Shakespeare

Shakespeare

On the 23rd of April, 1564, the town of Stratford- upon- Avon did not realise that one of the most important  members of the Lord Chamberlains Men's company of theatrical players was born. Little did they know that many centuries after, he would still be remembered as one of the greatest play writers ever to live. 

There is evidence that in 1592 William Shakespeare earned his living as an actor and playwright in London. By the early 1590's he was a managing partner in the acting company Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1603, the company's name was changed to King's Men after the crowning of King James the first. As the King's Men company became more popular, Shakespeare had work published. In the early days of his career, he managed to get the attention of Henry Wriothesly, the earl of Southampton. His fist poems; 'Venus and Adonis' and 'The Rape of Lucrece' were dedicated to Henry. 

Out of 37 plays, William had published 15 of them by 1597. The journey to London from Stratford by horse took a very long time, and it as hard to go there every day to work so Shakespeare only came home around once a year to his family. 

Many people believe that William Shakespeare did not die on his birthday, however it is a well known fact to others. He died on the 23rd of April 1616. His life was fulfilled well as he managed to write 37 plays, possibly even more, with countless poems.

The Globe Theatre

The Globe theatre is still well known today and performing plays, but the original was actually built in 1599. It was built by Shakespeare's playing company however was set alight in 1613. It was then reconstructed on the same sight in 1614, but then closed down in 1642.

The modern theatre that most people recognise today is also known as Shakespeare's Globe, this was made in 1997. The Globe theatre is a great way of bringing Shakespeare's plays alive once again.

My Model

This model is the model of a rooster, in act one scene one, the ghost was scared away by the rooster as it was a sign of morning and had to be gone by morning.

Act one- Scene one Hamlet

Explanation of what is going on in Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1

It was a bitter cold and eerie dark night in the castle of Denmark, the Guards Francisco and Barnardo kept watch although their eyes were drooping more every minute. At first they had not recognised each other in the dark light, but when they identified each other more closely, it was clear that Barnardo had come to take over from Francisco, who was grateful for this as he was depressed. Francisco then heard the footsteps of Marcellus and Horatio; that were meant to be joining Barnardo on the cold night. Francisco left as the others greeted each other. In the two previous nights, Barnardo and Marcellus had seen a ghost, they believed that it had to be the ghost of the dead King, as it looked exactly like it, and was even wearing the armour that the King had worn to war. Horatio however did not agree with such nonsense, and had come on that night to see it for himself. 

Horatio was convinced that the late King's ghost would not appear, but he still waited untill the clock struck midnight, as this was the exact time that the ghost had been seen before. As they were waited, Horatio agreed to listen to the story once more, but just when he had started, a cloudy figure drifted towards them, becoming  more distinctive as it came nearer. Horatio was shocked at the likeness between the King and this ghost, he fired questions, ordering for answers, but no answers were given. The ghost abandoned the terrified men, offended by Horatio's demands. the three guards stood, shivering, Horatio most of all as it dawned on him that the ghost was wearing the exact same suit of armour that the King had worn for battle against Norway. There were wars due in the country of Denmark, the guards knew that the King had caused them, they also knew that the King turning up was bad luck, bad luck for the country. 

The ghost suddenly re- entered , the guards begged for knowledge of the country; if buried treasure was hidden and what they need to do. The rooster crowed loudly, startling the ghost, and when it wouldn't reply the guards tried to threaten it using violence, however soon found out that it was the wrong decision as the ghost left yet again. Marcellus stated that roosters often scare ghosts away, and Horatio agreed. The men then decided that Hamelet- the King's son, needed to know about this. They decided to find him in the morning, and left the freezing castle.

Shakespeare's Quotes

6 of Shakespeare's Quotes

1. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.

2. Be no afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

3. If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall not revenge?

4. Love sought is good, but given unsought is better. 

5. If I lose mine honour, I lose myself.

6. It is not enough to speak, but to speak true. 

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

It`s funny the way although I know who I need to marry, I still love him. He`s always on my mind and I know that I am always on his, it`s not right though, if my father ever found out that I love him, then I am sure, he would kill me. In a way, we are like Romeo and Juliet.

As I arrived at school this morning, a swarm of people rushed over to me screaming “happy birthday!” down my ears, handing me huge `14` cards. But none of their faces were the one that I was looking for. I scanned the crowd and there he was, sitting on his on with a large balloon and gift bag in his hands, his face lit up when he saw me, a smile from ear to ear. I excused myself, telling everyone that I was going to put my bag in form; he followed me, as I wanted him too.

We went into form and he handed me my girt. Inside the small pink gift bag there was a tinny teddy bear holding a minute heart in its hands, I laughed at his remark. That was how we met, well, we knew each other from school but that was when it, clicked. I was in the card shop searching for a gift for my cousin, when I found a cute teddy bear, I accidently dropped it and he picked it up for me, our eyes met, and we fell in love. Underneath the fluffy bear was a large bag of Lindor chocolates- my favourite. I went to give him a hug, thanking him for the lovely gifts, but he stopped me “there`s more, look underneath the card.” So I did, I was expecting a pair of fluffy socks or some rose hand cream, the usual sort, but it certainly wasn't what I found.

