Hamlet: Contemporary Shakespeare (The Contemporary Shakespeare Series)

Synopsis

SHAKESPEARE INTERACTIVE General Editor: Mickey Bond, President, Santa Fe New Media Advisory Editors: James L. Harner, Professor of English, Texas A & M University, Editor of World Shakespeare Bibliography and William Ingram, Professor of English, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor A unique multimedia introduction to Shakespeare s most often studied plays William Shakespeare s drama has captivated audiences for centuries. Now for the first time, users can experience the plays with all the vividness and immediacy of a live performance, combined with instantly accessible text, glossary and reference features. Each title in the Shakespeare Interactive series contains the full text of a classic Shakespeare play, complete with pop-up definitions, side-by-side commentary and detailed character profiles. Users can read the text at their own pace, taking advantage of the abundant hypertext lines over 3,000 per play then press the Play button and the text literally comes to life! An all new stereo digital recording features a professional cast, authentic period music and sound effects. Designed for use in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and public libraries that serve students. Shakespeare Interactive allows users to experience the playwright s work as never before. Finding Aids Numerous finding aids allow users to master the text quickly and easily: * The Contents page contains brief descriptions of each scene, allowing users to locate easily any event in the play. * The Characters page allows rapid access to detailed character profiles. * A Scene Index is provided for each character, detailing the play from the character s perspective while providing an inventory of every scene in which the character appears. * The Dramatic Time outline correlates the play s action with the passage of objective time. And a handy Index button appears on the screen at all times, providing instant access to every piece of information in the entire database. * The Themes page catalogs the play s principal themes, and also allows users to locate easily instances of poetic, dramatic and literary devices, e.g. sonnets, soliloquies, oxymorons, dramatic irony, etc. Summary of Features * An authoritative text based on the Cambridge edition. * Side-by-side running commentary. * Pop-up definitions of unusual words. * Comprehensive plot summaries for each scene. * Character profiles complete with Scene Index. * Unabridged narration in a radio theater-style production. * Gallery of over 100 images of actors, costumes, Shakespeare portraits, etc. (images can be printed). * Powerful Boolean full-text searching. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows: IBM-compatible computer, Windows 3.1 or higher, 4 Mb RAM, CD-ROM drive, and mouse. Color VGA Monitor with 8-bit (256 color) graphics card is recommended. A 16-bit sound card (with speakers or headphones) is required to hear audio.

His father is dead. Has his mother married the killer? A ghost cries out for vengeance, but has the Prince who hears the cry gone mad? A kingdom hangs in the balance, but who can be trusted? Family, politics, blood lust, betrayal, mystery, friendship and love--each plays a role in Shakespeare's great tragedy, Hamlet. (Digest)