Joan Benedix
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About
I am a retired teacher, but I still sub at my former high school for my friends. I received a B.A. in education from Purdue University with a major in Speech/Drama and a minor in History. I received my M.A. in British Literature from Wroxton College, the British campus for FDU. Half of the course work was Shakespeare, Elizabethean and Jacobrean Drama. It was taught on the British system of lectures, seminars, and tutorials. I spent over 20 years taking a class called Theatre in England which was a three week course in England (London and Stratford-upon-Avon) where we studied theatre and Shakespeare. The course was offered by UCSB and English actors were both teachers and class guests. I have taught in Indiana, Georgia, and Florida. From 1970-1979, I taught for the Department of Defense Dependent School System in Seoul, South Korea; Misawa, Japan; and Zweibrucken, West Germany. I have taught grades 6-jr. college. Subjects-Drama (6-12), English (7-jr.college), Speech (jr. college), Ancient Civilization, World History, U.S. History, Geography, and Gifted Humanities
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Recent Activity
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Answered a Question in A Midsummer Night's Dream
The play is essentially about love. The conflict arises out of this. First there is the impending marriage of Theseus to Hippolyta. Theseus tells her in I.1 that he conquered her... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
The feud between the two families in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is the devise he used to show the affects of hate and love. We are never told the reason for this feud for good reason.... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
The essential question that Shakespeare explored in his plays is, "what does it mean to be a human being?" The genius of Shakespeare is that he manged to show us ourselves in every... -
Answered a Question in Elizabethan Drama
The themes in the Elizabethan era were varied. By looking into the plays of William Shakespeare, we can see what interested these people. Shakespeare is the best example because he... -
Answered a Question in Henry VI, Part 1
When Shakespeare wrote the history plays, he was exploring power, politics, and generally what makes a good ruler. Shakespeare used England's recent and turbulent history to explore these... -
Answered a Question in A Midsummer Night's Dream
There are many ways of looking at the faeries and their function in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As a playwright, Shakespeare drew on many sourses for his plays. Faeries are an intregal part of... -
Answered a Question in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Yes, the play presented by Peter Quince and his actors, aka the mechanical, is a tragedy. They do not intend to present it as a comedy but because they are not trained professionals, they... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
To begin with, this is Lady Macbeth talking to her husband. She begins by saying that Duncan will not live to see the next day. She warns him that his face can be "read" and he should... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
Actually, very little is known about his early life and influences. We do know that he attended Edward VI school in Stratford-upon-Avon and this involved a rigid eduction in Greek and Latin.... -
Answered a Question in King Lear
Since accessteacher used Act III, scene 3 and you did not specify which soliloquy, I shall talk about his first one which begins Act I, scene 2. In th beginning of the play, Glouchester and... -
Answered a Question in The Taming of the Shrew
There are many ways this can be played on stage. The sexism in the play is in Padua, itself. Kathrine and Bianca live in a male dominated world. Kathrine is an independent woman... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
When speaking of Shakespeare's history plays, this refers to his plays about English history. A second group of these would be King John, Henry VIII, and Edward III. The... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
The history plays, Richard II through Richard III, were fairly recent history for Shakespeare. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that as a young child, he heard storiesabout the... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
These women are all very different. Cleopatra is queen and she has power despite the fact that Egypt is under the rule of Rome. She is strong and independent. She uses this power (which... -
Answered a Question in Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night is a comedy which takes place in a country called Illyria. This is important, since the name of the country implies illness. This illness isn't physical but mental and emotional... -
Answered a Question in King Lear
This is much like the advice that Polonius gives to his son in Hamlet. "Have more than thou showest" quite simply means don't go throwing your money around and letting everybody know how much money... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
Shakespeare, like any great writer, is a product of his time period. The Elizabethan period was an incredibly rich time full of changes. The English language itself was changing at... -
Answered a Question in History
I agree with the two answers above but would like to add another important contribution. Since with the fall of Roman and subsequent destruction, much of the ancient knowledge was destroyed. ... -
Answered a Question in Twelfth Night
Both young women approach life from entirely different directions. Olivia seemed to enjoy her self denial. She is self indulgent. One only has to look at Feste in Act I, scene... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
By your question, you seem to assume that Lady Macbeth is evil. I would contend that rather than being evil, Lady Macbeth is a human being who succumbs to evil. In Act I, scene 5, Lady... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
The best way to approach this is to carefully look at Juliet in each of scenes. What she says and what she does tell a lot about her. Also, what do others say about her and what is... -
Answered a Question in A Midsummer Night's Dream
In Act I, scene 2 we are introduced to Peter Quinceand his troop of amateur players. Despite the fact that Quince is the author/director of the piece, it is Bottom who wants to play all the... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Actually, his tragic downfall began when he murdered Duncan. In Act IV, scene 1, he consults with the witches who have been instructed by Hecate to mislead him because he interfered with the... -
