Modernizing Shakespeare's 130

This is your version for Shakespeare's 130, well done! There's a group whose part I never got sent  (B, AdF, L and D...). It will be added when I receive it. Again, congrats and good job!!

 My love´s eyes aren´t compared to the sun

 The red coral is redder than her red lips

 If the snow is white, so why her breasts are dark?;

 If the hair would be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses that are red and white

but I didnt see those roses in her cheeks 

and some perfumes smell better than 

her terrible breath

I have to hear her speak although I know

That music has a better sound than her voice

I swear I hadn´t seen a goddess go,

My love, when she walks, she hits the ground.

I think my love is a better love than the ones based 

on false compare.

B.O.: body odor...

Shakespeare Lives celebrations

The British Council is celebrating Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, and one of the ways they are doing so is by re-adapting Shakespeare's plays. I have particularly liked the one they've made using Julius Caesar, so here it is for you to watch (it only lasts for a couple of minutes): 

When using subtitles with this video: select 'English (United Kingdom)' subtitles for subtitles in modern English, and 'English' subtitles for the original text.

If you want to explore the rest of the videos, the full playlist can be found here: Playlist with more modern adaptations. They will post a new one every month.

Here is the web in which you can read all about these things they are doing to celebrate Shakespeare's life and works: Shakespeare Lives

I have found quite fun this app they have created, in which you can fill in verses, quotes and sonnets with emojis. Look at the example they have used :) 

 Find more information about the FREE app HERE.

Have a nice weekend!

Aaand here's a sonnet for you to read

Im pleased to introduce you to Shakespeare's Sonnet 130. Shakespeare is mainly famous for having written plays which have been represented non-stop since the moment they were written... and that's quite a long time ago! 

Shakespeare's sonnets are also greatly appreciated, so have a taste of them by having a look at the one below. Be sure that you will read something very different to what you are used to!

Read through it carefully, once, twice, as many times as you need to get a general understanding of what he's expressing. 

It is a love poem, but... can you tell why is it different to the love poems we normally read? What makes it different? Would you be able to rephrase it in your own words? I would be impressed if anyone tried to explain it in their own words! 

We will talk about it more in depth on Friday- also about Shakespeare and his times. Any comments before Friday about this are welcome below.

1      My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
        Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
        If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
        If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
5      I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
        But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
        And in some perfumes is there more delight
        Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
        I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
10    That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
        I grant I never saw a goddess go;
        My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
             And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
             As any she belied with false compare.

line 1 my mistress: my loved one

l.3 dun: grey/brown colour.

l.5 damasked: a pattern of both colours (red and white). 

l.8 reeks: smells strongly and unpleasantly.

l.10 hath: has

l.12 treads: steps heavily

l.14 belied: to show to be false