Works of Literature Inspired by Shakespeare.
1. Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood
Hag-seed is a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It takes place in modern day Canada; the main
character is a widowed man who never got over the loss of his daughter. Felix is conned out of his directing job and embraces
a life of isolation and depression.
After several years of solitude, Felix takes a job as a literature
teacher at the local prison. Grief has
driven Felix to thoughts of revenges.
Atwood, M.,
& Shakespeare, W. (2016). Hag-seed: William Shakespeare's The Tempest
retold.
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2. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
Vinegar Girl is a modern retelling of the comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. Kate Battista
lives with her odd scientist father and beautiful little sister, Bunny. Kate’s father and his assistant, Pyotr, is on
the verge of a major scientific breakthrough when they find out that Pyotr is
to be deported. Dr. Battista comes up
with a crazy idea to keep Pyotr from being deported, and it involves Kate.
Tyler, A.,
& Shakespeare, W. (2016). Vinegar girl: The taming of the shrew retold.
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3. The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson
The Gap of Time, a retelling of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, is about rape, murder,
and revenge. Leo, a greedy Londoner hedge-fund manager, in certain that his
pregnant wife, MiMi, and his best friend, Xeno, are having an affair. Leo
banished his newborn to New Bohemia, attempts to murder Xeno, and rape his
wife.
Winterson,
J., & Shakespeare, W. (2015). The gap of time: The Winter's tale retold.
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4. Prince of Cats by Ron Wimberly
Prince of Cats is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but the protagonist is
Tybalt Capulet. Set in Brooklyn in the
1990’s, this graphic novel shows the “B-side” to Shakespeare’s original. This book has an urban setting and samurai
fighting move. Written beautifully in Iambic Pentameter this book shows a side
of the Bard you’ve never seen before.
Wimberly, R.
(2012). Prince of cats. New York: DC Comics.
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5. A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson
A Wounded Name is based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but takes place in a boarding
school opposed to a castle. The main
character, Ophelia, tries to ignore the fae, ghosts, and sidhe that only she
can see, but after the death of the headmaster she can no longer pretend to be
normal. Ophelia begins spending more
time with the headmaster’s son, Dane, but Dane is slowly being driven mad with
the grief of losing his father.
Hutchison,
D. (2013). A wounded name.
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6. Exit Pursued by Bear by EK Johnson
Exit. Pursued by Bear is a[nother] reimagining of Winter’s Tale; this retelling takes
place in small town high school.
Hermione Winters, the protagonist, is the star cheerleader in the small
town of Palermo Heights. Tragedy befalls
Hermione when she is drugged and rape at a party. Now Hermione has fallen from popularity glory
from head cheerleader to pregnant pariah.
Johnston, E.
K. (2016). Exit, pursued by a bear.
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7. Fool by Christopher Moore
Fool is the retelling of King Lear in the
view of the court jester, Pocket. After
Edmund demands the respect of King Lear and his daughters only Pocket can make
it all right again. Pocket uses a little
magic, a lot of wit, and a few assassins to fix things for the king. This book is full of vulgarity, murder, and
even a little spanking.
Moore, C.
(2009). Fool. New York: William Morrow.
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8. Shylock is My Name by Howard Johnson
Shylock is My Name is a modern-day reimagining of The Merchant of Venice. Shylock, an art dealer, must deal with the
grief over losing his wife and the anger he has for their daughter who has
rejected her Jewish upbringing. Shylock must learn what it is to be a good parent.
Jacobson,
H., Kitchen, M., & Shakespeare, W. (2016). Shylock is my name.
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9. William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian
Doescher
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is a reimagining of George Lucas’s Star
Wars series. Keeps the main story line
of the Star Wars movies, but is written to sound as through it was written by
William Shakespeare. This is a six book
series that follow the Star Wars Episodes I though VI.
Doescher, I.
(2013). William Shakespeare's Star Wars.
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10. As I Descend by Robin Talley
As I Descended is the reimagining of the epic tragedy,
Macbeth. This book has a very diverse
cast of characters including gay and lesbian couples, a disabled character,
characters of varying body types, and people of color. Like Macbeth,
As I Descended is full of lies,
paranormal spirits, and revenge.
Talley, R.
(2016). As I descended.
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Non-book Media Forms—Plays
1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
by Tom Stoppard
Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern are Dead is play about two minor character from Hamlet, but has a taste of Waiting for
Godot. This tragic comedy follows and moronic
protagonists, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, until their untimely death caused
by Hamlet’s actions.
Stoppard,
T., & Shakespeare, W. (1967). Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead.
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2. West Side Story
West Side Story is a musical based on Romeo and Juliet. It takes place in New York City in the
middle of a gang turf war between the Jets and Sharks. Though they are members of warring gangs Maria
and Tony fall in love and are determined to be with each other regardless of
the consequences.
Laurents,
A., Sondheim, S. (1957). West Side story.
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3. Kiss Me Kate by Samuel and Bella
Spewack
Kiss Me Kate is a stage musical based off of Shakespeare’s
comedy Taming of the Shrew. In this play two divorced actors, Fred Graham
and Lilli Vanessi, agree to be in the play, Taming
of the Shrew. Mayhem ensures when
there is a misunderstanding between the divorced couple and another character,
Bill, is threatened by mobsters due to a gambling debt.
Spewack, S.,
Spewack, B. (1953). Kiss me kate.
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Non-book Media Forms—Movies
1. 10 things I Hate About You
The late 90’s film, 10
things I Hate About You, is a retelling of Taming of the Shrew. Bianca
Stratford is a sweet boy-crazy underclassman who wants a boyfriend desperately,
but unfortunately for Bianca her father will not allow her to date until her
older sister Kat dates first. Kat has a biting personality and no interest in
dating until she meets bad boy Patrick Verona.
Junger, G., Lutz, K. M. C., Smith, K., Stiles, J., Ledger,
H., Gordon-Levitt, J., Oleynik, L., ... Touchstone Home Video (Firm),. (1999).
10 Things I Hate About You.
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2. She’s the Man
She’s the Man is a modern retelling of Twelfth Night. Viola impersonates her twin brother Sebastian,
who is currently out of the country, and joins the soccer team. In the course of the movie, Viola falls in
love with Sebastian room Duke, while Duke is love with Olivia. Olivia thinks she is in love with Sebastian,
but is the “Sebastian” she is in love with is actually Viola.
Fickman, A.,
Shuler-Donner, L., Leslie, E., Lutz, K. M. C., Smith, K., Bynes, A., Tatum, C.,
... DreamWorks Home Entertainment (Firm). (2006). She's the man. Universal
City, Calif: DreamWorks Home Entertainment.
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3. The Lion King
The Lion King is an animated film based on Hamlet.
Simba, a young lion, is the heir to Pride Rock’s king, Mufasa. Mufasa’s evil brother, Scar, lusts for the
throne and plots to kill Mufasa and Simba.
After killing only Mufasa, Scar convinces Simba he is at fault for his
father’s death; Simba flees. Once grown
Simba returns to Pride Rock to confront Scar and to become the rightful king.
Allers, R.,
Minkoff, R., Hahn, D., Mecchi, I., Roberts, J., Woolverton, L., Jones, J. E.,
... Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Firm). (1994). The Lion King.
