Ripe Good Scholar

Welcome to episode #33 of Ripe Good Scholar the podcast where we explore the journey Shakespeare’s texts have travelled through the centuries.

In this episode,

Eli and I will be comparing Shakespeare’s Cymbeline to the folktale Snow White. Despite the fact that Snow White was not published until decades after Shakespeare’s death, the folktale would have been passed down through the oral tradition for many years before publication. It is these oral tales that influenced Shakespeare as he wrote his play. In fact, it looks like Shakespeare drew inspiration from a few different folktales to tell the story of Cymbeline, but today our focus is on Imogen and her similarities to Snow White.

It is worth noting that the story of Cymbeline also appears in Holinshed’s Chronicles. We have not looked at that story yet, so we will have to wait and see whether it was Shakespeare or Holinshed that took inspiration from folktales.

For the full show notes head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep33

Welcome to episode 32 of Ripe Good Scholar: The Analyzing of a Shrew.

In this episode…

Dr. Lisa Grogan and I will take a trip through the mind of Katherine from The Taming of a Shrew. From the start of the play, Katherine is portrayed as an unpleasant and outspoken woman. These traits make her an outcast in her society. The people in her life make it clear to her that her behavior is not desirable or even very likable. It doesn’t prompt her to change though, even though it makes finding a husband difficult. She would rather be true to herself than conform, which makes her a rather admirable woman.

However, no one in the play seems to appreciate Katherine’s self-confidence. With all of the comments and insults flung her way, it’s no wonder Katherine behaves like a “shrew.” It begs the question: what came first the insults or the shrew?

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Following the Restoration of the monarchy and therefore playhouses, Shakespeare's plays had to change with the changing expectations of theatre.

Show notes: ripegoodscholar.com/ep32

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 30 of Ripe Good Scholar: Darkness Representing Evil

In this episode…

We are looking at the evolution of race from the Middle Ages to Shakespeare’s time. The discussion is more complicated than we might think. This period of time was when the concept of race as we know it today was being forged. Renaissance Europe was experiencing a huge step forward in globalization. This period was the beginning of colonization and the slave trade. There was also a LOT of trade happening. This meant that what was an exotic other was suddenly very close to home. The people of Renaissance Europe had to figure out what this meant for them and how to interact with these new darker skinned people. Unfortunately, it wasn’t usually pleasant, but that is what colored Shakespeare’s writing as he introduced characters of color. That is what we are going to be exploring today.

For this episode, I read a selection from the Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race, along with a number of articles you will find linked in the show notes.

Full show notes available at ripegoodscholar.com/ep30

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 29 of Ripe Good Scholar: The Norse Origins of Hamlet.

In this episode…

We will be taking a deep dive into the texts that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It all started in the early days of Danish history and went through a few iterations before finally reaching Shakespeare. Without these texts that came before, we may not have the amazing play that we have today. It’s important to acknowledge and pay homage to these texts as we appreciate the surviving masterpiece, which is exactly what we will be doing today.

For the full episode show notes visit: ripegoodscholar.com/episodes/norse-hamlet

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

There’s a lot going on in King Lear. There are big emotions and tons of drama. It’s what makes the play so compelling. However, it’s more than just drama that draws us in. It’s that human element that we immediately identify with in some capacity. Today, I’m going to talk with Dr. Lisa Grogan about Lear and why he is the way that he is.

Full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep28

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we will be looking at how Shakespeare’s First Folio came to be and the lasting effect it had on our image of Shakespeare. There were a handful of people involved in the creation of the First Folio and each has an interesting story to tell. Beyond that, the process of getting such a large book published would have been a feat in and of itself. These efforts were not in vain though because the impact of the First Folio can be felt even today.

Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep27

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In 1575 Elizabeth travelled to the home of Robert Dudley and, while there, was greeted by the Lady of the Lake herself. From that point forward, it became a trope to compare Elizabeth to the Fairy Queen. Even Shakespeare himself dipped his toes in the fairy waters with a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but his flattery was a little different than you may be expecting.

Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep26

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 25 of Ripe Good Scholar: Jewish people in Elizabethan England

In this episode…

We will explore the history of the Jewish people in England and across Europe. In addition, we will look at the stereotypes believed by Elizabethans and how it may have influenced Shakespeare as he wrote The Merchant of Venice. Today, Shylock is often depicted as a sympathetic character. However, this was not necessarily the case in Elizabethan England.

Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar/ep25

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today we look at the materials Shakespeare used to write Romeo and Juliet. This includes the novella by Matteo Bandello. The poem by Arthur Brook and the short story by William Painter. Let's dive in to see how the story got to Shakespeare and how he changed it.

Show notes can be found at: ripegoodscholar.com/ep25

Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/