I enjoyed reading how visiting the State Library, virtually, has enhanced your understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare. I agree with you in that his work is timeless and expresses “the essential characteristics of human nature”. I loved how you incorporated the words of Ben Johnson regarding Shakespeare as well. It truly cemented how his work transcends time. On a more critical note, I feel perhaps that also commenting on the Shakespeare room within the State Library and how its contents also reflect Shakespeare’s powerful work, would elevate your blog post. Nevertheless, your blog still delved into how your visit enhanced your understanding of Shakespeare and his place in the world and was interesting to read.
Write a review of Marcia Williams’ “translation” of The Winter’s Tale into a comic book version.
Marcia Williams’ translation of ‘The Winter’s Tale’, in the form of a comic book, was an intriguing, insightful and ultimately a unique way to communicate Shakespeare’s literary piece.
Although it is not a direct replica of Shakespeare’s work as it features illustrations, commentary and colour, it is this very nature that allows it to still remain powerful. It shows readers that contrary to preconceived ideas, Shakespeare’s work is not necessarily difficult and complex but rather that its plot and themes can be read and understood by all ages.
Furthermore, Marcia still incorporates the original words of Shakespeare but also adds commentary, allowing readers of all ages to be able to easily understand Shakespeare’s work and thus become informed, in an artistic way. In a sense, the comic strip brings his words to life, allowing readers to feel, through the illustrations and words within the borders, that they are present in the literary piece they are reading, that they are the audience.
Although it is not as complex as Shakespeare’s piece, it still communicates important parts of the play as well as themes including the significance of the title. For example, although the majority of the comic strip depicts vibrant colours, the title, ‘The Winter’s Tale’ appears iced and cold, gloomy with snow falling thus alluding to the climate in which Shakespeare based the play. Thus, it is not a two dimensional translation but rather includes great detail, simply implemented in a different way that brings Shakespeare’s language to life.
Overall, Marcia Williams comic strip approach is a great way for individuals to become educated on Shakespeare’s work. It presents key parts and themes in a simple, informative yet visually enticing manner.
Image found in: ‘Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays’ (Walker Books, 2009)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the soliloquy you wrote from the perspective of Ophelia. Your word choice was carefully thought out and your language was firm, capturing my attention from the beginning. I especially liked your line, “I am nothing but helpless, a tiny speck, a grain of sand amongst this vast ocean”. It truly cemented the concept of Ophelia being an onlooker, viewing the destruction within the world but unable to help. A lot has occurred this year; bushfires, floods and this terrible pandemic and I was able to hear the cry for help within your writing. The images you included also complemented your soliloquy very well.
I look forward to reading more of your work. Good Job!
How my virtual visit to the State Library has expanded my knowledge of Shakespeare and his place in the world.
Virtually exploring the State Library of NSW was a fascinating experience, one that I am grateful for as it truly allowed me to stop and think for a moment as to how one person can construct such timeless pieces of literature. Shakespeare was this person, an important figure in the literary world, and my visit has broadened my mindset as to where he stood in the world and the legacy he has left behind.
Through exploring The Shakespeare Room, located in the Mitchell Wing of the State Library, I was able to delight in viewing the intricate designs radiating throughout the room including the prominent stained glass windows that depicts the seven ages of man from ‘As you Like It’ (Act II, Scene VII). It further beckoned me to view the literary piece that inspired it, which famously includes the line, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”. As I reflected upon this powerful line, my knowledge of Shakespeare and his place in the world expanded. I was able to view, from his own lens, how he saw the world and his place in it. He communicates that we as humans believe we are in control of our lives. Are we? People appear on this stage then disappear, embody different roles: student, mother, father, athlete. We are all players, fulfilling a role, players in each other’s stories. It beckoned me to ask myself, Are we ever truly the protagonist?
It’s amazing how by viewing a stained glass window I was able to truly immerse myself in Shakespeare’s literary work, his literary piece that expanded my knowledge of him. Experiences like this educate, inspire and allow for reflection and so my appreciation of Shakespeare, not just as a writer but as an individual, was heightened. His legacy has manifested itself in various aspects within society; from students studying his work, like I am now, to tourists who venture across the globe to stare in awe at this stained glass window and reflect upon his literary masterpieces. The State Library may appear to some as just another building but it is a sanctuary to timeless pieces of literature. It is a place that illuminates the legacy of Shakespeare. Even though it was a ‘virtual’ visit, it was his legacy that made me feel as if I was there. Truly there.
