Amazing! I loved it! I feel that poetry must be read aloud, but reading to myself is not the same. Thank you, Karen! (I also love to listen to Malcolm Guite read poetry.)
A great big heartfelt 'yes' to you reading to us, Karen. You make Shakespeare come alive to those of us who've always found him, well, a bit difficult to comprehend ...
Your reading was good but I also would have liked it if you had read the entire article-would give the feeling of being in class and hearing (not just reading) the teacher
I loved your reading too as I followed along. I’ve never really looked at any of Shakespeare’s sonnets that I remember but have thoroughly enjoyed the ones you’ve chosen. I had a copy of Dr. Faustus (I do remember reading it in the 2-year Humanities course when I was a student at Davidson) so it will definitely feel like I’m back in college!
A question for you - who or what was Shakespeare’s market for the sonnets? Were they written to be published or for wealthy patrons or to be performed?
I bet Jack Heller know more. But I think sonnets were written “for fun” and circulated largely among friends before being published. It’s not even clear if Shakespeare authorized their first publication. Jack?
Stopping by to register my love for Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. I didn't see the Grammys, but I have watched the same song (many times) performed at the legendary Newport Folk Festival.
Due to a brain aneurysm in 2015, she learned to play the guitar again by watching videos of herself in earlier days!
My favorite sonnet. (Not that I’ve read them all.) I may be misremembering, but I recall Ben Kingsley reciting in the DVD of RSC’s Performing Shakespeare series. Afterwards, I memorized it.
Hearty yes! to the recorded reading! Oh my... While I click on the links you put in your writings, it's great if we can hear on the same page these words. Love hearing your voice, the words, the rhythm, the melody of the reading. Enjoying this seriesvery much. 😍
Karen, I loved your reading, but love the article even more. These things are wonderful. Keep them coming! I've always struggled with reading poetry. You're opening up a new world to me.
When I study your substack I can sense my hinterland expanding and I love it. I can’t believe that before this year I had never read these sonnets nor the Canterbury tales nor Beowulf and I love the way that you just encourage us to step back and see the text just as a work of art and enjoy it as it is .
I have to say though we looked at that Shakespeare in glasses poster and thought ‘Professor Swallow Prior , what a smutty poster , we are shocked… ‘🤪but I think it is more innocent to an American readership
I enjoyed your reading. Poetry is not a genre that I typically read so this is stretching me a bit. I do appreciate these posts and you for continuing to use your teaching gift. When I read the information, I seem to hear it in your Voice. That must come from hearing you on multiple podcast interviews.
I’ve never read a play “just for fun” but will follow along just because I love the word “tragical”!
I think recording our own work in our respective voices is a brave step and yet, an open comment section is the braver step towards humility in our writing.
I love the sonnets and it has been far too long since I thought about this one. Shakespeare's sonnets often remind me that love is the deepest, truest knowledge we can possess that sees all things and people for how they really exist--even if the truth is unwieldy and raw. It is that mutual knowing, and mutual mercy that makes it so beautiful. All pretence and pretending is made useless and into a running joke. In long love we put on heirs and voices if only to humour one another into a long since unnecessary song and dance. Unnecessary though it may be, we the birds of paradise perform our besodden ritual.
Thank you, Daniel. My comment section hasn’t been closed for lack of humility (if I can be humble and say that! 😂). Rather it is because other social media sites have been used to relentlessly troll, attack, and slander me. I want, need, and deserve a place where I don’t need to battle that. This was the main need that inspired this substack. Thank you for reading and chiming in.
I loved your reading of the sonnet! If you are up for it, I think a recording of whole posts would also be wonderful. 💛 Thank you, as always, for sharing your writing with us! 🤗
Amazing! I loved it! I feel that poetry must be read aloud, but reading to myself is not the same. Thank you, Karen! (I also love to listen to Malcolm Guite read poetry.)
Thank you! I can’t hold a candle to Malcolm Guite but I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
A great big heartfelt 'yes' to you reading to us, Karen. You make Shakespeare come alive to those of us who've always found him, well, a bit difficult to comprehend ...
Thank you for the encouragement!
Your reading was good but I also would have liked it if you had read the entire article-would give the feeling of being in class and hearing (not just reading) the teacher
I am going to try doing that. Thank you!
Yes please
I’m a FAN of you reading!! I think hearing someone read poetry who understands the poetry, is helpful in my learning!
😊
Definitely a great benefit to hearing you read while I followed the text! Thanks for thinking of it!