There was an elaborate box, purple marble covered in beautiful semi-precious stones. He took it off me before I had chance to open it, and knelt down on one knee. “Listen, I know that it’s not legal to be married yet, and well, you`re engaged the second 16,” he sighed and mumbled under his breath, “thanks to your dad” but then he looked up, “but we can always . . . pretend?” He whispered, there was something behind the question in his voice, it was sadness. I couldn't bear the look in his eyes, he knew we couldn't be together, but he couldn't accept it. He opened the box and inside was the most amazing ring that I had ever seen, a beautiful shade of fuchsia surrounded by silver, my eyes welled up and my heart pounded as I reached out for it. I put the ring on eagerly, not caring that it was slightly too big,  I nodded my head, I was lost for words so I just nodded and nodded, knowing that I was never, ever going to marry anyone but him.

I couldn't concentrate for the whole day; I just kept twirling the ring around my finger, gazing at it in awe. “Jasmine, why do you have jewellery on in my lesson?” Mrs Filslon bellowed, coming over and taking it off me, “especially not a tacky piece of metal like this, look you already have a green mark on your finger where it`s been.” She said with disgust. I felt like crying, I felt like taking her wedding ring off her finger and keeping it until the end of the lesson, I wondered what she would do.

The day went so slow, but when it was finally over I rushed to the bus- knowing that if I was late home for my special birthday tea, then father`s belt would probably come out. I collapsed into the seat after my exhausting day, and then suddenly remembered to take my ring off, I didn't want father to become suspicious and ask me questions- as I am not good at making up stories.

When I got home Aunty Layla was there, she hurried over to me and wrapped her thin arms around me, whispering something about how my mother would have been so proud of me. I miss my mum, and sometime, when I am sad, all I want to do is hug her. She was murdered, although no one knows who by, except of course me. And my dad. My mum never did love my father, it was their parent`s choice, the marriage, but I never thought that I would see my own father kill my mother. I am sure that one day, he will do the same to me.

As soon as Layla left I rushed into my room, I don’t like spending time with just my dad, it puts me on edge. But as soon as I entered my room, my father called me down again. "Jasmine, a present has arrived in to post for you, it`s off Kamill, he must love you very much to remember your birthday." Kamill doesn't love me, he does't love me every bit as much as I don`t love him, It`s obviously off his parents, but I went down stairs and collected my gift all the same, father handed me a piece of paper and envelope, ready for me to write him back a thank you letter. I quickly unwrapped the parcel, not wanting to think about it for too long. Inside was a lovely silk head scarf, in an exquisite shade of blue, I put it on to please my father however I also reached into my school bag and found my ring, I slipped it on to my finger and kissed it.

I woke up later than usual the next morning as it was a Saterday, luckily it was not too late for my father to be up, I checked the clock, half 7, i was pushing it. I tiptoed down the stairs and put the kettle on, as it was boiling i squeezed some oranges and made father's porrige, as usual. Then after I had brought that up for him I got started on the bacon, eggs, sausages and hash browns. Although my father was from India, he still enjoyed eating the things he shouldn't.

When he was satisfied I reached for my apron and cleaning resources, and got started on the house.   I was glad when the house was impeccable and went to get dressed, I got a shock when the time was 2:45, where had the day gone? I put on my new head scarf off Kamill and new blue silk dress and muslin trousers off my father, these presents had obviously been planned to go together, when I went to tell my father that I was going out he said that I looked beautiful, and seeing that he was in a good mood I decided to ask him something that I had never asked him before. "Dad" I said, realising that my voice was shaking, "I was wondering, you know because I am going out today, well, when I go out, my friends usually bring money with them and, i might need some today." My eyes were closed as I waited for a reply, "well, after all I do for you, I buy you food, I buy you clothes, I let you go to school!" I was waiting for his arm to raise , ready to hit me, but he just shook his head and handed me a pound coin. "But seeing as it's your birthday, I suppose you can have some, but I hope you realise that you are a very spoilt young lady, so go on then." I thanked him and left the house, I was greatfull, although every one of my friends gets about triple this a day, it is so much better than being hit.

