Ripe Good Scholar

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode #33 of Ripe Good Scholar the podcast where we explore the journey Shakespeare’s texts have travelled through the centuries.   In this episode, Eli and I will be comparing Shakespeare’s Cymbeline to the folktale Snow White. Despite the fact that Snow White was not published until decades after Shakespeare’s death, the folktale would have been passed down through the oral tradition for many years before publication. It is these oral tales that influenced Shakespeare as he wrote his play. In fact, it looks like Shakespeare drew inspiration from a few different folktales to tell the story of Cymbeline, but today our focus is on Imogen and her similarities to Snow White. It is worth noting that the story of Cymbeline also appears in Holinshed’s Chronicles. We have not looked at that story yet, so we will have to wait and see whether it was Shakespeare or Holinshed that took inspiration from folktales. For the full show notes head over to ripegoodscholar.com/ep33

Welcome to episode 32 of Ripe Good Scholar: The Analyzing of a Shrew.   In this episode… Dr. Lisa Grogan and I will take a trip through the mind of Katherine from The Taming of a Shrew. From the start of the play, Katherine is portrayed as an unpleasant and outspoken woman. These traits make her an outcast in her society. The people in her life make it clear to her that her behavior is not desirable or even very likable. It doesn’t prompt her to change though, even though it makes finding a husband difficult. She would rather be true to herself than conform, which makes her a rather admirable woman.   However, no one in the play seems to appreciate Katherine’s self-confidence. With all of the comments and insults flung her way, it’s no wonder Katherine behaves like a “shrew.” It begs the question: what came first the insults or the shrew? For full show notes go to: ripegoodscholar.com/episodes/analyzing-shrew   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Following the Restoration of the monarchy and therefore playhouses, Shakespeare's plays had to change with the changing expectations of theatre. Show notes: ripegoodscholar.com/ep32   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 30 of Ripe Good Scholar: Darkness Representing Evil   In this episode… We are looking at the evolution of race from the Middle Ages to Shakespeare’s time. The discussion is more complicated than we might think. This period of time was when the concept of race as we know it today was being forged. Renaissance Europe was experiencing a huge step forward in globalization. This period was the beginning of colonization and the slave trade. There was also a LOT of trade happening. This meant that what was an exotic other was suddenly very close to home. The people of Renaissance Europe had to figure out what this meant for them and how to interact with these new darker skinned people. Unfortunately, it wasn’t usually pleasant, but that is what colored Shakespeare’s writing as he introduced characters of color. That is what we are going to be exploring today.   For this episode, I read a selection from the Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race, along with a number of articles you will find linked in the show notes.   Full show notes available at ripegoodscholar.com/ep30   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 29 of Ripe Good Scholar: The Norse Origins of Hamlet.   In this episode… We will be taking a deep dive into the texts that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It all started in the early days of Danish history and went through a few iterations before finally reaching Shakespeare. Without these texts that came before, we may not have the amazing play that we have today. It’s important to acknowledge and pay homage to these texts as we appreciate the surviving masterpiece, which is exactly what we will be doing today. For this episode, I read The Norse Hamlet translated and composed by Soren Filipski.   For the full episode show notes visit: ripegoodscholar.com/episodes/norse-hamlet   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

There’s a lot going on in King Lear. There are big emotions and tons of drama. It’s what makes the play so compelling. However, it’s more than just drama that draws us in. It’s that human element that we immediately identify with in some capacity. Today, I’m going to talk with Dr. Lisa Grogan about Lear and why he is the way that he is.   Full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep28   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we will be looking at how Shakespeare’s First Folio came to be and the lasting effect it had on our image of Shakespeare. There were a handful of people involved in the creation of the First Folio and each has an interesting story to tell. Beyond that, the process of getting such a large book published would have been a feat in and of itself. These efforts were not in vain though because the impact of the First Folio can be felt even today. For this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Emma Smith about her book Shakespeare’s First Folio.   Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep27   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In 1575 Elizabeth travelled to the home of Robert Dudley and, while there, was greeted by the Lady of the Lake herself. From that point forward, it became a trope to compare Elizabeth to the Fairy Queen. Even Shakespeare himself dipped his toes in the fairy waters with a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but his flattery was a little different than you may be expecting.   Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar.com/ep26   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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to episode 25 of Ripe Good Scholar: Jewish people in Elizabethan England In this episode… We will explore the history of the Jewish people in England and across Europe. In addition, we will look at the stereotypes believed by Elizabethans and how it may have influenced Shakespeare as he wrote The Merchant of Venice. Today, Shylock is often depicted as a sympathetic character. However, this was not necessarily the case in Elizabethan England.   Find the full show notes at ripegoodscholar/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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today we look at the materials Shakespeare used to write Romeo and Juliet. This includes the novella by Matteo Bandello. The poem by Arthur Brook and the short story by William Painter. Let's dive in to see how the story got to Shakespeare and how he changed it. Show notes can be found at: 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 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/