon the death of someone. In Macbeth, King Duncan of Scotland is killed by Macbeth, which causes all of the other events to occur ... ...

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... the end of his professional life he had written four famous comedies which were later called his "romances". Shakespeare's comedies were not primarily love stories but they all included a love plot. His romances all had the happy ending of a comedy, but in a way they hinted on violence (Prentice Hall Literature). His focus and emphasis was clearly towards the structure and language ... are also found in Shakespeare comedies. The idea of love triangle is very important in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The love triangle formed conflicts and complications which developed into the main plot. M...

• Word Count: 1063
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• Grade Level: High School