My kingdom for a horse...

[fajrdrako]

I got this Shakespeare test from 17catherines, who commented in passing that she has read almost all of her "Complete Works of Shakespeare", which is more than I have done - I tend to focus on favourite bits (mostly the ones with sexy heroes: Hamlet, Troilus and Cressida, Henry IV, part 1, Much Ado About Nothing, for example) and there are some plays I hardly know at all. But I think I've either read or seen most of them at one time or another. What am I missing? Henry VIII. King John. Others...? I'm always a little fuzzy in memory about All's Well That Ends Well, but not because I haven't read it.

I'm sort of a hopeless Shakespeare fangirl, really.

So the only question I have left is: what question did I get wrong on the quiz?

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King You scored 95%!

You are a king! Wise, powerful, and wealthy, you rule your country with a steady hand and are admired greatly by your subjects. You will be remembered long after you pass from this plane. It's all due to Shakespeare, whom you read and study.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Shakespeareness

Link: The Shakespeare Test written by flimsymonkey on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Comments

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

in white

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I missed out on Lear, I guess. :-/ Well.
Re 11 no, but I have now added them to my to-check-out list LOL
Re 12 - Well there was a recent (2004) film with Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes... I mean... I am bound to remember such a line, especially delivered by Pacino!
Re 17 Please! Rupert Everett as Oberon! And Calista Flockhart as Helena. Umm yes!
Re 20. That one occurs at least twice in Bujold, I think. First in Barrayar, when Padma is discussing getting young Aral drunk, and I think another time when Galen fast penta-s Miles. No?

LOL oh it's fun to discuss the Bard, isn't it?

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I missed out on Lear, I guess.
I do crosswords - Regan appears from time to time. :<)

That one [iambic pentameter] occurs at least twice in Bujold, I think. I believe you are correct, although I don't recall the instances. But it doesn't appear with reference to Sh., does it? - you're expected to know that. ;<)

And getting through some of the other questions was facilitated by D L Sayers, to whom I'm indebted for many prods and nudges.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Well on the second occasion Miles is reciting Richard III... I do not atm recall if 'iambic pentameter' was mentioned explicitly... *wanders off to check* Yep, it is.
Hmm. Actually, neither Sh. nor Richard III is mentioned... only the beginning words and the fact that it's a play...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd actually forgotten that. I do remember loving it that Miles knew and loved Shakespeare.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

You had? Wow... I don't think I can forget any detail of that interrogation. Him stumbling over the first lines of Richard just... crumbled me into helpless giggles, despite the seriousness of the moment! Honest!

(Well, I guess it does help that I had recently watched maybe 3 version of Richard, including the Laurence Olivier one and "Looking for Richard" of Al Pacino. The words were sort of fresh in my mind.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"Looking for Richard" - what was that?

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Looking for Richard (http://imdb.com/title/tt0116913/) was Al Pacino's project of making a production of Richard III, or sort of. It includes random bits of acting, research, and commentary. It's a bit strange, but I loved it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I must find it!

I've always liked Al Pacino. He's rather odd, but in an interesting and compelling way.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Aaand not to forget a brilliant actor.
So many movies I want to see, or see again...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. I can't think of any performance of his that I've seen and not enjoyed. Can't think what the last one was that I've seen, though - possibly "Merchant", which means it's been almost two years.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

I ♥ that film.


...yes, I'm a geek. What of it?

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

*snickers* well how about the rest of us? I think about the time I saw the movie, it was one of three production of Richard the Third that I got to watch... think within a month or so.

Do I regret it? No. Was I discouraged? No! Just the opposite. (I think it might have been my stepfather taking me to watch Looking for Richard, actually).

Geek? *raises hand* and go us!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hopelessly devoted...!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sayers, Bujold, Shakespeare - what a great combination.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

am bound to remember such a line, especially delivered by Pacino!


Wasn't he wonderful? That's probably why I got that one right...!

Calista Flockhart always strikes me as a little creepy but I loved Everett as Oberon - another of my favourite Shakespeare roles - and Stanley Tucci was great as Puck.

Re quotes: there are times when listening to Shakespeare that I think I'm hearing a litany of Agatha Christies titles.

Yes, I love discussing Shakespeare. There's my guilty fannish secret!

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Pacino was indeed wonderful. I rather liked the entire production, actually.

I didn't mind Calista Flockhart. Despite having seen the play in various renditions, she was the first one who delivered the line 'We should be wooed and were not made to woo' in a way that just made sense to me.
And I so loved the mudfight scene...
But Everett as Oberon... there are times when he looks at Titania and I just wish that some man, some day, will look that way towards me... LOL I know, I know.
And Stanley Tucci was indeed fab :)

Eh... I never could get very much into detective novels, I don't know why. Well I know - because usually either the reader knows a lot more than the detective, or vice versa, and that's not so much fun...

If Shakespeare's a guilty fannish secret... I would say things are badly off. He is, in my view, among the places to start when fangirling (or fanboying) about. But then again, my upbringing may be giving me a slight bias in the area. LOL

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Pacino was indeed wonderful. I rather liked the entire production, actually.

So did I. I thought Jeremy Irons was wonderful too, and at his sexiest. I don't usually like Joseph Fiennes - I find him bland - but he was fine. Lynn Collins as Portia was great, too. Beautiful cinematography. Good intepretation of the material all around. Oh, yes, wonderful movie... I have a copy, but haven't watched it for a while.

my upbringing may be giving me a slight bias in the area. LOL

We are both corrupted by the vile influence of the theatre! Isn't it wonderful?

I've talked to a number of people lately (like commodorified who don't like Hamlet - the character, not necessarily the play. I have adored Hamlet as the perfect byronic hero since I was twelve. Angsty, tormented and articulate - what's not to love?

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Isn't it wonderful?

Indeed, until coming across somebody who isn't so corrupted. *sighs... theatrically* :)

Hmm. Hamlet. I adore the things he says. I mean, he utters some of the most brilliant words I've read, and he was among the few male roles I've wanted to play.
But like him? Nah, to indecisive for my taste LOL. And besides, he drives the girl mad. *shakes head* Words, words, words...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

he utters some of the most brilliant words I've read,

Yes. Shakespeare really excelled himself with the dialogue there. (Not to exclude monologues.)

Did I mention that I loved his passion?

He rejects the girl for her own good and she goes mad and gets and extra layer of guilt and pain. This is good.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

Wait. What is this film with Pacino and Irons? That's, like, both of my old-man kinks at once!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We're talking about the 2004 version of The Merchant of Venice (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379889/) in which Al Pacino played Shylock (very sympathetically and interestingly) and Jeremy Irons played Antonio. It's downright fabulous. Really. I was particularly thrilled by an onscreen kiss between Antonio and Bassanio.

It's available on DVD - I know that because I rushed out and bought it as soon as it appeared in the stores. There aren't many movies I do that for.

Aaah I do love Shakespeare.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

Tapadh leibh. *puts on to-see list*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd say 'you're welcome' in Scots Gaelic, if I know how to.

How do you pronounce "Tapadh leibh"?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you - it seems likely (by memory) that the one I missed was #4, not that I remember what I said.

This whets my appetite for Shakespeare!