Language, truth ... and wine

New English Review

A hint oak of oak and berry? .. maybe you 're a poser.

Writing Theater

My Man Bummidge
I, myself, was quite prepared to become a dramatist, and was not taken by surprise when, about five years ago, Lillian Hellman suggested that I write a play. In a short time, by play was ready. Miss Hellman found it amusing and estimated it would run about eight hours without Wagnerian orchestration. She offered valuable advice, much of which I could not use because it required the collaboration of experts, the serious interest of a theater. So I put my Utopian project away and turned again to fiction.

Shakespeare too mature

The first survey of teachers' attitudes to Shakespeare also found strong opposition to using his history plays as the basis of lessons. Henry IV Part I was dismissed as "boring" because it required too much knowledge of historical context. The Taming of the Shrew, meanwhile, was rejected by many teachers for "the problematic portrayal of women and relationships".

Consultation with teachers and English advisers put Othello at the bottom of the list of suitable texts. It received twice as many statements of opposition as any other play. Nearly all cited the topic of racism or the play's handling of sexual jealousy, which was felt to be "beyond the experience" of 13 and 14-year-olds.

"Both were subjects that respondents would not feel comfortable teaching at this level," says the report. Teachers were also concerned about the play's many sexual puns.









News | Telegraph






: "The first survey of teachers' attitudes to Shakespeare also found strong opposition to using his history plays as the basis of lessons. Henry IV Part I was dismissed as 'boring' because it required too much knowledge of historical context. The Taming of the Shrew, meanwhile, was rejected by many teachers for 'the problematic portrayal of women and relationships'.Consultation with teachers and English advisers put Othello at the bottom of the list of suitable texts. It received twice as many statements of opposition as any other play. Nearly all cited the topic of racism or the play's handling of sexual jealousy, which was felt to be 'beyond the experience' of 13 and 14-year-olds.'Both were subjects that respondents would not feel comfortable teaching at this level,' says the report. Teachers were also concerned about the play's many sexual puns."