My day at the theatre.

Dear me, what a fabulous and fantastic afternoon it was yesterday!
I was invited by a friend to the premiere of Hamlet by the distinguished and somehow unusual playwright Mr Shakespeare.
To start with, I wonder why he set his play in Denmark: I really can't imagine the final slaughter scene in such a peaceful country, they may be a bit rowdy when they are drinking but definitely amiable companions (and here I'm silent....)
Then why is this Hamlet always asking questions? Hasn't he heard what his father told him, Revenge, revenge, repeated I don't know how many times, too exhausted to count them.
What I really loved was that noble character, King Claudius: how he spoke so meekly and so cleverly about this disloyal son (I'm sure the bad fame attached to stepsons comes from this Hamlet). Will anyone ever doubt of Claudius's prayers when that faint-hearted Hamlet has still to decide what to do?
The only thing that kept me there was the fine acting performed by Mr Burbage which really made me mad for his uncertainties and pallor, so that must have been his good acting. Well, yes I could also add the final scene with all that action and poison and blood spilling, but but ..... just a tad bit too late, I had been going around the grould for at least 30 times!!!!
So, why a fab afternoon? You know my friend was like a special friend and that made my afternoon anyway.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/shakespeares-hamlet-2/steps/21879/progress

Wild Nights

A different point of view to the poem

Story 5 The one-legged man

The one-legged Man

The story talks about a great basketball player, Lucio, who lost one leg in a cruel incident. This event changed his life completley, so, bored by his ordinary life, he decides to leave his home and his richness to start a big journey, which has to make him closer to nature.

During this big enterprise he goes to live in the desert and here he discovers an ancient abandoned village, where he remains for some time although it is difficult.

This beautiful life is interrupted one day when he is stung by a scorpion and so for the poison and the absence of medicines he dies and after many years policemen discover his body after a long search.

A story in 100 words written by (alphabetically ordered):

Andrea R., Giacomo, Luca, Paolo from Class VAL s.y. 2011/2012

Story 4 Scrod

Scrod

In the town of Scrod there was a famous circus that had a great show: the dancing-cows.

In this town lived Big Giorgione who taught his son Dwarf Leonardo his great ability that was to keep things in balance on his head.

One day the cows escaped from the circus and the circus owners auditioned for a new show star.

Dwarf Leonardo, although he was discriminated because of his size, tried the audition and the owners saw his X-Factor.

Thanks to his father's teachings, Leonardo could ride a tricycle on a tight rope with a lot of objects on his head. He was acclaimed for his bravery and became rich, famous and mayor of Scrod.

A story in 100 words written by (alphabetically ordered):

Alberto, Andrea A, Antonio, Federico from Class VAL s.y. 2011/2012

Story 3 Rescue

Rescue

A Winter misty night, a car accident and only one child saved by a fireman. Then darkness ….....

Carter opened his eyes, he was in the orphanage and Jamie was there for him again: even when he thought of killing himself because of his loneliness, she didn't sympathize with him for his misfortune, but she told him that he was an idiot.

'What a resolute girl', he thought.

They became friends when he revealed her his tragic story and his desire to know his past. Jamie convinced him to go searching for the fireman.

Tomorrow would have been that day, but he was not so sure because now the girl represented his only safety.

A story in 100 words written by (alphabetically ordered):

Giulia, Massimiliano, Sara, Rebecca from Class VAL s.y. 2011/2012

Story 2 Dreams

Dreams

Jeff, a quite common person, had a problem with himself: he had a foot instead of a hand. He always wanted to hug and dance with a girl that he loved.

One day a crazy Doc offered him the possibility to change his life forever: thanks to the time machine 'De Lorean' he can travel in the future. With it he arrived in New-Newport. So with the new medical discoveries he could finally be operated: now his arm had a hand.

When he came back his dreams became reality: he invited the girl to a ball, so with this transformation the girl accepted him and 3 years later they got married.

A story in 100 words written by (alphabetically ordered):

Ester, Pietro, Simone P., Matteo from Class VAL s.y. 2011/2012

Story 1 Blue Imagination

Blue Imagination

This story is based on true facts; set in Scotland.

On one bright morning in September, a man and his elder child, transporting hops to the Isle of Arran, shipwrecked.

