Classic English Mysteries

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Theoretically, mysteries needn't center on crime, but most pure mysteries do.In fact they typically center on the crime of murder, because it's the perfect crime for this type of story. For one thing, since dead men tell no tales, murder is inherently mysterious. It's also simple and economical. All you need is a dead body, no other action and explanations to distract from real story. Moreover,

comments | | Read More...

Reading Level for the American Audience

Monday, May 22, 2006

There's a misconception that would-be writers should rid themselves of. It's that the reading level of the average American is very low.While there has been some truth this among younger people since the 1990's, too much has been attributed to it. Moreover, the No Child Left Behind Act has already brought first-through-fourth graders up to par with European students of the same age. Now, as the

comments | | Read More...

Subtle Conflict 6: Counterattack

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

In the five previous posts, we've been walking through Act III, scene i of Hamlet, in which conflict between Hamlet and Ophelia mounts. Remember the mood Hamlet was in at the begining of this scene. Remember also that he was debating with himself whether to force the core conflict with Claudius to it's crisis.Now look at what this meeting with Ophelia has done. Hamlet knows she's been put up to

comments | | Read More...

Subtle Conflict 5: Counterattack

Friday, May 12, 2006

In Act III, scene 1, we left off at the point Hamlet finds that he can make Ophelia think whatever he wants, that she is a mental whore, so to speak, who has no mind of her own.Then whose mind is behind her suddenly changing her policy and deciding to speak with him today? Thus, Hamlet realizes this encounter with Ophelia is a setup -- an attempt to get him to say something "treasonous" and that

comments | | Read More...

Subtle Conflict 4: Counterattack

Friday, May 5, 2006

Starting at line 103 (Act III, Scene 1) we continue with this encounter between Hamlet and Ophelia. Now he's angry.Speaking in prose from now on (instead of verse), Hamlet gives Ophelia a sarcastic dose of her own medicine, playing words. She didn't understand "Are you honest?" so he puts the question another way.Hamlet: Are you fair?Ophelia: What means your lordship?Ouch. She most certainly is!

comments | | Read More...

Subtle Conflict 3

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Hamlet: Ha, ha! Are you honest?You can almost see his head spinning. He's probably pinching himself. Shakespeare again shows his great knowledge of human behavior. Rational people are stunned and perplexed by perverted reactions to things. They strike us as seeing an apple fall UP from a tree would strike us. These are the moments (in encounters with the twisted) when we can't believe our eyes

comments | | Read More...

Subtle Conflict 2

Monday, May 1, 2006

Continuing where we left off...Hamlet: Nymph, in thy orisonsBe all my sins rememb'red.Ophelia: Good my lord,How does your honour for this many a day?...in Act III, scene 1, around line 88.Hamlet: I humbly thank you; well, well, well.Hamlet starts giving the natural reply (Thank you) to what Ophelia should have said. But, by the middle of the line, he sees that she hasn't honored his request to

comments | | Read More...