• Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Link to Me
  • Contact & Comments

RE-IMAGINING THE CLASSICS IN LITERATURE

Posted on December 5, 2013 by writ7707 Posted in Literary categories, Literary Genres, Reinventing the Classics in Literature, The Writing Life, Writing, Writing and Re-imagining the Classics, Writing Inspiration, Writing Muse 1 Comment

A WRITING BLOG About Playing Around with a Story Line in Different Literary Genres and Categories

Writing Leap #33

Hi Writers and Readers,

Listen to this!

“I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?

  I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?

  I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?

  I’m Prince Hamlet, over here.”

A Shakespeare rap?  Yes!  From the unique and wonderful imagination of  my contributing writer, playwright, documentary film maker, rhymer since childhood and teacher Bob Zaslow,  known to his students as Mr. Z.

Mr. Z has reinterpreted five of Shakespeare’s plays set to the beats of rap music in his book, Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits.   Lucky students, who may otherwise be allergic to Elizabethan English, can relate to these Shakespearean tales and see themselves as a conflicted Hamlet or a star-crossed Romeo or Juliet.   

 

5119IgK18pL

                       RAPPIN’ ROMEO AND JULIET by Bob Zaslow

CHORUS

Two star-crossed lovers, remember that, now

The stars said they’re not gonna make it no how

Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo

Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!

NURSE

Two households, in the one percent and above

In Verona they fought and fought and never loved

They’d been feuding for ages, for what, none remembers

But their grudge smoked two lovers into burning embers.

A plague on both your houses, a pox on all the men

Who’d rather be right and fight and fight

Than shake hands and shout “Never again!”

A plague on both your houses, Capulet and Montague

Two lovers paid the highest price

Because of the two of you.

Who am I? you ask, I’m the comic relief

I’m the nurse, no one’s worse at being relatively brief.

I’ll never say one word when three will do

I’m the nurse, and I curse, so watch out for that too.

CHORUS

Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo

Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!

NURSE

It all started when Romeo said, “Please me mine!”

To a Capulet girl named Rosaline.

But she said, I’m sorry, you’re just not my type

But give me your number maybe we’ll Skype.

Then Romeo sighed and cried and whined

And his friend Mercutio whacked his behind

“Come to the Capulet ball tonight

Maybe you’ll find someone else who’s just right.”

ROMEO

There’s no one for me, but Rosaline.

NURSE

Then he saw Juliet and the guy lost his mind.

CHORUS

Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo

Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!

 

Don’t miss the rest of Romeo and Juliet and the very funny last line.  Click below for the full version.

http://writinglikeadancer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Rap-Notes-lyrics-Romeo-Juliet.doc

And for more information:
Rap-Notes:Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits
CD Baby
Barnes and Noble
Mp3 of Rappers Performance of Macbeth   
So Writers.  Are you inspired?  What is your favorite classic?  Moby Dick?  Imagine more about the whale.  Tale of Two Cities?  Change the personality of Sidney Carton.  This is great writing practice for exploring the “What If?” question.  Stay in the world of the book and take it down another road as many writers have done.  
Think of those classics you read in school and let yourself go.
Happy Re-Imaginings Writers!
Autograph 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

re-imagining the classics in literature writing and reinventing classical literature writing inspiration writing muse
« WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION
READING LIKE A WRITER »

One thought on “RE-IMAGINING THE CLASSICS IN LITERATURE”

  1. Carol Bell says:
    December 10, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    wow! I’m hanging out in For Lauderdale stand-up boarding and swiming in the salty waters wanting to find something new to write…THANKS, CYNTHIA. I’M NOW READY TO ROLL 🙂

    Reply

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Recent Posts

  • WRITING ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS
  • WRITERS AND ACTUALLY WRITING
  • WRITERS AND OUR LEGACY
  • WRITERS AND SANTA
  • WRITERS AND BOOK PUBLISHING

Subscribe to theNewsletter

Latest Tweets

Tweets by @writingCMW

Archives

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Link to Me
  • Contact & Comments
© Writing Like a Dancer