Shakespeare in Modern Culture: Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope

[patsy everett]

I hope I'm not repeating someone else's post: I came across this while looking for something fun and lighthearted to do with my science fiction class:

 

http://www.amazon.com/William-Shakespeares-Star-Wars-Doescher/dp/15...

Episodes IV, V, and VI are all represented.  I've only looked at the book preview pages, but it seems to allude to many different Shakespeare plays and character tropes (R2-D2 seems to be the Puck/Caliban/tricky sneak character). There is also an audio book that seems to be dramatized pretty well.  

Especially fun is to read the prologue, watch the prologue (the text floating through space at the beginning of the movie), then watch/read side by side.  

I had my students then write "Shakespearean Pentameter" (Shakespearean language and 10 syllables per line, no worries or even mention of iambic) retelling any section of a sci fi story or movie.  (Fie, tell the masses i’faith Soylet Green/ doth be people! Soylent Green doth be people!)

I look forward to using the prologue as an introduction to Shakespearean language and style with my freshmen in April.