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We believe that to understand Shakespeare’s relevance today, we must understand the journey his texts have travelled through the years. Join us as we dive into the theaters, museums, and archives to discover that journey for ourselves. Feel free to contact me at ripegoodscholar@gmail.com
Episodes
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Hello and welcome to episode 43 of Ripe Good Scholar. Ever since Shakespeare started gaining popularity, people have been attributing plays to him that he may not have had anything to do with. Some of these have been easier to disprove than others. There are a few lingering plays that we cannot say whether Shakespeare had a hand in and so we have The Shakespeare Apocrypha. Things get much more complicated as we dive deeper into what it meant to be a playwright in Shakespeare’s time. There was a lot of collaboration, stealing, and editing. This can make it nearly impossible to determine who was the author. But, that won’t stop us from speculating!
Full show notes available at ripegoodscholar.com/ep43
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar. Today we are beginning to get a clearer picture of the Elizabethan theatre scene. It was a place of collaboration and mentoring. Novice writers would hone their craft with the help of more seasoned ones. Writers would also imitate each other and edit each other’s work for their own use. This realization has caused scholars in recent years to look more closely at Shakespeare’s work and see where he may have collaborated. One unsurprising candidate was Titus Andronicus, easily Shakespeare’s most gruesome play, and one of his earliest. The top candidate for co-author is George Peele, a University Wit. Today, Eli and I are going to get to know George Peele and examine the role he may have played in writing Titus Andronicus.
For this episode, I read excerpts from Shakespeare Co-author by Brian Vickers and several articles. If you want to check out all my sources, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep42.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
This is episode 41 of Ripe Good Scholar: The Sources for Twelfth Night
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar. Since we just celebrated the epiphany, or twelfth night, we thought it would be worthwhile to visit the famous Shakespeare text of the same name. Like most of Shakespeare’s work, the story was borrowed from another source. In this case, it was an English prose version of an Italian play. The prose adaptation, Apollonius and Silla, was written by an English soldier, Barnabe Rich. Today Eli and I are going to look at Rich’s text to see what Shakespeare borrowed and what he left out. By closely examining Shakespeare’s sources, we can get a glimpse into his mind, the mind of a genius. It can also provide some unique insights into the text itself.
For this episode, I read Rich’s Apolonius and Silla, An Original of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night edited by Morton Luce. If you want to check out that book and so much more, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep41.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
In this episode we will be discussing the case of Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester. We Shakespeareans will know Eleanor as the woman that Margaret of Anjou slapped in Henry VI Part 2. In the play and in real life, Eleanor was accused and found guilty of using witchcraft which led to severe consequences, but fortunately not death. It was, of course, much more complicated than what we see in Shakespeare. By looking into the life and downfall of Eleanor Cobham, we see a smart woman who was caught in the crossfire of a power struggle between her husband and his enemies. She did what she could to survive, but only managed to avoid death in the end.
At her birth, no one would have anticipated that Eleanor would eventually become the most powerful woman in England. However, that is exactly what happened. She married Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the regent of England and heir to the throne. The King, Henry VI, was a child for most of her marriage. Humphrey was not the only one vying for power though, with his strongest enemies being Cardinal Beaufort and the Duke of Suffolk. These two proved to be a powerful team and made cunning moves to take down Humphrey by taking down his beloved wife. Eleanor did her best to survive, which she did, but she ultimately lost everything. By all accounts, Humphrey was a broken man.
It’s an interesting tale full of twists and turns that was expertly laid out by Gemma Hollman in her book Royal Witches. Join us on this journey and learn what Shakespeare got right and what he got wrong.
