This summer my theater appreciation class is reading, watching, discussing and writing about “All’s Well that Ends Well” by William Shakespeare. I tell my students that the main enjoyment of a Shakespeare play is “to get it.” When one begins to understand the content, there’s the feeling of accomplishment. This is when learning takes place.
One of the play’s themes is higher social status vs. lower social status. The lovely Helena is trying to win the love of Bertram, a man of nobility. Another theme is death and grief. In the outset, Helena and Bertram have lost their fathers, but even though the play begins on a gloomy note, it, no doubt, emerges into comedy.
This week’s Vaughan’s Vocabulary quizzes you on concepts of this masterpiece play, and, if you’ve never read “AWTEW,” read it this summer! Share your comments with me.
1. “In delivering my son from me I bury a second husband” is the first line and it’s by
A. the Countess of Rousillon.
B. Helena.
C. Diana.
D. Mariana
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2. The story takes place in
A. Germany.
B. England.
C. France.
D. Italy.
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3. Helena delivers two of these in Act I. Which one is the correct spelling?
A. soliloquy
B. soliloqwees
C. soliloquies
D. suhlillokeys
Let’s see how you’re doing so far. Mariana, Diana, and, of course Helena, are characters in the play, but the opening line is spoken by the Countess. A is the answer. As for No. 2, it’s both France and Italy. When Bertram is ordered by the king to marry Helena, Parolles advises him to flee to Florence.
No. 3 is C. Let’s do two more.
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4. Parolles is an important character. Identify the correct pronunciation.
A. puh-ROLLS
B. PAR-rolls (or ‘rows”)
C. par-ROLLS
D. Pa-ROLL-ess (or “ezz”)
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5. The title is referring to what?
A. An evil person has died.
B. The girl gets the guy.
C. The good man gets the kingship.
D. If it feels good, do it.
I’m a stickler for accurate pronunciations. According to Michael Masiello, a former professor of Shakespeare, Parolles is pronounced “Pa-ROLL-ess or ezz.”
No. 5 is B, which is typical, right?
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
