The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood discussion guide. Shakespeares scribe is a sequel to blackwells the shakespeare stealer, which introduced widge as a boy hired to steal a play by shakespeare by copying it down in. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Widge is a poor orphan with the rare ability to write in.
Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the globe theatre, where shakespeares players perform. The shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer. Fourteenyearold widge is an orphan living in a small village in elizabethan england read more. Its the name ive been known by for all me fourteen years, and it tells a truthsome tale that there are. Taking place in the elizabethanera england, it recounts the story of widge, an orphan whose master sends him to steal hamlet from the lord chamberlains men. The shakespeare stealer is a 1998 historical fiction novel by gary blackwood.
The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood, paperback. Underline any examples you find and write a brief explanation for each. Widge, an orphan boy, lives with an eccentric doctor who teaches him a. The reading level a lot lwer than i generally read, but i enjoyed it a lot.
The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood overdrive. The story,the shakespeare stealer, by gary blackwood, which is 218 pages, tells a story about a young man named widge and his journey on stealing shakespeares most famous play called hamlet. The title includes shakespeare, but not much is said of the playwright in the novel. As full of twists and turns as a london alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters. Shakespeares scribe lexile find a book metametrics inc. William shakespeare books, author biography, and reading. The mystery of history volume iii student reader continues the spectacular and provocative study of world history from the viewpoint of a christian author. There is some historical information about elizabethan england that i enjoyed. Keep this list on hand while you read the book to help you understand difficult vocabulary words and expressions.
The shakespeare stealer is a fast paced novel for kids and teens. Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. Shakespeare stealer test questions flashcards quizlet. His exact date of birth is uncertain, but it is thought to have been april 23. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood teen ink. Read the selections below, from the shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood. Shakespeares scribe shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Afraid of his masters anger but not wanting to betray his friends, widge, an orphan, faces a crisis. The shakespeare stealer, by gary blackwood, is an important novel in that it combines all the benefits and appeal of young adult literature while demystifying shakespeare and introducing children to the elizabethan era. Plot a fourteenyearold boy, known as widge, has nothing. Or should he prove himself a true friend to those who have befriended him at the globe theatre. Excitement follows young hero widge everywhere, which leads him right to the bard himself, william shakespeare. The indentured orphan, who can write a secret code as fast as a man can speak, must attend a performance and write down the complete play so that his masters troupe of actors can perform the new play.
A historical novel set at the golden theatre during shakespeare s reign there. In real life, however, the play being performed was not hamlet but henry viii and the entire theatre was destroyed. Whether you are looking for a gift, introducing shakespeare to your children or researching for a phd, our staff. This, in turn, lessens the trepidation students feel upon being handed their first shakespearean play. It was the last of the books that she needed to read to. The shakespeare stealer book summary and study guide. I started off by having to read this book for school but i enjoyed it so much that i went on to read shakespeares scribe and shakespeares spy.
Shakespeare bookshop the specialist bookshop of the shakespeare birthplace trust. The shakespeare stealer was by far one of the best historical fiction books i have ever read. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in stratford, england. With its fast pace, unusual setting, and even more unusual crime, this has found a ready audience among the. In spite of this, by 1614 the globe was rebuilt with a tilled gallery roof. Each chapter of the novel study focuses on between two and three chapters of the shakespeare stealer and is comprised of five of the following different activities. In 16, just like in the shakespeare stealer, the thatched roof of the globe theatre caught fire due to a cannon that missed its target during a performance. Blackwood published two sequels, shakespeares scribe 2000 and shakespeares spy 2003. Gary blackwood booklist gary blackwood message board. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his.
His work comprises 36 plays, 154 sonnets, and two narrative poems. Shakespeares scribe by gary blackwood librarything. And fourteenyearold widge a poor orphan with the rare ability to write a unique coded shorthand has no choice but to follow orders. The only name ive had in this life was called me at the orphanage widge. In this drama instructional activity, students read the shakespeare stealer by gary l. Free the shakespeare stealer study unit worksheets for teachers to print. The reason i give this book only four stars is because the first two or three chapters drag on and are hard. Widge manages to assimilate into the theater and befriend. Although the vast majority of books that have lexile measures did not change, a small subset of books required updated lexile measures.
Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the globe theatre, where shakespeare s players perform. Pulitzerwinner gary blackwoods background of being a playwright has helped in. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the. Filled with 17th century costumes, and fine yorkshire and british accents, the play engages and introduces the wonderful world of shakespearian theatre to kids. This novel starts when a boy named widge is adppted by a doctor but then widge is sold to another master. So widge works his way into the globe theatre, where shakespeares troupe rehearses and performs. I listened to the audible edition of the shakespeare stealer with my oldest daughter on a recent trip. When im reading from one of the many fabulous sonlight books, its magnetic.
It was the first curriculum we ever researched and, after looking into dozens of others and using some of them, the one we came back to. In this section shakespeare bookshop licensing publishing we aim to offer the best range of books and the best level of service to all our customers. The shakespeare stealer literature study guide bright. Ive never had a proper name never known me mum or dad, neither. Gary blackwoods the shakespeare stealer is a clever, often funny, drama, refreshingly original and amazingly thrilling. Spanning the renaissance, reformation, exploration, and some early american history, this volume explores the backdrop to and the significance surrounding the timehonored contributions found in art, music, literature, science, and. Problem the problem of the story is that widge is commanded by two evil masters that want to steal.
Weve been a sonlight family for most of the past 15 years, writes melissa c of wray, co. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood discussion guide 1. As a nice bonus, gary blackwoods the shakespeare stealer also illuminates an interesting problem. To survive, he works for various masters, and his current one has given him the task of stealing. The shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer. The shakespeare stealer is perfectly paced with electrifying moments chasing each other like heartbeats.
The shakespeare stealer lexile find a book metametrics inc. In this sequel to the shakespeare stealer, the black plague has closed the globe theatre, forcing the acting troupe to take to the road. The shakespeare stealer edmonton public library overdrive. Armin and widge confront falconer at the point when he has finally gained the copy of hamlet that he has been wanting for so long. William shakespeare was an english poet and playwright, and he is considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood abebooks. Should he obey his master who commands him to steal william shakespeares hamlet. The shakespeare stealer trilogy by gary blackwood is a lot of fun. Widge, a country boy, begins a new life with the theater, his steps always followed by a evil, vengeful man. Expand your classroom libraries with teacher selected titles.
Widge is an orphan living in shakespearian england, and his skill at shorthand gets him thrown in with the company of actors that does their thing at the globe theatre ive been there, whoo. What are the three settings in the shakespeare stealer. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood suggestions and expectations this curriculum unit can be used in a variety of ways. If we skip the opening setting of mistress macgregors orphanage, then the three settings of the shakespeare stealer are the rectory in the nearby hamlet of berwick. Queen anne news seattle its strength as a dramatic vehicle is an immediately engaging story very much in the spirit of such boys adventure tales as treasure island and fascinating historical background. The list is basically in order but not always because the words may. The shakespeare stealer paperback by gary blackwood and other young adult books online and at fully booked bookstore branches in the.
Fourteenyearold widge is an orphan living in a small village in elizabethan england. The shakespeare stealer is a book about a poor orphan boy, called widge, living in shakespearean england who can write a rare coded language in which symbols for. I started off by having to read this book for school but i enjoyed it so much that i went on to read shakespeare s scribe and shakespeare s spy. So widge works his way into the globe theatre, where shakespeare s troupe rehearses and performs. Free the shakespeare stealer worksheets and literature. Blackwood this study guide consists of approximately 10 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the shakespeare stealer. A historical novel set at the golden theatre during shakespeares reign there.
Widge was born in 1757 and lived in an orphanage with mistress macgregor. Please note that the lexile measures for a small population of books have been recently updated. For each selection, look for the authors use of puns and word play. During the 1920s, beachs shop was a gathering place for many thenaspiring writers such. Students examine the wit of characters in two plays. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. To survive, he works for various masters, and his current one has given him the task of stealing shakespeares hamlet. The shakespeare stealer fulllength adapted by gary l. Buy the shakespeare stealer book online at low prices in india. Heminges setting the shakespeare stealer takes place mainly in old england. Enhancements were made to more precisely measure materials read in k2 classrooms. The shakespeare stealer 2000 read online free book by. A delightful adveture full of humor and heart set in elizabethan england.
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