This assignment is an analysis of William Shakespeare, his plays and their impact on Hollywood.  The object is to better understand and appreciate similarities and differences between Shakespearean theatre and film as an art, and to gain insights into various aspects of society, as reflected in the film versions.

Select one of the following plays by William Shakespeare, which have also been made into a film.

• • • • Hamlet  (vs. 1994 film The Lion King)
      • The Taming of the Shrew  (vs. 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You)
      • Romeo and Juliet  (vs. 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)
      • Macbeth (vs. 2001 film Scotland, PA)
      • The Tempest  (vs. 1956 sci-fi film Forbidden Planet)

Then…

• • • examine and determine the various ways the film version departs from and/or adheres to the original play
    • offer reasons why these differences were more (or less) effective than the original

Factors to consider when preparing this analysis could include (but should not be limited by) the following:

• • • • the existence of critical issues in society at the time the film was made
      • while the plays are considered excellent examples of dramatic literature, the film versions (as art) are subjective
      • Shakespeare’s storytelling to a theatreaudience vs Hollywood’s message to a larger mass audience

This assignment should be typed and proofread (3-4 pages in length).  Think originality and creativity – images, graphics, video links, etc. are always encouraged to help tell describe your comparison.  Some additional research may be needed (remember to document your sources in a bibliography).  Early submissions are always accepted.  Please be aware of spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, etc.  This assignment will be graded according to the Written Assignment #2 Rubric (attached)

Play texts – http://shakespeare.mit.edu/