His wife Janet and her little child Steve remained alone without money.

Jane needed a job, so she became a waitress in a night-club searching for a new life. She fell in love with Mr. B, a rich man from Edinburgh and her life blossomed again like a yellow daffodil.

Steve missed daddy and his brother too much: he decided to replace them with Bob, an imaginary friend.

Money doesn't mean happiness, sometimes what you need is just imagination.

A story in 100 words written by (alphabetically ordered):

Andrea C., Clarissa, Giorgia, Simone O. from Class VAL s.y. 2011/2012

Stories

Following is a series of 5 stories written in groups of 4 fifth year students.
Each story is based on 5 postcards chosen by 2 components of the group.
Each story must be written in 100 words (+/- 10%)
Each story has a plot completed in 40 minutes
Particular attention was to be devoted to linkers, cohesion and meaning.

Enduring Love

Results from Monday think thank:

La belle dame sans merci

 Here you'll find 2 versions of the celebrated poem, without words and with words.

 

 If you are still wondering about Romanticism, why don't you check with the address below?

http://prezi.com/9vahkbcg7byw/romanticism-in-general/

Hamlet's tragedy (as a third year student)

What a terrible and unbelievable thing: fortune's adversity! My father is dead, what can I do?
He was a great king against his brother who is only an arrogant and egotistical king. My Uncle wanted the reign and the riches for his person and his interest! What a lustful fellow!
I hate him and I can't understand why and how my mother could marry a similar monster!
Dear mother, you were my pure light which illuminated my steps before your wedding; now you put yourself at the  same level of your second husband.
Oh, father, why do you go away from me?
My reference point is gone and now I can't do anything else but leave my faith in my only friend Horatio.         From Act 1,2

Lord of the Flies

This is a final and unexpected comment on the novel by my super students.

End of T.S. Eliot 'The Hollow Men'

The famous notes!

Responses to Sonnet 18

As promised:

Remember the words' limit!

Medieval visions ......

Speaking of knights for a large part of this year, look what I found at the exhibition 'The Genius of Illumination' at the British Library in London:

Mounted knight - Regia Carmina  14th C.

The illuminated manuscript was written in Latin by Convenevole da Prato and it includes 3700 liturgical lines. In addition to that, this same knight was later chosen by the city itself and is now part of its coat of arms.

If you're interested in browsing the British Library, just visit their website

www.bl.uk.

My London

On a more lighter note, a short and fuzzy film on London as I saw it recently.

Can you understand what is being said in English? (The other language is Spanish)

Reflecting on art

Following Burke's theory,  is the bas-relief hereunder by Antonio Canova beautiful or sublime?

Priamo's death

PS
You can see it at the new museum 'Gallerie d'Italia' in Milan.

Beowulf, Beowulf

Some info about this fascinating character:

Second poem by the famous author

J712 (1863) / F479 (1862)

Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality. We slowly drove - He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility - We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess - in the Ring - We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed the Setting Sun - Or rather - He passed Us - The Dews drew quivering and Chill - For only Gossamer, my Gown - My Tippet - only Tulle - We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground - The Roof was scarcely visible - The Cornice - in the Ground - Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity -

Poiché non potevo fermarmi per la Morte - Lei gentilmente si fermò per me - La Carrozza non portava che Noi Due - E l'Immortalità - Procedemmo lentamente - non aveva fretta Ed io avevo messo via Il mio lavoro e il mio tempo libero anche, Per la Sua Cortesia - Oltrepassammo la Scuola, dove i Bambini si battevano Nell'Intervallo - in Cerchio - Oltrepassammo Campi di Grano che ci Fissava - Oltrepassammo il Sole Calante - O piuttosto - Lui oltrepassò Noi - La Rugiada si posò rabbrividente e Gelida - Perché solo di Garza, la mia Veste - La mia Stola - solo Tulle - Sostammo davanti a una Casa che sembrava Un Rigonfiamento del Terreno - Il Tetto era a malapena visibile - Il Cornicione - nel Terreno - Da allora - sono Secoli - eppure Li avverto più brevi del Giorno In cui da subito intuii che le Teste dei Cavalli Andavano verso l'Eternità -

The great fire of London