William Shakespeares Use of Song in the Early Comedies

Shakespeares Use of Song in the Early Comedies Undertaken to determine what features make a song germane to the story in successful musical theater, this study outlines some characteristics of Shakespeares use of song. Chosen from the plays with which the present author is most familiar-the early comedies-are three substantial pieces (each headed in the play by either Song or sing, and each with at least two stanzas and refrain): You Spotted Snakes, Sigh No More, and Under the Greenwood Tree. A close reading of the lyrics and surrounding text will establish the contribution of the song to plot, theme, and character, and a study of the form itself will support these aspects and perhaps explain the success of the lyrics in†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, Oberons invisibility remains the only magic deed thus far, so the magic lullaby establishes that fairies commonly cast spells, as they will do throughout the play. That this song characterizes the fairies is also discussed by Long, who writes, Shakespeare joined music wi th some of his most delicate poetry in order to set his fairies apart from the gross mortals of the play (88). As with others of his songs, You Spotted Snakes reveals Shakespeares attention to form, and Longs remarks again prove relevant. The song itself is an ayre in the form of a lullaby, a type of song quite popular during the period. The language, the subject matter, and the eleven-line structure of the roundel all suggest an art song, as opposed to a folk form (85). Though not in a folk form, the song does show traditional aspects of the lullaby: in addition to the mentions of lullaby and good night, the detailed list of threats in Shakespeares song reminds one that the most famous lullaby of all, as Rollin notes,Show MoreRelatedSatire : The Fundamental Function Of Satire1644 Words   |  7 PagesComedy plays a fundamental role in my life, ranging from the witty encounters with likeminded people and the way that humour permeates through my family life. On a personal level, I tend to enjoy satirical comedy above all other sub-genres, and in particular, slapstick comedy. Satire is a techn ique employed by writers and comedians alike to expose and criticise corruption and shortcomings of an individual or a society by using humour, irony and/or exaggeration. Ultimately, the writer feels obligedRead MoreEssay Manipulation of Lyrics in Shakespeares As You Like It1697 Words   |  7 PagesManipulation of Lyrics in As You Like It   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While it is a comedy of the turmoil of love and the experimentation with gender roles and identity, William Shakespeares As you Like It is a historical preservation of Renaissance music. The play is fraught with spontaneous song and poetry, yet Shakespeare strategically manipulates these musical elements. Specifically, the lyrics and poetry of the play function to establish a soundtrack and a direct appeal to their Elizabethan audience, whileRead MoreA Descriptive Bibliography Of Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream 1542 Words   |  7 PagesA Descriptive Overview of Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and grew up in Strafford-upon-Avon. He wrote â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† in his early years as a playwright. He also wrote the play is a mixture of romance and comedy. It tells the story of four young people who fall in love with each other with the aid of magic. Shakespeare managed to create a dream world for the audience using the characters tied to a plot filled with antics andRead MoreShakespearean Comedy Vs. Tragedy1777 Words   |  8 PagesMoses English IV 29 October 2014 Shakespearean Comedy vs. Tragedy Some people tend to think that William Shakespeare was some famous writer that was only capable of spitting out sad love stories. This is widely disproved through the reading of multiple Shakespearean works. During his life, Shakespeare used a plethora of writing formulas and plot outlines to produce many works of literature of many genres, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a popular comedy, and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, one ofRead MoreTwelfth Night by Trevor Nunn (Screen Play)1687 Words   |  7 PagesTitle: Twelfth Night Director: Trevor Nunn Writer: William Shakespeare and Trevor Nunn (screen play) Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Runtime: 2hr 14min (134min) Sound Mix: Doubly Colour: Metrocolour Cinematographic: Spherical Budget: 5,000,000.00 (Estimated) Filming Locations: Cotehele House, St. Dominick, Cornwall, England, UK (QuaysideRead MoreThe Sonnet Form: William Shakespeare6305 Words   |  26 PagesShakespeare’s Sonnets William Shakespeare The Sonnet Form A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem, traditionally written in iambic pentameter—that is, in lines ten syllables long, with accents falling on every second syllable, as in: â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?† The sonnet form first became popular during the Italian Renaissance, when the poet Petrarch published a sequence of love sonnets addressed to an idealized woman named Laura. Taking firm hold among Italian poets, the sonnetRead MoreIn The Twelfth Night Film Directed By Trevor Nunn, There1981 Words   |  8 Pagesand character stage directions/movements compared to the original text. Directors use film adaptations to enhance the writer’s intended meaning hidden in the original text, however, Trevor Nunn altered the meaning of a Shakespearean comedy. Shakespearean comedies are characterized as entertaining plays centered around a person of power, who delivers a statement of harsh judgment and must make amends, and the comedies usually end i n marriage. In Twelfth Night, Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, passes harshRead MoreShakespeare As A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1922 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is a well know writer in the English time. William Shakespeare was a poet but he was also a play writer and actor. According to The Longman Anthology British Literature, Volume 1b, The Early Modern Period pgs. 1199-1203. William Shakespeare was the greatest writer in the English language, he wrote poems that incorporated plays of histories, tragedies, comedies. Shakespeare was the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564, and atRead MoreThe Role of the Fool in King Lear Essay2177 Words   |  9 Pagesretarded youths kept for the court’s amusement, or more often they were singing, dancing stand up comedians. In William Shakespeare’s King Lear the fool plays many important roles. When Cordelia, Lear’s only well-intentioned daughter, is banished fr om the kingdom Fool immediately assumes her role as Lear’s protector. The fool is the king’s advocate, honest and loyal and through his use of irony sarcasm and humour he is able to point out Lear’s faults. Functioning much as a chorus would in a GreekRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Twelfth Night Essay examples1337 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Twelfth Night Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeares most famous comedies, involving complex plots, which result in hilarious outcomes. The main plot of Twelfth Night tells of Count Orsinos efforts to woo the Lady Olivia who does not return his affection. Instead, Olivia is smitten with Orsinos servant Cesario, unaware of his true identity. Cesario is actually shipwrecked Viola who, believing her brother has drowned, dresses up as a man to work