When Elvis read Don Quixote: World Book Day 2011

23 April was the date on which both Cervantes and Shakespeare died and the reason why Book Day is celebrated around the world. How much do you know about Shakespeare's life and works? What were theatres like at that time? Were Spanish theatres similar to Elizabethan playhouses? Click here to find some of the answers to these questions! This link will also help you.
The following video is the opening scene of Lawrence Olivier's version of Henry V, and still one of the greatest recreations of London and the Globe Theatre at Shakespeare's time:


And to check the powerful influence of eternal Don Quixote, just two interesting examples: The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox

and Elvis Presley's version of The Impossible Dream, from the musical The Man from La Mancha and remember: You can't judge a book by its cover...so fetch one and start reading!!!

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

If you were an island, which one would you like to be? Well, the character played by Hugh Grant in About a boy, the film based on Nick Hornby's novel, has no doubts at the beginning of the story: He’d like to be Ibiza. However, as John Donne stated in his Meditation XVII, “every man is a piece of the continent”, and this is what both Literature and Life show us: we are all involved with each other. Since no human being is isolated, what affects any single man or woman miles away from you, does affect you. Next time you watch the news, think about this.

'No Man is an Island'

No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne, Meditation XVII

If you are still interested in islands, do you know that the British Isles are made up of quite a few islands? Click on the links below and learn about them!

http://www.visitchannelislands.com/ (Channel Islands)

http://www.islandsofireland.com/ (Ireland)

http://www.welshicons.org.uk/main/geography/islands-of-wales/ (Wales)

http://www.cornishlight.co.uk/scilly-isles.htm (Cornwall)

http://www.scottish-islands-federation.co.uk/ (Scotland)

40 - LOVE : ADVANTAGE LITERATURE

If you like tennis, you may be familiar with the quite peculiar terms used in tennis scoring system: “15”, “30”, “40”, and particularly “love” (0) and “deuce”.

What is the origin of these terms? What is the origin of tennis? Click here to learn more about this. Would you like to become a Wimbledon ball boy/ball girl? What do you know about the great classic champions? Here you will find all the information and much more. Next time Nadal wins at Wimbledon, the most famous lawn tennis temple will have no secrets for you!!




Now that you master tennis English, enjoy reading this poem by Roger McGough (Litherland (U.K.) 1937)

And for a memorable tennis-literature doubles final, watch the tennis balls scene of HENRY V, by William Shakespeare. The French ambassadors, representing the Dauphin (the son of the French king) sends tennis balls to Henry, laughing thus at the English king’s claim to his lands in France. The young English king will carry on his promise: “And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his /Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones” ( Henry V, Act I, Scene II ) and declares war to France…..