Shakespeare: The British Playwright & Poet | Leo & Layla's History Adventures | PragerU Kids

Did you hear what we're doing this weekend? You look as excited about it as me. All my friends are going to the movies on Saturday, and I'm going to be stuck at this dumb Shakespeare festival. Hey, I had plans too. Really? Well, no, but I don't want to go either. I know Mom played Juliet back when she was in high school, but just because she's obsessed with Shakespeare doesn't mean we have to be. She told me the festival will help me learn that language doesn't have to just be words. Huh? I know. She gave me the festival flyer to get excited. Read this. He was not of an age, but for all time. What does that even mean? I have no idea, but I know we're not getting out going. Yeah. You know, it might make Saturday more fun if we knew more about Shakespeare. And? Use the app and go meet him? How'd you guess? Let's go see what the big deal is with this guy. Okay. What light through yonder time portal breaks? Hi, are you William Shakespeare? Guilty as charged. And you? That's my brother, Leo. I'm Layla. Our mom is making us go to a festival all about you. You see, we're from more than 400 years into the future, and you're still a really big deal. We're here to find out why. Oh, children, you do flatter me. Being forced to attend my festival, Oh, oops. Sorry to offend you, sir. We're just curious about what makes you great. None taken. I'm just being playful. After years of hard work, I've become a pretty big deal during my time here in England. I'm one of the most famous playwrights and poets and get paid by the king. It's wonderful to hear that my plays and poetry have lived on beyond my life and have been respected and enjoyed through the ages. Is that what the quote on this flyer for your festival means? It says he was not of an age, but for all time. What a lovely compliment. Yes, it means that my works are as relevant in your time as they are in mine. What's your secret, Mr. Shakespeare? How come your work doesn't age? I believe there are multiple reasons, but for starters, one of my greatest strengths is the ability to describe all kinds of characters. Kings and queens, soldiers, businessmen, servants, and even beggars. And thanks to my style, audiences are able to see how different and similar all different types of people can be. How do you do that? One tactic I use in my plays is to have my characters think out loud and speak their thoughts. This provides a window for the audience into their feelings and struggles and shows why they act the way they do. Sounds complex. It is, but humans are complex. We can all be good and bad, heroic and selfish, brave and cruel. I try to capture all of these qualities in my characters and do so in a way where audiences hopefully are able to see a little of themselves up there on stage. So if I were to watch Romeo and Juliet, I'd be able to relate to Juliet? That is a great possibility, but I imagine you would find ways to relate to other main characters like Romeo, Tybalt, and Mercutio too. So you never just have a simple good guy or simple bad guy? No, because people are never simple. My major themes deal with thoughts and emotions that everyone has, whether rich or poor, old or young, in my time or yours. So Romeo and Juliet is about love, right? Oh, but not just any love, Leo. Young love and forbidden love. Ooh, that sounds good. And be your desires romantic or maybe as innocent as wanting a cookie. What goes through your head, Layla, when you can't have something you want? You want it more. Precisely, and that feeling of wanting what we can't have has been the same in man since time began. Writing about these timeless feelings is, as you put it, Leo, a secret to my success. What other timeless feelings do some of your plays have? Have you ever felt jealous of a friend or your brother even? Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to, but sometimes it can be hard. It's wonderful that you know that jealousy is negative and try to fight it, but it is a natural part of being human. And it is a main theme of my play, Othello, where the main character is overcome with the green-eyed monster of jealousy. Leo, do you know what ambition is? It's when you want something really bad, right? Yes. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I think it's a good thing. If you want to be successful at something, you've got to give it your all. But what if giving it your all includes stepping on others and backstabbing along the way to success? You're right. So is ambition good and bad? It's complex. To be a success, you definitely need ambition. But one mustn't let ambition take control. In my plays Julius Caesar and Macbeth, the main character struggles with ambition. And, well, I don't want to spoil the tales for you. Are all your plays complex and intense? I have written many lighthearted comedies, too, but I like to think all of them are complex, at least when it comes to word choice. Oh, how I do love playing with the English language! Our mom told me that going to your festival would help me learn that language is more than words. Is that what you're talking about? Oh, yes. Most people simply use language as a basic tool of communication, but oh, what a waste! For me, language is a paintbrush to the canvas of life. I like to choose my words carefully and order them strategically to amplify humor, suspense, beauty, etc., etc. So, if you choose the right words, you can affect the feelings and mood of the audience? That is what good artists do. But even if you're not a playwright or poet, careful and creative word choice makes anyone a more effective communicator. Plus, it's fun. Sometimes I even like to get a little inventive with words and use them in new ways. Really? Like what? Gloomy, zany, bump, hurry, lonely, fashionable, gossip. Just a few examples of boring old words that I gave new life to. How do people understand the words if you're using them in a different way? Great question, Leila. I make sure to surround them with other words, phrases, and ideas that I know the audience will be familiar with. And through context, people can figure out the new meanings of the words. Far from being confrontational, I believe the audience enjoys the challenge. I can see that. Kind of like a word puzzle. That's a good way to put it. And I also love introducing new phrases or groups of words that cleverly describe a situation. Like, the world is your oyster. Huh? It means you have the opportunity and ability to achieve anything. Never heard that one. How about vanish into thin air? Oh yeah, all the time. You made that up. I did? What about to fight fire with fire? Oh yeah, that one's said all the time. Oh, good. I'm glad some of my expressions have withstood the test of time. And over time, I think the two of you will enjoy playing and having fun with the English language. Most smart people do. Perhaps you'll even try your hand at some poetry someday. The flyer does say there will be kids' poetry lessons and kid-friendly performances. And even if you don't love my plays, if the festival is anything like my Globe Theater here, there will be delicious refreshments and snacks for the audience. Delicious snacks? Oh yeah, Leo, I forgot to mention. The flyer says there will be all kinds of snacks, like at the fair. What? Like turkey legs? Mm-hmm. Thanks to Mr. Shakespeare telling us all about his plays and poems, I'm excited to go to his festival. But if I'd have known there were gonna be delicious snacks, I never would have needed convincing. Layla, let's get going. Okay, thank you for your time, Mr. Shakespeare. Unlike my hungry brother, I definitely did need some convincing. But thanks to you, I'm really excited to go to the festival, see some of your performances, and maybe even try writing some poems. Wonderful, Miss Layla. I'm happy to help. And so glad the two of you are now cheerfully headed to a weekend full of me. Partying is such sweet sorrow. But off with you. I have to get ready for our next performance. Hey, Leo, are you ready? Mom and Dad are in the car. Let's go. Funnel cake, funnel cake, wherefore art thou funnel cake? Goodness, let's go, Romeo. If you'd like to time travel with Leo and Layla again, please visit PragerUKids.com and watch more of their adventures. To watch or not to watch? That is the question. You should watch.