The Tales of Geoffery Chaucer...and Canterbury!

Geoffery Chaucer is the author of one of the highest rated literary works of all time. The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer was born sometime around 1340 to a local merchant and his wife. Not much is known or recorded about his young life or his education, however his works show that he was fluent in several languages including French. Sometime later Chaucer went to live and work in France where he met his wife Phillipa. Chaucer spent his life traveling abroad writing. He began the Canterbury tales later in his life, somewhere around the age of 40. The book was actually left unfinished until Chaucer died in 1400. Geoffery Chaucer is buried in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey in London, England.

I personally loved The Canterbury Tales. It was my second time to read it and each time just gets better. I love the fact that Chaucer didnt actually finish the book either. The finisher of the book still seemed to understand what Chaucer was writing about.

Homer and the Iliad

Homer was a  Greek poet most widely known for his great epic stories such as the Iliad, The Odyssey, The Siege of Troy, and Ulysses Wanderings. Not much is known about Homers personal life but more about his stories. It is speculated that Homer was born sometime as far back as 1200 BC on Asia Minor, but again that is pure speculation.
  One of his most famous writings is the Iliad. It is quite lengthy and tells a very drawn out story. I didnt personally care for the Iliad, but Greek writings arent really my pick for reading. I think it is very fascinating, however, that as far back as 1200 BC there were people who could write this beautifully. It is said that his works were based on ballads, but thats not truly known for sure either. Whatever they were based on, and however Homer learned to write, he was truly blessed, as are we to have such wonderful pieces of history.


Resource: http://www.online-literature.com/

Romeo, Romeo...

The 1996 version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, puts a modern twist on an old classic. The setting is a modern day suburban neighborhood in Verona. The great thing about the movie is that the dialogue is still the original writings. I really liked this movie because even though it kept its original wording, just through the scenes I was able to better understand what Shakespeare was saying.
           I thought Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio were also a good choice for actors because of how young and inevitably good looking the two of them are. The movie while staying true to its original form, also dealt with many of today's more pressing issues, such as: pre-marital sex, gangs, and alcoholism. Although I wouldnt personally recommend the movie for anyone under 14 years, I did think it was very helpful.

Oh Othello!

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is a very complex tragedy. It is a story full of battle, love, murder, and regret. Im not quite sure how I feel about the story of Othello because in my mind, I turned it around. I felt like this was something that could certainly still happen today. Give or take a few details. When I was reading Othello I could actually picture a modern day situation in my mind.
      My biggest dislike was the fact that when Othello suspected his wife if infidelity, he never gave her the opportunity to defend herself. I felt like that if he truly had loved her, he would have let her plead her case. There was no rational behavior in this story. All the characters jumped to conclusions and did mischevious things in order to save their selves. If everyone had just been up front with one another most of the killing and hatred never would have happened.
          The characters in Othello reminded me a lot of a group of teenagers and their love triangles. One of them always gets mad and starts an uproar among the group if the apple pf his/her eye likes another. Its always a ridiculous dramatic situation, full of hatred and regret in the end. That is what Othello made me thing of.

A Life Well Lived...

Not a lot is known about William Shakespeare. He was a fairly private man who told most of his life story through his works. There are a handful of legal documents still in existence that tell us various little details about the life of this influential writer.

              William Shakespeare was born of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in Stratford-upon-Avon somewhere around April of 1564. Williams father was a successful local merchant in town and his mother an heiress. According to various records, William was the third of eight children born to John and Mary, three of whom passed away at birth. Little is known about the childhood of Shakespeare, and there is much speculation and guessing. William is said to have attended the free grammar school in Stratford where he excelled in Greek and Latin. One thing historians do know for sure, is that William Shakespeare never pursued a college degree.
            In November of 1582, William Shakespeare wed the already pregnant 26 year old Anne Hathaway. William was a mere 18 years of age. On May 26,1583 Anne gave birth to the couples first child, a girl, they named Susanna. Two-three years later the Anne gave birth once more to a set of twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet later passed away at the age of eleven years. For several years after the birth of his children, Shakespeare was very reclusive. No one really knows how William Shakespeare occupied his time during these few years of solitude, but my guess would be with writing.
           Somewhere around 1588-1589, Shakespeare is said to have taken up residence in London where he began to make himself known as an actor and playwright. Shakespeare quickly became well known all around London and various other parts of England and by 1594, was writing, acting, and directing for the Lord Chamberlains Men. He also became the owner of The Globe theatre.
          Shakespeare's success was mounted more so after his death in 1623. His plays became published and his name and life became something to study. His plays have endured nearly 400 years, and are still being read, taught, and studied all around the world today. William Shakespeare truly was one of the greates writers of all time.

           Resource: http://www.bardweb.net/