The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0566  Wednesday, 11 November 2009

[Editor's Note: Allow me the opportunity to call attention to the Search 
function of the SHAKSPER web site: http://www.shaksper.net/search.html 
-- a function that enables users to locate information from digests and 
other materials in the list's archives. Long-time subscribers may have 
noted that this is not the first time that variations of this topic have 
appeared and led to prolonged discussions, especially I am recalling 
1998 and 2004 with an earlier thread in 1992 and others in 2002 and 
2003. Even more attentive reader may have noted that this is not the 
first time that Terence Hawkes has posed his "Why on earth" or 
variations thereof question. Interested readers should go to the Search 
function and enter "children" or "kids" or similar keywords and page 
through the results to locate resulting threads. --Hardy]

[1] From:   John W Kennedy <
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     Date:   Monday, 09 Nov 2009 20:12:39 -0500
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

[2] From:   Thomas M Lahey <
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     Date:   Monday, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:49 -0800
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

[3] From:   David Schalkwyk <
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     Date:   Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009 09:06:41 -0500
     Subj:   RE: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

[4] From:   Ira Zinman <
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     Date:   Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009 22:15:48 EST
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       John W Kennedy <
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Date:       Monday, 09 Nov 2009 20:12:39 -0500
Subject: 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

Terence Hawkes <
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 >Why on earth would anyone want to expose eight-year-old children to 
Shakespeare?

I have seen an eight-year-old child utterly delighted by "Dream", even 
still wildly enthusiastic about it the next day. And any child intrigued 
by Theatre is likely to demand at least a distant view of Everest.

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Thomas M Lahey <
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Date:       Monday, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:49 -0800
Subject: 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

Thanks to Skip Nicholson's response, I've ordered 3 sets of Shakespeare: 
The Animated Tales (Blowitoutahere.com, $162.64 includes shipping via US 
Mail); one for 2 granddaughters (ages 5 & 7), one for a grandson (10). 
I'll ask them to watch Midsummer, Shrew, and Tempest in that order.

I'm writing in response to Terence Hawkes, "Why on earth would anyone 
want to expose eight-year-old children to Shakespeare?"

Answer:
1) You NEVER know when/where you're going to strike a spark that will 
become a flame for the rest of their lives.

2)  A hope that may be in vain: Watching Shakespeare will replace (I'll 
settle for reduce) watching TV.

Stay healthy,
Tom Lahey

PS:  Of course, my grandchildren are all exceptional.
PSS: The third set is for me.

[3]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       David Schalkwyk <
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Date:       Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009 09:06:41 -0500
Subject: 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?
Comment:    RE: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

 >Why on earth would anyone want to expose eight-year-old children to
 >Shakespeare?
 >
 >Terence Hawkes

Come on, Terry, stop grumping. They love it, especially if you don't 
condescend to them by dishing up special childrens' versions.

David Schalkwyk
Folger Shakespeare Library

[4]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Ira Zinman <
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Date:       Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009 22:15:48 EST
Subject: 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0562 Shakespeare for children?

The post by Terence Hawks says:

 >Why on earth would anyone want to expose eight-year-old children to
 >Shakespeare?

My response is to say: Mr. Hawks, the reason to expose children to 
Shakespeare is the same as for exposing them to Bach or Beethoven as 
infants!!

Repeated exposure to that which is good and positive has an uplifting 
effect upon the mind of both children and adults. This has been shown to 
be true again and again. I think it is a mistake to underestimate the 
ameliorative power of language, or the ability of children to derive 
benefits from Shakespeare and other classical works.

Best wishes,
Ira Zinman

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