Answered a Question in Elizabethan Drama
Christopher Marlowe was one of the University Wits. This was a group of univeristy trained men who wrote for the popular theatre. Of this group, Marlowe stands out today despite the... -
Answered a Question in The Winter's Tale
This is an excellent question. Since Shakespeare explored jealously in Othello, it appears that jealousy is not what is important but the results of that jealousy is what he wanted to... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
In order to understand the Prince's ruling, it is necessary to look at the society. The Prince himself admits at the end of the play that he is also to blame for not taking stronger action... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
At this point in the play, Lady Macbeth is not in her right mind. The doctor has already told Macbeth that he can't cure what is wrong with her. The Thane of Fife was Lady Macduff. ... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Lady Macbeth faints when the death of Duncan is announced by Macduff. We know that she planned the murder. By fainting, Lady Macbeth, does what she thinks she should do. Remember,... -
Answered a Question in Hamlet
Hamlet's talking with his father's ghost is very important for the plot. It is actually the exciting force which kicks the plot into conflict. Since the ghost looks and sounds like his... -
Answered a Question in Julius Caesar
The scene, Act II, scene 2, begins with thunder and lightening. This is never a good sign. Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, has been disturbed by dreams of Caesar's death, crying out three... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Without the supernatural elements, the weird sister aka witches, the play would definitely not have the same punch. The play begins with thunder, lightening and the three witches. It may be a... -
Answered a Question in The Winter's Tale
Does Leontes become jealous? Yes. Does it "destroy" him? All things considered, since he is reunited with both his wife and daughter at the end of the play, he is not truly... -
Answered a Question in A Midsummer Night's Dream
The first mention of the changeling boy is Puck who says, For Oberon is passing fell and wroth Because that she, as her attendant, hath A lovely changeling boy stol'n from an Indian king. She never... -
Answered a Question in Julius Caesar
Caesar was indeed ambitious. If he was ambitious, why did he refuse the crown offered to him by Mark Anthony? It is all part of his plan. If it looks like Caesar does not want to... -
Answered a Question in Hamlet
There are several factors to consider in order to understand Hamlet's actions or his inaction. First, the play takes place in a Catholic world. Both murder and suicide are mortal sins. ... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Macbeth's first words are, "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." These words echo the witche's line in Act I, scene 1, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair,..." One of the keys to... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
First she calls upon them to unsex her. As a women, she feels vulnerable and although she may want to kill the king and thus make her husband the new king, she doesn't feel that she is strong... -
Answered a Question in Much Ado About Nothing
It would appear that both of these characters are in love. Even before we meet Benedick, Beatrice is asking about him and we are told by Leonato that they have "a merry war" of wit between... -
Answered a Question in Death of a Salesman
I would have to say that Willy is both a victim of circumstances and also to blame. In the world created by Arthur Miller it would seem that both apply. Is Willy to blame for his situation?... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
If plays are a reflection of life and the people who live life, then women are essential. Shakespeare was a great observer of the human condition. Women are a part of that. In his... -
Answered a Question in Hamlet
Much of the humor throughout Hamlet is accomplished only through live performance. A director working with a group of actors can bring out the humor. The recent Royal Shakespeare Company Production... -
Answered a Question in Julius Caesar
Brutus wants to march to Phillipi. In other words, he want to take to battle to them. Cassius wants to stay put and let the battle come to them. Cassius believes that if they stay where... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo is a fairly typical teenage young man. He is certainly impulsive. He acts before he thinks. This is evidenced most powerfully and tragically when he hears that Juliet is... -
Answered a Question in The Zoo Story
It should be obvious from the beginning of the play that Jerry has a difficult time establishing any kind of relationship. From the beginning, he is aggressive. His whole purpose is to... -
Answered a Question in History
I really don't see the two structure as comparable since their purposes were entirely different. Conventional thinking is the the pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs. If this is... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
I agree with Imetcalf. your question is too generalized. What would you like to prove about women in Shakespeare in your thesis statement? In Shakespeare's world of male domination you can... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
I agree entirely but would like to add that our introduction to Lady Macbeth is when she reads the letter from Macbeth telling her what has happened. She is then informed by a messenger that... -
Answered a Question in Lord of the Flies
The Beast in The Lord of the Flies represents the boy's fear. The adult-less island is unknown and the boys fear the unknown. Coming from England, they have no experiences with what they find... -
Answered a Question in Oedipus Rex
Probably the best place to begin is with Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. Write each part down, then take each one in order and see how Oedipus measure up on each one. In developing your... -
Answered a Question in Elizabethan Drama
Shakespeare was one of many playwrights writing for the popular theatre at this time. James Brubage built The Theatre in 1576 in Shoreditch as a home for his company, The Lord...
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