The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Questions or comments? You can reach us at shakespeareandbeyond@folger.edu.
“What the Dickens": How Shakespeare haunts "A Christmas Carol"
Austin Tichenor unpacks Shakespeare’s influence on Charles Dickens in the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Carol.
Holiday gift guide: Shop the Folger
Use our guide to find the perfect present for the loved ones in your life: the writer, the artist, the new parent, the book lover, the puzzle enthusiast, and more.
12 Shakespeare quotes about food and drink
We rummage through the pantry of Shakespeare’s plays for quotations about food and drink.
Birds of Shakespeare: The peregrine falcon
Falconry plays an important role in Shakespeare’s world, and Shakespeare peppers falconry terminology throughout his dialogue, Missy Dunaway explores.
Quiz: How well do you know "The Winter's Tale"?
Test your knowledge of this Shakespeare play.
A witty Fool and foolish wit: Christopher Moore’s Pocket Chronicles
Austin Tichenor writes about Christopher Moore’s trio of comic novels, which follow the fool from King Lear as he interacts with other Shakespeare characters.
10 Shakespeare quotes about fear
As Halloween approaches, we take a look at Shakespeare’s best quotations about fear.
Shakespeare as an artistic colleague: A playwright's journey
Playwright Amanda L. Andrei tells her story of winning a complete set of Folger editions as a high school student and how Shakespeare’s plays have inspired her over the years.
Q&A: Tamilla Woodard on "The Winter's Tale"
“We are all Leontes.” Director Tamilla Woodard shares her favorite moments from The Winter’s Tale and what audiences should be watching for when they see the play.
Birds of Shakespeare: The carrion crow
Although Shakespeare favors the crow as a symbol of doom, it carries various meanings and appears in several forms.
The real-life Berowne inside "Love's Labor's Lost"
Scott Maisano describes a Berowne who stands out and stands aside from the fictional world represented in this Shakespeare comedy.
How we got "The Winter’s Tale" and where it went from there
Where did Shakespeare get the idea for The Winter’s Tale? From publication in the First Folio to 18th-century adaptations, explore the history of this well-known play.