Mid-Term Paper: “Based Upon A Play By Will Shakespeare”

“in Shakespeare…we get something different: sustained, two-way courtship in which the affection of women is taken seriously in spite of the ludicrous confusion that inevitably occurs. This confused courtship lies at the heart of romantic comedy, a modern genre that Shakespeare could be said to invent” (van Es 54).

For your mid-term paper, I want you to consider adapting one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies for the big screen: Two Gentlemen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream or As You Like It. Each one has all the hallmarks of the ‘Romantic Comedy,’ as it is about the struggle, confusions, doubts, and joys of love relationships. In that sense each play is very modern, particularly in how Shakespeare makes courtship the center of the play, and women are allowed (even if only temporarily) to assume center stage and decide their own fate. However, as van Es reminds us, “though we might say that love in Shakespeare’s comedy is more modern than one might have expected, we should also acknowledge that it is more early modern than it at first feels” (64). So much of what he dramatizes and makes fun of is particular to Elizabethan England and might not translate for modern audiences without a little editorial work.

Your paper will be a “pitch” to a producer as to why you think your adaptation will work on the screen and become the next She’s the Man, or Ten Things I Hate About You. To do this, I want you to address the following points:

• Your introduction should state the new title of your play (make it sound modern), the updated setting, and the main characters (you don’t have to use them all, but consider if you want to update their names or situations). Compare your adaptation to a modern film or show that you feel it will complement in style, tone, or ideas. You might want to analyze a brief scene from that show/film to illustrate this!
• Discuss what scenes still work and are “modern”: what scenes would play beautifully with a minimum of editing? Discuss 1-2 scenes in a short close reading/analysis. Also explain how it will work in the context of your new setting/characters.
• Discuss what scenes don’t work and need to be cut or severely changed for the good of the adaptation. Discuss 1-2 scenes in a short close reading/analysis. Make sure we understand why it’s too “early modern” rather than “modern.”

ALSO: You must use Bevis and van Es to help make your points and explain why Shakespeare is not only funny to modern audiences, but how his humor works—why it’s subversive, witty, exciting, and risqué. Make sure your paper is a conversation between you, Shakespeare’s text, and the critical sources addressed to a specific audience—a producer who doesn’t know Shakespeare very well and might be inclined to think he’s boring, old, and obscure.

REQUIREMENTS: At least 6-7 pages (double spaced); all quotes should be cited according to MLA format guidelines; due Thursday, March 15^th by 5pm