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00:00:00 – 01:31:00
The video celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's First Folio and the British Library's 50th anniversary, featuring Ben and David Crystal discussing their book "Everyday Shakespeare Lines for Life." They explore Shakespearean quotes' everyday relevance, emphasizing interpretation and diverse perspectives. The video covers the inclusion of female characters' lines, notable quotes on various themes, and the impact of Shakespeare in education and theater. The discussion extends to original pronunciation, individual accents in performances, translations of Shakespeare into different languages, and the importance of arts education. The speakers share insights on selecting quotes for their book, favorite plays, and the significance of teaching Shakespeare to young people. The video ends with gratitude towards the audience and a call to stay updated on the British Library's events.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, Jonah Albert, an events producer at the library, welcomes the audience to a special night celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio and the British Library’s 50th anniversary. Ben and David Crystal are introduced, presenting lines from lesser-known Shakespearean works in their new book “Everyday Shakespeare Lines for Life.” The audience, including online viewers, can interact by submitting questions. Ben and David discuss their inspiration for the book and share anecdotes about how Shakespeare’s lines have influenced everyday conversations. They highlight the relevance of Shakespeare’s words in everyday life and express gratitude to those who contributed to the book’s creation.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, the speakers discuss how they selected quotes from Shakespeare’s works to include in their book, focusing on everyday relevance over famous lines like “is this a dagger which I see before me?” They highlight the importance of interpretation and how different people may relate to Shakespeare’s quotes in various ways. The dialogue also includes a sample reading from the audiobook they recorded, featuring discussions on the quoted lines’ meanings and contexts within Shakespeare’s plays. The speakers emphasize the book’s unique format with a daily quote and commentary, encouraging readers to interpret the quotes based on their own perspectives.
00:20:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses various quotes from Shakespeare’s works and how they can be used in different situations. They mention the idea of not accepting payment for a favor and being well satisfied, incorporating quotes into specific days or dates like Valentine’s Day, and the inclusion of play stamps at the bottom of each page. The video highlights the significance of themes and indexes in the book, providing options for readers to explore quotes further. Additionally, the speaker suggests practical ways to utilize the book such as incorporating quotes into daily routines, teachings, or casual conversations. They also provide insights into the top five most quoted plays or poems in the book, featuring works like Hamlet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. Lastly, the speaker shares selected lines from each of these plays and explains how they can be applied in various social scenarios.
00:30:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses various notable lines spoken by female characters in Shakespeare’s works. Examples include Queen Catherine in Henry VIII, the Countess in All’s Well That Ends Well, Lucrece in the poem The Rape of Lucrece, Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Isabella in Measure for Measure. Each line conveys profound meanings and emotions, reflecting universal human experiences. The speaker emphasizes the timeless relevance of Shakespeare’s words, noting how they resonate with different aspects of life, from love and laughter to grief and everydayness.
00:40:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around various Shakespearean quotes related to politics, wisdom, work, honesty, secrets, money, birth, love, marriage, death, friendship, and food. The speakers delve into the profound meanings behind these quotes, including the importance of good deeds, appreciation, and the value of friendship. The conversation also touches on the concept of original pronunciation (op) in Shakespeare’s works, highlighting how it enhances the understanding and enjoyment of the language.
00:50:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of being able to quote Shakespeare and how it has been missing from education systems. They emphasize the value of oracy and the ability to speak from the heart, which literature and theater, especially Shakespeare, help cultivate. The speaker shares how Shakespeare’s works teach empathy, creativity, compassion, and conflict resolution. They highlight the relevance and impact of Shakespeare in today’s world, mentioning that theater and arts are essential for fostering empathy and compassion. The speaker also touches on the power of Shakespeare’s words in expressing emotions and reflecting on life experiences. Various Shakespearean quotes are discussed and their significance in everyday language and reflection is explored. The segment ends with a discussion on saying farewell using Shakespearean lines.
01:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the process of selecting quotes for their book, mentioning how they went from 5,000 quotes to 1,000 for publication and the criteria used for choosing them. They explain the roles they each played in the selection process. The speaker also addresses the possibility of additional volumes based on the remaining quotes. Additionally, they delve into the impact of original pronunciation on understanding Shakespeare, emphasizing the importance of rhyme and phonostetic aesthetics. The challenges of recreating original pronunciation are highlighted, stressing that while it draws on centuries of research, there are still uncertainties and difficulties in achieving 100% accuracy. Audience questions regarding the influence of accents and the ability to represent oneself well in a historical community are also addressed, indicating the growing interest in original pronunciation in American theaters.
01:10:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of individual accents and ownership in Shakespearean performances. They explain that actors should keep their accents and superimpose them on top of the original pronunciation. The discussion also touches on the significance of translating Shakespeare’s plays into different languages, highlighting the choices translators make regarding sense versus poetry. The speaker shares experiences of seeing non-English productions of Shakespeare, mentioning the joy of witnessing the plays in languages other than English. The segment also briefly discusses misquotations in Shakespeare’s works, explaining the historical context where actors didn’t have access to the complete script and had to improvise if lines were forgotten.
01:20:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses their favorite Shakespeare plays, including ones they are currently studying. They mention their book and how it has given them a new appreciation for even the lesser-known plays. There is a discussion about including certain plays in their publications, such as Edward III. A question is raised about quotes from this play, and the speaker explains their decision not to include it. The discussion also touches on using Shakespeare in workshops in prisons, with themes like guilt and revenge resonating deeply. The importance of teaching Shakespeare to young people is highlighted, with challenges faced by teachers and the value of arts education emphasized. The segment ends with a reflection on the impact of education and theater in shaping the next generation.
01:30:00
In this part of the video, the speaker expresses gratitude towards Ben and David, the online audience, and the attendees at the British Library. Ben and David will be outside signing copies of their books. The audience is encouraged to stay updated on the British Library’s upcoming events through their website. The speaker closes with a thanking gesture and the audience applauds.