Shakespeare+Stealer

Reading Break Down (EXTRA CREDIT: Write a paragraph sentence response to a question from one of the reading parts below)  Part 1: Read pp.3–35.  __** Destiny **__ When a hare runs across Widge’s path, he regards it as a ‘bad omen’ but Falconer takes ‘no stock in omens’ saying ‘Men make their own fates’ (p.35). Discuss the differing opinions of the two and decide with whom you most agree.  Part 2: Read pp. 36–72 __** Historical Connections: **__   The first Globe Theatre was built in Shoreditch, North London, in 1599 and was later re-assembled on Bankside. This theatre burnt down in 1613 after an ember from a cannon fired during a performance of Henry VIII set the roof alight. Re-read pp.61–64 and say how this historical fact influenced the author. Does the detailed description in this novel contribute to your understanding of Shakespeare’s working life?   Falconer kills a man in a duel because he had called him ‘a filthy Jew.’ With ‘a short, bitter laugh’ he tells Widge that ‘There are no Jews in England. Only former Jews’ (p.59). In 1290, all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity had been expelled from England. Only a few Jews remained, who had converted or appeared to convert. Their precarious position was endangered by the hanging at Tyburn, on a charge of treason, of Roderigo Lopez (see also p.118). Lopez was a Marrano or converted Jew from Spain or Portugal. Physician to Elizabeth I, he had become involved in the intrigues of the Earl of Essex. What might this tell us about religious tolerance under Queen Elizabeth I?

Part 3: Read pp.73–123  Widge tells us that he had ‘invariably burst into tears’ when taunted at the orphanage. But he had learned ‘to refrain from tears, whatever the provocation’ (p.87). Do you agree with him that tears or other obvious signs of unhappiness are ‘an invitation to further abuse’? What advice might you give to Widge or to other victims of bullying?
 * __ Bullying: __**

Defending him, Sander says that Nick isn’t ‘truly mean at heart. He’s just going through a bad time.’ He explains that Nick will soon ‘have to begin playing a man’s part’ (p.88). Does Nick’s unhappiness justify his treatment of Widge? Do you accept Sander’s excuses for Nick’s behavior? Can you think of any situation in which bullying and abusive behavior is acceptable?

 Part 4: Read pp.124–175  Julia says that ‘we play the roles others expect of us’ (p.172). What did she mean by this? Is it necessarily wrong to play the roles expected of us? When might this be positive?
 * __ Other vs Norm: __**

Do you agree with the queen’s decision that no-one should perform the play as it showed ‘a ruler being deposed’ (p.156). What does this tell us about her political judgement?  <span style="background-color: #f6f3ec; color: #242424; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A Brief Description of King Richard III <span style="background-color: #f6f3ec; color: #242424; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Many of our present-day ideals such as the Presumption of Innocence, blind justice, and Clear Title, can be traced back to King Richard. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px;">Part 5: Read pp.176–216.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px;">__ Historical Connections: __ **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">__** Personal Connections: **__ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> You just finished a play, do you believe that, "A bad rehearsal means a good performance...You may as well say that a bad cook makes a good meal" (p.178). Is it just a superstitious tradition?

__** Shakespeare Connection: **__ In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet we learn that ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’ yet Widge disagrees and discovers that parting can be "as bitter as gall" (p.215). With whom would you most agree?

__** Friendship: **__ Widge says that the ‘business of friendship was a curious thing’ (p.214). Is he right when he says that one is at times ‘expected to tell the truth...other times what was wanted was a lie, a bit of disguise.’ Should one always be truthful with friends or are there times when one should lie to protect their feelings? =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> = =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">VOCABULARY = <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> afflict
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> cause pain or suffering in  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> apothecary
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> a place where drugs or medicines are made and sold; a person who makes medicines or drugs <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> brawny
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> strong, muscular <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> brusquely
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> in a blunt direct manner <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> bumble
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> speak haltingly, make a mess of, destroy or ruin <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> clamor
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> loud and persistent outcry from many people <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> furtive
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> secret and sly or sordid <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> grotesque
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> distorted and unnatural in shape or size <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> jostle
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> come into rough contact with while moving <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> noisome
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> offensively malodorous <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> prodigious
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> prudent
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> showing wise self-restraint in speech and behavior especially in preserving prudent silence <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> rapier
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> rector
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> a person authorized to conduct religious worship <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> ruefully
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> regretfully; sorrowfully <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> rustic
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> characteristic of rural life <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> sinister
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> 1.Suggesting or threatening evil

<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> 2.Presaging trouble; ominous

<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> 3.Attended by or causing disaster or inauspicious circumstances. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> sullen
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> showing a brooding ill humor <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> surreptitious
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> marked by quiet and caution and secrecy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> tenaciously
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> intently determined (adverb) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande','lucida sans unicode',arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> wight
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia,'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> a human being