Full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep40
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar, spooky edition. Since it’s Halloween, let’s explore a topic that would have been all too familiar to the Shakespearean audience: witches. King James in particular was very anti-witch and led some of the most brutal witch hunts in history. Today Dr. Lisa Grogan and I are going to explore the history of witchcraft and witch hunts, specifically focusing on the time of King James. Lisa is familiar with the history of witchcraft because she identifies as a witch and follows the wiccan religion. Join us as we explore what it was to be a witch and how the perception of witches changed over time
For this episode we watched a documentary on the Malleus Maleficarum and looked over King James’ Daemonologie. If you want to check out those and so much more, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep45.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Oppressive Gloom by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4174-oppressive-gloom
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
This is episode 38 of Ripe Good Scholar: Venus, Adonis, and Ovid
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar. During his school days Shakespeare was studying the Latin classics, including one that would be a favorite in his life as a playwright, Ovid. Shakespeare adapted a story from Ovid into his best-selling poem, Venus and Adonis. While we are very familiar with Shakespeare adapting other works, readers may be surprised to notice such a stark difference between the two tellings. That is why today Eli and I will be examining the story in both Ovid and Shakespeare to find the differences and identify a few surprising similarities.
For this episode I read Charles Martin’s translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, along with Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis and several other articles. If you want to check out those and so much more, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep38.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar. One of the first written references to Shakespeare in the London Theater scene is a pamphlet written by Robert Greene on his deathbed, A Groatsworth of Wit. In it, he warns his fellow playwrights to beware of this “upstart crow” who was coming in to steal their glory. These Shakespeare references are why the pamphlet is so well known today, but there is so much more to it than that. There is a story, a peek into the inner world of Elizabethan theater and some insults so damning that the editor had to issue an apology. It’s a compelling pamphlet for all those reasons and more which is why we will be exploring it today.
For this episode I read A Groatsworth of Wit, modernized by Nina Green, along with several other articles. If you want to check out those and so much more, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep37.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Hello and welcome to Ripe Good Scholar. William Shakespeare is not just a staple of British culture. His works are an important staple of American culture as well. This evolution was not a simple one or one that was straight forward. There were obstacles to overcome and despite the questionable odds, Shakespeare became ingrained in American culture. Today we are going to look at the early days of the american colonies and when Shakespeare made the journey across the Atlantic. It’s an interesting look into the history of America and the role Shakespeare played in the early days of our country.
For this episode I read Shakespeare and the Making of America by Kevin J. Hayes. If you want to check out that book and so much more, head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep36.
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
In this episode…
Dr. Lisa Grogan and I will take a look at Leontes’ from The Winter’s Tale. Early in the play, he becomes obsessed with the idea that his wife is having an affair with his friend, the King of Bohemia. His paranoia escalates quickly and, once he suffers any consequences, subsides just as quickly. This, to me, seemed unrealistic, so I spoke with Dr. Grogan about it. Her insights were interesting because the pattern was realistic, just sped up, which is pretty on par with Shakespeare.
In addition to examining Leontes in particular, we discuss paranoid delusions in general, what it looks like, and how to combat it. While this episode can provide some interesting insight into the character of Leontes and the inner workings of his mind, it is not medical advice that should be applied outside of fictional characters. If you suspect you or someone in your life is suffering from paranoid delusions, please seek the help of a medical professional.
For the full show notes, go to ripegoodscholar.com/ep25
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Welcome to episode 34 of Ripe Good Scholar: City Comedies.
In this episode, Eli and I will be discussing one of the most popular play genres of Shakespeare’s time, the city comedy. While the precise definition is difficult, the basic definition is a play which focuses on the day to day happenings of the middle class. Common topics were sex and money. The comedy also tended to be on the raunchier or bawdier side. It’s like if you took all of the most hilarious scenes in Shakespeare’s plays and put them into one play. Because the plays focus on everyday people and everyday occurrences (more or less) they are able to poke fun at the ridiculousness of everyday life. It’s what makes them enjoyable long after they were written.
Although the genre was popular at the time, Shakespeare only penned one: The Merry Wives of Windsor. Merry Wives relies on a few of the common tropes seen in city comedies, which is what makes it an excellent study of the subgenre. Today, Eli and I will be looking at city comedies and what makes Merry Wives an excellent one.
For this episode, I relied primarily on Citizen Comedy in the Age of Shakespeare by Alexander Leggatt.
For the full show notes go to ripegoodscholar.com/ep34
Teller of Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4467-teller-of-the-tales
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Minstrel Guild by KevinMacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4056-minstrel-guild