I used my money to get on the train, I wished I had a mobile phone so that I could phone Jay and tell him that I was coming, I didn't want to arrive at his house and for him not to be there, but I didn't and that was that. Jay's parents don't know about us either, it would be too risky if they found out and told my father about us, but I remember him saying that every saterday between 1 and 5 they visited his nan, and this week he wasn't going. If he wasn't at his house then I would just have to get about 9 buses home, because I have no money for the train home but I have my bus pass. I would usually of got the bus there however I felt like getting the train, I wanted to see him as soon as possible. When the train arrived at my stop I got off and decided to run to his house, I needed to see him. I knew his house off by heart as I go there most nights after school, when my father and his parents are still in work, but I can't be there for long as it takes a good hour and a half for me to get back home by bus, but sometimes, when I just can't leave he pays for me to get the train back so I don't have to leave as early. As I ran to his house I accidently bumped into someone running in the opposite direction. He was tall, dark hair and brown eyes, he looked familiar, "Jas! What are you doing here? Hey come back to mine!" It was Jay, I explained the story to him as we walked back, feeling very embarrassed as he asked why I was running, but I just asked back and he told me that he was doing proffessional running- and when I looked back at him I realised it was obvious as he isn't one to wear a headband on an ordinary day.

When we got to his house he got me a drink of lemonade and a raspberry and cream slice. I love going to Jay's he makes me feel like a Princess. He commented on my head scarf, saying it was lovely, but how he didn't recognise it and was it new, so I told him and that look in his eyes appeared again. And then it hit me, we needed to be together, but we couldn't be together on earth, but who said anything about being together in heaven? "Jay, I love you more than anything on this world, and if we stay on the world then I will have to marry someone else, and I really, really, really, don't think I could handle being apart, so, think about it, what is a really obvious thing to do?" I whispered, shocked with myself for asking the love of my life to kill himself. My face was damp with tears, I knew what I needed to do, and I wasn't going back on this decision, it was made.

I went to bed that night feeling satisfied, I had never felt like this before, it was the most wonderful feeling ever. I was going to be with him forever and no one could disapprove, and for the first time in my life I realised that my father didn't have to be the one to kill me. The best thing was, was that we could be open, we didn't have to sneak around making sure that no one could see us together. I was so glad that he agreed with me, he acted like I was a genius. We had made all of the arrangements, we were going to do it in a church, to make sure that we were close to go, and we were going to hold one of each other's hands, and with the other, stab each other, at the same time in the same place. I was ready, I could have done it the moment that I had suggested it, but we are doing it tomorow. Sunday, a holy day.

Our hands were clapsed, sweaty. Our eyes were focused on the posistion. Our minds were ready. I groaned as the mirrored knife sliced through my muscles, not because of the pain, but because of what I was doing to him. 
It's funny the way, although I love him, I'm still killing him, and I'm glad.

Username and Password

I remember my username and password.

Re-untied Snow

Father of Snow White was thrilled when Prince brought her home, in running away from her evil stepmother she went to the woods, finding a small cottage held by seven friendly dwarfs.
Snow's stepmother had managed to poison her with an apple, causing the dwarfs to think she was dead, however when her funeral came, she was awaken by her true love's kiss from Prince, and was brought back home just as it began to snow, happy to hear that her evil stepmother had been jailed.

Fouls in Quidditch

In the sport Quidditch, there are 700 different fouls.

Some of them are:

Sneezing when the quaffle is about to be tossed into the hoop.
Hitting the bulger with a broom instead of the bat.
Being a dementor.
Inviting death eaters to the after party.
Leaping on your opponent's broom.
Hiding the quaffle in a shirt, robe or top hat.
Broom jousting.
Licking the quaffle.
Levitating people watching to use them as shields or anything else.
Covering the oposing teams hoop to stop them from scoring.

There are many more fouls however the most common are:

1. Blagging: Grabbing the broomstick tail of someone on the opposing team.
2. Blatching: Flying towards another player to knock him/her off their broom. In the Quidditch world cup in 1994, Dimitrov flew towards Moran and almost knocked her off her broom, Dimitrov's team were awarded a foul.
3. Blurting: When a player locks their broomstick handle with that of an opponent to steer them off course.
4. Bumphing: When a beater sends the buldger towards the crowd.
5. Cobbing: When a player uses their elbows to hurt another player.
6. Flacking: When a keeper uses any part of their anatomy to reach through the goal hoop and push the quaffle out.
7. Haversacking: When a chaser holds or touches the quaffle as it goes through the goal hoop.
8. Quaffle Pocking: When chasers alter the quaffle somehow.
9. Snitchnip: When a player other than a sneeker catches the snitch.
10. Stooging: When more than one chaser goes into the scoring area at a time.

These are the most common rules or Quidditch and some others that are not used very often.

Bicycle Polo

Bicycle polo is played just like the traditional polo played on horse back, however it is played on bicycles. It is a team game with three to five players a side. Each player has a mallet, which is a hammer with a large, soft head. With the mallet, the players have to drive a plastic, or wooden, ball across the surface, in order to score. The traditional game of polo is played on a grass field, however hard court bicycle polo can be played on tennis courts, hockey rinks, or whatever flat, ideal surface the players can find. If the ball is driven through the goalpost then the team that scored will be awarded one point, when a team reaches five points, the game will end.

There is not much equipment needed to take part in a bicycle, however three things are key, a bicycle, a mallet and a plastic/wooden ball. When this equipment is ready and a team is sorted, then the game is ready to be played.