Write a prose soliloquy in which you are either Hamlet or Ophelia commenting on the world around you in 2020.
Ophelia’s soliloquy
What is this I see around me? What is this we have lived through? Is the world coming to a halt? Oh it has been a long year thus far. But how? For we find ourselves still within the third month of this year. How have things changed so drastically? I thought we had turned a new page, commenced our New Year’s Resolutions, but alas, nothing is resolved. New obstacles assemble themselves before us.
It tore through homes, through nature’s gifts, destroyed the livelihood of many. Oh how tragic the ravaging traps of fire were to the earth! We were all in its path, some just closer than others. Oh how our breathing mechanisms were tested during this time, how it dug its way into every crevice, until all one could see was fire where homes stood, was fire where animals claimed as their sanctuary, was fire where fire should not be. I prayed for this to end. I did not favour what I saw around me. It truly felt as though the world was crumbling, in every sense of the word.
The flames were eventually subdued and life began to appear brighter, at last, the flames were not the source of this light. There was hope after all. But wait, mass hysteria, sickness, they call it, ‘coronavirus’. A pandemic. My how it has spread just as quickly as fires tore through our surroundings. Nations affected, lives affected. When will this all end? Oh I have never witnessed humanity crumble until I gazed upon brawls, humans fighting over material items. Of all things, toilet paper? That should be our undoing? We should be united! Standing together! They do not listen. Shelves cleared, baskets filled to their capacity, hysteria has been awoken within many. Madness! I say. They do not listen. When oh when did this all happen? For I thought the year had begun not too long ago. What may happen in the next month or two? No one would know.
I hope, one day in the near future, when I ask myself what I see around me, pleasant sights will reappear and the world will not feel as if it is crumbling before my eyes. I would view the best of humanity, the beauty within the world. Until then, all I am able to do is wait, simply wait, until I possess the ability to gaze around, unrestricted, and exclaim, “Look, here we are, alive!”. Then, I wonder, would they listen?
Governor General David Hurley made the comment, “Australia is not a finished product” in response to a quote by Australian author David Malouf written on a plaque. It reads, “Australia is still revealing itself to us. We oughtn’t to close off possibilities by declaring too early what we have already become”. This demonstrates that he perceives the ongoing nature of Australia in all its aspects. I agree with this because as long as time does not stand still, history in all its forms never ceases to be created. Australia as a product is underpinned by its inhabitants experiences and as long as we are diverse human beings contributing different ideas to Australia, is it ever really finished?
My blog posts demonstrates the diversity of human experiences. In my first blog post, (https://hollysliteratureblog.art.blog/2019/08/17/blog-1/) I wrote about travelling through Egypt, visiting different sites and embracing their diverse nature despite some believing they all appeared similar. Even though it was not in reference to Australia, it shows how relevant the past is today in creating different experiences and how I was able to bring this experience back to Australia and write about it in my blog. This can be done with every experience and thus, it is limitless. Therefore, Australia is not a finished product because of the opportunity individuals have to experience things internationally and still be able to bring it back home and reflect on it, contributing their work to the nation over and over.
My second blog post, https://hollysliteratureblog.art.blog/2019/08/26/blog-2/ touches on the idea of endless possibilities through Sidney Nolan’s painting depicting Ned Kelly. Although he painted it based on one perspective, another individual could paint a different image of Ned Kelly or perhaps compose it in a different form of art; a sculpture, a drawing, a song and more. It is because of the endless possibilities that composers, authors, artists and so on can contribute to Australia in different ways and Australia is not labelled as complete or finished.
My third blog post, https://hollysliteratureblog.art.blog/2019/09/02/blog-3/, demonstrates how imagination is the foundation for works of art and literature. Australia is not finished because the inhabitants of Australia have the power to imagine and create what they wish and contribute to society. Imagination is also limitless and thus if we continue to contribute in different ways, Australia will never be finished. A quote I implemented by Walter Lippmann within this blog post reads; “Almost no two experiences are exactly alike”. I believe this reflects clearly how Australia is not a finished product because as long as individuals experiences are diverse, it will keep on being added to what makes up Australia.
