Stuff About Books and Literature

Romeo and Juliet. Image Frank Dicksee Love Shakespeare or just enjoy seeing fine productions of classic plays?  If you are in the area, you should pop along to the Stratford Festival in Ontario. For decades the Stratford Festival has produced stimulating, thought-provoking productions of Shakespeare’s plays and other classical works.   It's 2013 performance list includes Romeo and Juliet , Merchant of Venice , Othello and Measure for Measure . Check out their visitor information for location, accommodation and dining and  calendar of events to select and book in advance what great performances you want to experience while you are there.

Shakespearean actor Ben Crystal as Hamlet. Image Ben Crystal . William Shakespeare's work can be a bit tricky for people of any age to fully comprehend but if taught in the right may or made accessible kids may get to enjoy the Bard's work. The following links may lead you to resources that can help kids reach and understand Shakespeare's classic, well known plays and poetry and help adults too.   Shakespeare Websites for Children   Shakespeare for Kids - Games, colouring, activities, mazes. ShakespeareKids - An introduction to the world of Shakespeare for kids No Sweat Shakespeare - Shakespeare's plays designed to be read by kids. Online Resources for Parents and Teachers In Search of Shakespeare  - A Public Broadcasting Service resource for educators. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - The complete plays and poetry of William Shakespeare, nicely organised into genres - comedy, history, tragedy, and poetry. The Reduced Shakespeare Company

Marriage proposals and problems. Image by Imagaday In Anita Brookner's, Hotel du Lac , Edith Hope's approach to relationships with men exposes her underlying need to opt for a stereotypical female role. Edith Hope, through her discriminating physical observations of the female patrons of Hotel du Lac, stereotypes defines the boundaries of her own sex. In addition, her approach towards men reveals her willingness to succumb to a woman's stereotypical secondary role. Stereotypical Female Behaviour Edith’s attitude throughout her liaison with David highlights the ease with which she compromises her physical and mental space. “Out of love for him” (114), Edith adapts her personality and schedule to suit his needs for “she knows he [is] a man who [cannot] deny himself anything” (86). Edith also adopts a nurturing role by concentrating their relationship around “‘food fit for heroes’” (29); she spends “the daylight hours... waiting for him” (30), and she “behave[s] w