I have to ration how often I see a production of King Lear or read the play. It is so dark and leaves me very depressed. I've seen McKellen on stage; on film I've seen Derek Jacobi and Simon Russell Beale; and I've heard a recording of Paul Sccofield as Lear. A little while after my father died unexpectedly, I had tickets to see the McKellen production. When it came to the scene where Lear is grieving over the body of Cordelia and says: “Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, / And thou no breath at all?" it hit me very hard and I started sobbing. It's become a kind of Pavlovian reaction each time I see or read the play.
Nice video Vin! I remember learning about Poe in Poetry Class my senior year of high school, I thought his poetry was a little dated, but I did like Annabelle Lee. Later in Life I enjoyed Shakespeare's Sonnets after reading the No Fear Shakespeare edition. It was one of the books as an adult that got me back into reading.
I think my favorite poem of his is “The Conqueror Worm.” It’s strange to think, but “The Raven” may very well be the most recognizable poem in the English language. Though I’m more a fan of Poe’s stories than his poetry.
@@revenantreadsWell, I'd rather the most recognizable poem be about some bird denying the existence of Gileadean balm than the dubious exploits of an anonymous gentleman from Nantucket. Faith in humanity restored?
Great list of books read Vin. I just looked up _Teach like a Pirate_ and it sounds promising. Always hard to motivate and engage students as each one responds differently. _Arrghh me hearties, we each need to heave ho to get the booty we desire!_ hah, sorry, had to say it :p
Thanks, Fred! You’re so right. Getting students to care about the material can be a real challenge. Teachers have to get creative to keep them engaged.
I think the Arden Shakespeare is the best. I have all of them as I'm a Shakespeare nut. Lear is tragic, but like much of Shakespeare the tragedy is the end, comedies can be tragic, as long as they end comically, happily. It's a strange concept. I very nice video Vin.
If you wait a while, there will be a new Arden along soon. They do new editions regularly. It's odd yours has an old introduction. I'm must have a look at mine.
Confession: I still haven't read King Lear. It's probably the only major Shakesperian tragedy I haven't gotten to yet. I've watched "Ran" many times though. That counts, right? 😉 I haven't read that Poe biography either. Poe biographies usually bum me out. However, there's definitely that "compulsively gawking at the hideous train derailment" aspect of the experience. 😊 I kept hearing "teach" and "pirate" and thought you'd read a book about Blackbeard at first. 😂 Oh well, I'm sure the reality was better for an educators' book club. Thanks for the video, and have a good one.
I always like hearing what Shakespeare might have read, or had access to.
If I do audiobook I like to have the hard copy available too.
If I only use an audiobook I feel like I’m missing too much of the experience.
I have to ration how often I see a production of King Lear or read the play. It is so dark and leaves me very depressed. I've seen McKellen on stage; on film I've seen Derek Jacobi and Simon Russell Beale; and I've heard a recording of Paul Sccofield as Lear. A little while after my father died unexpectedly, I had tickets to see the McKellen production. When it came to the scene where Lear is grieving over the body of Cordelia and says: “Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, / And thou no breath at all?" it hit me very hard and I started sobbing. It's become a kind of Pavlovian reaction each time I see or read the play.
That’s a powerful scene. I could see how it can hit hard in that moment. Thank you for sharing.
Poe sounds like a fascinating chap, as does Teach like a Pirate.
Poe was fascinating… and frustrating!
Nice video Vin! I remember learning about Poe in Poetry Class my senior year of high school, I thought his poetry was a little dated, but I did like Annabelle Lee. Later in Life I enjoyed Shakespeare's Sonnets after reading the No Fear Shakespeare edition. It was one of the books as an adult that got me back into reading.
I think my favorite poem of his is “The Conqueror Worm.” It’s strange to think, but “The Raven” may very well be the most recognizable poem in the English language. Though I’m more a fan of Poe’s stories than his poetry.
@@revenantreadsWell, I'd rather the most recognizable poem be about some bird denying the existence of Gileadean balm than the dubious exploits of an anonymous gentleman from Nantucket. Faith in humanity restored?
Great list of books read Vin. I just looked up _Teach like a Pirate_ and it sounds promising. Always hard to motivate and engage students as each one responds differently.
_Arrghh me hearties, we each need to heave ho to get the booty we desire!_ hah, sorry, had to say it :p
Thanks, Fred! You’re so right. Getting students to care about the material can be a real challenge. Teachers have to get creative to keep them engaged.
I think the Arden Shakespeare is the best. I have all of them as I'm a Shakespeare nut. Lear is tragic, but like much of Shakespeare the tragedy is the end, comedies can be tragic, as long as they end comically, happily. It's a strange concept. I very nice video Vin.
If you wait a while, there will be a new Arden along soon. They do new editions regularly. It's odd yours has an old introduction. I'm must have a look at mine.
It looks like they’ve been reprinting this one for 20+ years. I’d love to see updated material.
Confession: I still haven't read King Lear. It's probably the only major Shakesperian tragedy I haven't gotten to yet. I've watched "Ran" many times though. That counts, right? 😉
I haven't read that Poe biography either. Poe biographies usually bum me out. However, there's definitely that "compulsively gawking at the hideous train derailment" aspect of the experience. 😊
I kept hearing "teach" and "pirate" and thought you'd read a book about Blackbeard at first. 😂 Oh well, I'm sure the reality was better for an educators' book club. Thanks for the video, and have a good one.
I recommend that Royal Shakespeare Society production that I mentioned.
Yeah, Poe bios are like watching a train wreck in slow motion. 😩