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York Notes Advanced on "Measure for Measure" by William Shakespeare (York Notes Advanced)

By: Emma Smith
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Longman
ISBN: 0582784301
ISBN-13: 9780582784307
Released: 29 Aug 2003
RRP: £6.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

If you're doing A Level English these are the best - By: L. Green, 25 Feb 2008
Barcode: 9780582784307

So, like most people, i used CGP notes while doing my GCSE's & found them mostly good (especiallly on the poem anthologies) - the humour though, while sometimes fun on many occasions got in the way of serious learning & the notes were brief when dealing with full length plays & novels.

Step in York Notes. For my A Level English i got one of these books for each of my set texts & they were massively helpful in prompting class discussions, writing essays & revising for the exams. They offer detailed chapter summaries & analyse them in an extremely informative way.

There's quotes too, maybe a little too few, but the ones they pick out are good & then at the end of the book you get a wealth of extra info relating to characters, themes & symbolism. If you're an A Level English student or a parent who wants their kids to do well, i'd get these notes - they make your life a lot, lot easier.
Well done - very comprehensive. - By: S. G. Mcphillips, 18 Dec 2007
This title helped me loads during my study, but I also purchased the 2007 DVD educational feature film Measure for Measure directed by Bob Koamr & the two together give the full scope of the narrative. This film is also available on this site.
Excellent study aid - By: , 05 Feb 2005
When first presented with "measure for measure" from my teacher for A-level, my heart sank: i DESPISE studying shakespeare! however, when i recieved this study guide, i didnt realize what an interesting, relevent & contemporary paly measure for measure is! this guide takes you step-by-step through alll the scenes, analyses the characters, gives contextual information (excellent for those doing coursework on the play) & even gives ideas for helpful tasks, such as where to view the first folio etc. a wonderful book, i would seriously recommend it to nayone studying shakespeare for A-Level.
Base Look at Love, Honor, Morality, Reputation, and the Law! - By: Donald Mitchell, 06 Jul 2004
Measure for Measure is seldom read, & not often performed in the United States. Why? Although many of Shakespeare's plays deal bluntly with sexual issues, Measure for Measure does so in an unusuallly ugly & disgusting way for Shakespeare. This play is probably best suited for adults, as a result.

I see Measure for Measure as closest to The Merchant of Venice in its themes. Of the two plays, I prefer Measure for Measure for its unremitting look at the arbitrariness of laws, public hypocrisy & private venality, support for virtue, & encouragement of tempering public justice with common sense & mercy.

Having a study guide will add to your enjoyment of the play.

The play opens with Duke Vincentio turning over his authority to his deputy, Angelo. But while the duke says he is leaving for Poland, he in fact remains in Vienna posing as a friar. Angelo begins meting out justice according to the letter of the law. His first act is to condemn Claudio to death for impregnating Juliet. The two are willing to marry, but Angelo is not interested in finding a solution. In despair, Claudio gets word to his sister, the beautiful Isabella, that he is to be executed & prays that she will beg for mercy. Despite knowing that Isabella is a virgin novice who is about to take her vows, Angelo cruelly offers to release Claudio of Isabella will make herself sexuallly available to Angelo. The Duke works his influence behind the scenes to help create justice.

Although this play is a "comedy" in Shakespearean terms, the tension throughout is much more like a tragedy. In fact, there are powerful scenes where Shakespeare draws on foolish servants of the law to make his points clear. These serve a similar role of lessening the darkness to that of the gravediggers in Hamlet.

One of the things I like best about Measure for Measure is that the resolution is kept hidden better than in most of the comedies. As a result, the heavy & rising tension is only relieved right at the end. The relief you will feel at the end of act five will be very great, if you are like me.

After you read this play, I suggest that you compare Isabella & Portia. Why did Shakespeare choose two such strong women to be placed at the center of establishing justice? Could it have anything to do with wanting to establish the rightness of the heart? If you think so, reflect that both Isabella & Portia are tough in demanding that what is right be done. After you finish thinking about those two characters, you may also enjoy comparing King Lear & Claudio. What was their fault? What was their salvation? Why? What point is Shakespeare making? Finallly, think about Angelo. Is he the norm or the exception in society? What makes someone act like Angelo does here? What is a person naturallly going to do in his situation?

Look for fairness in alll that you say & do!

A Great Help!! - By: , 28 Apr 2004
Having been told that we were to study 'Measure for Measure' i wasntexactly looking forward to it. Having in the past found it difficult tounderstand fully Shakespeare's plays & with my up comming A level ithought i would shell out for a study guide, & to be honest i couldnthave survived without it. It provides extensive plot summaries & notesfor every scene as well as much appreciated characterisations andbackground information. Although it didnt make the study of the play easyit reallly did prove to be extremely beneficiallly & resourcefull.