Similarly, texts themselves reiterate how Australia is not a finished product. In my fourth blog post, https://hollysliteratureblog.art.blog/2019/09/16/blog-4/, I wrote a letter to Patrick White showing my appreciation for his text, ‘Down at the Dump’ and in my fifth blog post, https://hollysliteratureblog.art.blog/2019/10/07/blog-5/, I wrote a letter to Kim Scott showing my appreciation for his novel, “That Deadman Dance”. Both are different authors, both have created worlds of fiction based on either historical events or their views regarding society. White created a fictional town within Australia and showed the diversity of human experiences through the contrasting lives of two families and Scott wrote about Australia during settlement in a unique way. They focus on different events and ideas. This is why Australia is not a finished product. Australia is all about diversity and if authors are able to compose literary works based on different ideas, the possibilities are endless.
The future is still unwritten. Just think about how the nation was 100 years ago, 200 years ago. It is vastly different now and I can only imagine what the future has in store for this country.
I really enjoyed reading your blog post regarding Patrick Whites text, ‘Down at the Dump’ and how it relates to his essay ‘The Prodigal Son’.
I thought the quotes you incorporated were very relevant and conveyed your points very well. I liked how you showed the contrast in societies beliefs through your quotes. It was interesting to see how they viewed intellectualism and how White delved deeper into understanding their views.
I liked the connections you made between both texts in regards to what true message White was trying to express, whether it was the materialistic Australian culture or ‘social class barriers’. You really delved into both texts and found a great way to write about Whites message.
Your writing is also very good and engaging and so is the layout of your blog entry. Overall, it was a delight to read. Great Job!
Write a letter to Kim Scott telling him what you think about his novel, ‘That Deadman Dance’
Dear Mr Scott,
Your novel was truly insightful and a delight to read. I am of course referring to your novel, ‘That Deadman Dance’ which truly had to be read in depth to understand its true meaning and the many layers within the novel.
I was intrigued by how you incorporated different perspectives as this ultimately allowed me to see the diversity within different experiences and the power it possesses.
I found it interesting how you showed the clash between the Noongar inhabitants and the European settlers through different events that took place in Australia. Ignorance made it hard to merge together and for that reason, I particularly found the ending of the novel fascinating,
The last line, “He heard gunshots. And another sound: a little dog yelping” was very intriguing. You managed to show the impact of the lack of cultural understanding and tolerance through this line. The ending appeared brutal and overall negative yet it allowed me to appreciate history.
Overall, I thought your novel was informative and gripping. It allowed me to view the clash between the Noongar people and the Europeans in a different way and how the hope for co-habitation was foiled by a lack of cultural understanding. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read your novel.
I enjoyed reading your blog post regarding how art and literature interact in a person’s experience. I too attempted this question and support your belief regarding how “art and literature are mediums of expression”. They do in fact allow individuals to convey their emotions and attitudes in different ways and this is what allows art and literature to be powerful.
I particularly liked the quote you incorporated as it showed that art can influence the emotions, actions and mindset of an individual. I believe that this is also possible through literature as it can influence the emotions of the reader and take them on a journey.
I thought it was great how you linked the power of different experiences to your previous blog entry. Each place is in fact unique and although an individual may feel connected to a certain location, others may or may not feel the same way that they do. It is dependant on their own life experiences.
Overall, it was a great blog entry and I look forward to reading more of your work. Good Job!
Write a letter to Patrick White telling him what you think of any one of the texts you have read this week
Dear Mr. White,
I have to say it was a shame that I did not come across your literary work earlier in my life. Your work possesses deep meaning and flows smoothly, taking readers on a journey. In particular, I was captured by your literary piece, ‘Down at the Dump’ as it instilled in me a greater appreciation for the diversity of human experiences, particularly in regards to how you managed to capture the meaning of life and this concept within different perspectives.
An aspect of the text which truly caught my attention was the contrast you implemented. I viewed this particularly through the two families; the Hogbens and the Whalleys. The Hogbens were fixated upon the certainty of death whereas although the Whalleys lived in a chaotic environment, they lived life without a care of what people thought, with excitement and thus “their faces were lit by the certainty of life”, not the certainty of death. I especially liked how although they reside in the same fictional town of ‘Sarsaparilla’ and in houses so close to each other, they could not be further apart regarding their outlook on life. This truly brought me back to how individuals respond to scenarios and experiences differently simply because we are all unique human beings. However, some tend to be unhappy even though they have a lot and some delight in the little that they do have.
In a world where the meaning of life is still explored and contemplated, this text has truly remained timeless. You have indeed created a story where readers are able to be taken on a journey, viewing the multifaceted nature of society and how all we need to do to be content is to truly be ourselves and delight in the ‘certainty of life’.
Thank you for allowing me to immerse myself in this literary adventure.
Holly’s Blog 
