Cspan courage to do more tests . Guest we could golan iran dawn broke john a. And on. Fast and loose is good for politics if you are misreading the bell lot but if you want to make a case to take any action that is the uncomfortable or to make of virtue of necessity a candy lot of the tight corner. How much of the of language of shakespeare from the 1500s . In england and britain when shakespeare was around. With different dialects the north does not sound like the south the west does not sound like these. And then to become the dominant media form is to stabilizer och stabilize from london. Said the end of the 16th century that is interesting because that is the english that becomes the official dialect. Cspan the Folger Shakespeare library is available to the average person . Guest we are open and we are free to the public. We have an exhibition and hall where you can see great exhibitions. Right now the history of longitude we do three shakespeare plays per year and here is one that
Michael whimore, when did you notice politicians using shakespeares quotes . I noticed it in 1989. Politicians are often saying shakespeares words. I think its important something for america, the ability to quote shakespeare gives them weight. You tell me if im wrong, robert byrd greatest in the senate . I agree, he was called the cisero of the senate. Very fond to using ornate. Hes deceased but we have many statements using shakespeare. Drawn from thy gore. Of these covering heavens, all on their heads like for they are worthy to inlay in heaven. As we leave for the evening, give me my robe and give me my crown. What did you hear . I heard a very thatrical senator. He moves around. He sounds almost like an english professor. What is it for somebody like me thats not a shakespeare and dont know what hes saying . Sometimes you have to go with the sounds and rhymes, youre able to pause and linger over a long phrase and stop and keep going. I think hes using the rhythms of the language w
In the beginning of september, we are live from the Nations Capital for the National Book festival celebrating its 15th year. This is on book tv. Announcer tonight on cspan, q a with Michael Witmore regarding the Folger Shakespeare library. Then, progressives and campaign 2016 and a look at republican president ial primary tactics. Announcer this week on q a, our guest is Michael Witmore director of the witmore of the Folger Shakespeare library. Brian lamb Michael Witmore director of the Folger Shakespeare library. When did you first notice in your life all editions using shakespeares quotes life politicians using shakespeares quotes . Director witmore it was hard to escape shakespeare, because politicians, whether they know it or not, are using shakespeares words. It is something that allows politicians to connect with audiences, and when they quote shakespeare, it gives the politician a certain kind of weight and half and heft. Brian lamb you said that robert byrd was probably the gr
Director witmore it was hard to escape shakespeare, because politicians, whether they know it or not, are using and often saying shakespeares words. It is something that allows politicians to connect with audiences, and when they quote shakespeare, it gives the politician a certain kind of weight and heft. Brian lamb you said that robert byrd was probably the greatest senator to use the words of William Shakespeare in the senate. Director witmore yes, robert byrd was the cicero senator, and he used ornate clauses and that is one of the distinctive things about him that worked on the floor. Brian lamb we have a clip of him on the senate floor talking about him using shakespeare. [video clip] senator byrd oh that my tongue were in the thunders mouth, then with a passion would i shake the world, one drop of blood, drawn from by countrys thy countrys bosom. Aye, it is written having such a jewel, and these covering heavens fall like dew to inlay heaven with stars. As these, covering heaven
Emphasis on at all. Is that fair . Director witmore well, i think that politicians are using shakespeares words, whether they know it or not. He invented a lot of words. For example, he invented the word bedroom. So they are going to use a lot of words on the senate floor. I think that shakespeare is kind of in the bloodstream of our culture, and we often get him wrong, but we are close enough that people can hear that connection. Brian lamb we found this fun video on youtube. We dont who the man is, maybe you know the voice . But he does exactly what you talk about, putting quotes together that people dont know are shakespeare. [video clip] if you cannot understand my argument, and declare, it is greek to me, you are quoting shakespeare. If you are saying, it it is more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting shakespeare. If you quote salad days, you are quoting shakespeare. If you act more in sullen than in anger, if you Say Something vanished into thin air, you are quoting shak