On to my 4th post inside of a two week window. I'm certainly catching up, though I'm less confident with weekend plans looming that I'll catch up entirely. I can't complain now though, it will all be about how much I'm able to balance my life after this. It will be a challenge but I know in my heart if I apply myself, it can be done.
I've chosen an easy book this time, after my last post I found myself mentally exhausted by the sheer depth of the text. So this time I've stretched the rules to allow for an all time favourite of mine.
I've covered Shakespeare a couple of times in previous blog posts on account of the fact that I believe not enough is done to get primary school children into his legendary writing. This series of books is a classic example. I see tonnes of them in schools, but they very rarely get used. In fact, the copy I've just read is in pristine condition, which tells me it's never been touched.
It would've been my mission (it might still be, covid allowing) to host an assembly, where we can act out a modern day retelling of this story. I even managed to cross theme it with Love Island, because frankly the story lends itself to that kind of 'blind date' she loves him/he loves someone else kind of theme.
The story tells of 4 people in Athens who are caught in the most bizarre form of love square so to speak. Hermia loves Lysander but she's supposed to marry Demetrius (arranged marriage style). Helena loves Demetrius but he doesn't love her back. In fact he doesn't really love anyone. Out of pride Demetrius refuses to give up on marrying Hermia, so she and Lysander plan to run away through the nearby forest to freedom and a life together.
Hermia's mistake is in telling Helena this, and Helena's mistake is in thinking that if she tells Demetrius, he'll be so heartbroken that he'll take her instead. And that is what leads to total carnage!
Throw in a quarrell between the queen and the king of fairies (who I was once cast as due to my very masculine deep sounding voice) and a man donkey and you have a recipe for a misadventure of epic proportions!
Written by Andrew Matthews and beautifully illustrated by the renowned Tony Ross, this adaptation is wonderfully short, a mere 58 pages from start to finish. There are handy notes on the back about Shakespeare himself and his famous Globe Theatre (brilliantly described as a cross between a doughnut and a 50 pence piece). The language is easy to read but still throws in the occasional challenging word to keep readers on their toes. This book would be ideal for children from the age of 7 upwards. So why isn't it being used?
I honestly don't know the answer to that one. Maybe the perception of Shakespeare today is outdated. Maybe we need to stop thinking that his works are only relatable to adults. At the end of the day children are shown things like Love Island at young ages (much to my chagrin). Why not expose them to more intelligent works of art that were once intended for grown ups?
These adaptations are a brilliant way of introducing the legend to children so that, by the time they come to study him in high school (which is still pretty much compulsory) they are used to the themes and intricately woven plotlines.
It is my dream to see my primary school and others, fully embracing the literary classics, hopefully one day that dream will come true.
Book 22 out of 52 and my (adaptation of a) book that is over 100 years old.
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