A moment of inspiration, I think!
I loved your reading too as I followed along. I’ve never really looked at any of Shakespeare’s sonnets that I remember but have thoroughly enjoyed the ones you’ve chosen. I had a copy of Dr. Faustus (I do remember reading it in the 2-year Humanities course when I was a student at Davidson) so it will definitely feel like I’m back in college!
I’m so glad you have enjoyed the sonnets! (And my reading…) I hope feeling like you are back in college is a good thing! 😅
Absolutely! I loved my time at Davidson and continue to learn and study. I am definitely a
life long learner like they encouraged us to be!
🙌
Keep reading.
😊
A question for you - who or what was Shakespeare’s market for the sonnets? Were they written to be published or for wealthy patrons or to be performed?
I bet Jack Heller know more. But I think sonnets were written “for fun” and circulated largely among friends before being published. It’s not even clear if Shakespeare authorized their first publication. Jack?
*knows. (Sigh)
Stopping by to register my love for Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. I didn't see the Grammys, but I have watched the same song (many times) performed at the legendary Newport Folk Festival.
Due to a brain aneurysm in 2015, she learned to play the guitar again by watching videos of herself in earlier days!
I heard about the aneurysm but I didnt know about her guitar lessons by watching herself. It's pleasant to know about that part. Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t know that about her aneurysm! Wow. Thanks for stopping by!
My favorite sonnet. (Not that I’ve read them all.) I may be misremembering, but I recall Ben Kingsley reciting in the DVD of RSC’s Performing Shakespeare series. Afterwards, I memorized it.
Cool. Cool.
Hearty yes! to the recorded reading! Oh my... While I click on the links you put in your writings, it's great if we can hear on the same page these words. Love hearing your voice, the words, the rhythm, the melody of the reading. Enjoying this seriesvery much. 😍
Thank you so much! I’m glad you are enjoying it. 😊
Karen, I loved your reading, but love the article even more. These things are wonderful. Keep them coming! I've always struggled with reading poetry. You're opening up a new world to me.
Oh,I’m so glad, Marty! Thank you! 😊
Yes. please do read again. It is so much better heard than read only. I sometimes read poems aloud to myself, and the Psalms as well.
I will keep experimenting! 🤞🏻
When I study your substack I can sense my hinterland expanding and I love it. I can’t believe that before this year I had never read these sonnets nor the Canterbury tales nor Beowulf and I love the way that you just encourage us to step back and see the text just as a work of art and enjoy it as it is .
I have to say though we looked at that Shakespeare in glasses poster and thought ‘Professor Swallow Prior , what a smutty poster , we are shocked… ‘🤪but I think it is more innocent to an American readership
Oooooohhhhh nooooo….I think we might have that saying here but I was thinking more about rap music…and sunglasses…and not other things. 😬🫣
I enjoyed your reading. Poetry is not a genre that I typically read so this is stretching me a bit. I do appreciate these posts and you for continuing to use your teaching gift. When I read the information, I seem to hear it in your Voice. That must come from hearing you on multiple podcast interviews.
I’ve never read a play “just for fun” but will follow along just because I love the word “tragical”!
Keep up the good work.
Pat
Oh, these are such kind and encouraging words. Hooray! Success! Thank you, Patricia! 🩵
I think recording our own work in our respective voices is a brave step and yet, an open comment section is the braver step towards humility in our writing.
I love the sonnets and it has been far too long since I thought about this one. Shakespeare's sonnets often remind me that love is the deepest, truest knowledge we can possess that sees all things and people for how they really exist--even if the truth is unwieldy and raw. It is that mutual knowing, and mutual mercy that makes it so beautiful. All pretence and pretending is made useless and into a running joke. In long love we put on heirs and voices if only to humour one another into a long since unnecessary song and dance. Unnecessary though it may be, we the birds of paradise perform our besodden ritual.
Thank you, Daniel. My comment section hasn’t been closed for lack of humility (if I can be humble and say that! 😂). Rather it is because other social media sites have been used to relentlessly troll, attack, and slander me. I want, need, and deserve a place where I don’t need to battle that. This was the main need that inspired this substack. Thank you for reading and chiming in.
I hear and respect that.
I loved your reading of the sonnet! If you are up for it, I think a recording of whole posts would also be wonderful. 💛 Thank you, as always, for sharing your writing with us! 🤗
😊 I’m going to try reading whole posts as I’m able!
I look forward to that!