Workshoping Hamlet

In my fantasy life, which is rich and full, I imagine myself in a writing workshop with Shakespeare discussing Hamlet. "Pirates? Really? Why don't you just have him abducted by aliens?" And then someone else chimes in, "I'm OK with the initial pirate attack, but then they give him a lift back to Denmark? That's where you lost me." And then someone else, "I'm OK with the whole pirate thing, I mean whatever. But does Laetes really need to jump into the grave at Ophelia's funeral?" And then someone else, "And why doesn't Gertrude do more to save Ophelia? She provides such a detailed description of her drowning, but she can't be bothered to send someone to save her? I mean, how far away can she be?" In the end, everyone agrees that they really love Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and maybe he could do a bit more with them.

This article from Tor.com discusses how some people on Tumblr imagine Hamlet as RPG. That makes sense to me, too.





 

Welcome to Getting Literature!

Welcome to Getting Literature! I'm so happy to have you here. This blog is designed for people who love to read and for those who have an interest in literature but never quite "got" what their teachers were talking about in school. I spent over a decade teaching literature to college students and I'm mother to three great kids, so I get how challenging some of this stuff can seem to newcomers and even some old-timers. But it doesn't have to be. I've seen students have an absolute blast discussing Milton's Paradise Lost and students fighting passionately about whether or not Beowulf is worthy of hero status. These students were not English majors and many of them swore to me that they didn't want to be there, this was the only elective that fit their schedule, and that they just weren't readers. They read all this stuff in high school and they didn't get it. Little did they know what I had in store for them!

This blog is my way of sharing all that joy and fun with a broader audience. It's my way of keeping the party going beyond the walls of the classroom. In addition to the blog, I have a Facebook Page (Getting Literature) where I will be posting all sorts of fun internet links and resources. Make sure you "Like" Getting Literature on Facebook to stay current on my book releases, workshops, and online classes. There is also a podcast in the works. You'll find out about everything through the Facebook page. And if you ever have any comments, questions, or suggestions, feel free to contact me at gettingliterature@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading! More to come!

Dawn