You can view the full "translation" bellow or at...
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2008/7/30schmelling.html
HAMLET (FACEBOOK NEWS FEED EDITION).
BY SARAH SCHMELLING
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Horatio thinks he saw a ghost.
Hamlet thinks it's annoying when your uncle marries your mother right after your dad dies.
The king thinks Hamlet's annoying.
Laertes thinks Ophelia can do better.
Hamlet's father is now a zombie.
- - - -
The king poked the queen.
The queen poked the king back.
Hamlet and the queen are no longer friends.
Marcellus is pretty sure something's rotten around here.
Hamlet became a fan of daggers.
- - - -
Polonius says Hamlet's crazy ... crazy in love!
Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet are now friends.
Hamlet wonders if he should continue to exist. Or not.
Hamlet thinks Ophelia might be happier in a convent.
Ophelia removed "moody princes" from her interests.
Hamlet posted an event: A Play That's Totally Fictional and In No Way About My Family
The king commented on Hamlet's play: "What is wrong with you?"
Polonius thinks this curtain looks like a good thing to hide behind.
Polonius is no longer online.
- - - -
Hamlet added England to the Places I've Been application.
The queen is worried about Ophelia.
Ophelia loves flowers. Flowers flowers flowers flowers flowers. Oh, look, a river.
Ophelia joined the group Maidens Who Don't Float.
Laertes wonders what the hell happened while he was gone.
- - - -
The king sent Hamlet a goblet of wine.
The queen likes wine!
The king likes ... oh crap.
The queen, the king, Laertes, and Hamlet are now zombies.
Horatio says well that was tragic.
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, says yes, tragic. We'll take it from here.
Denmark is now Norwegian.
3 comments:
Rick-
That is great! I would love to have my students use that in my classroom. I know that I will run into trouble if I try to show kids who don't have facebook an example of what it is though. It is important to remember that not every student has a facebook or myspace account, even though most of them do. Anyhow, very interesting stuff there.
We talked about code-switching in my linguistics class this spring, and the example you provide about how even text messages need to be translated really hits the spot.
I've always wondered what would be gained if all teachers used the "no fear Shakespeare" edition for some of his plays. The facebook version is really hilarious.
First, I kind of can't believe you did this for fun. But second, I love this idea. I love any idea you can use to connect students to the texts they read, especially Shakespeare which seems to be the most difficult but still the most required author to read.
Check out this Shakespeare Hokey Pokey.... helps students realize they know more than they think they do!
O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.
-- by "William Shakespeare"
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