Where Swift moves from cool tones to burning red, Shakespeare moves through increasingly warm tones: from yellow, to orange, to red. In the first verse, Swift sings, "We show off our different scarlet letters / Trust me, mine is better.". The book can also be spotted in Swift's Instagram highlight titled "ladies & benji.". I'm afraid that is simply an inarguable fact, and even if you don't believe in reincarnation you would quickly. Throughout "Slaughterhouse-Five," Billy is characterized as very lonely. The phrase evokes a feeling of inevitability and powerlessness, but it's not purely nihilistic. I think this course tapped into the zeitgeist in ways I couldnt have imagined when I first dreamed it up. The best-selling novelist announced he has donated about $437,000 to 81 independent bookstores a gift that completes his plan to donate $1 million of his own money to support independent booksellers. Taylor Swift - Love Story With some not-so-subtle references to The Bard's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, it seems only right to start with Taylor's breakout single Love Story, which. and it's out now! They also costarred in "The Taming of the Shrew," based on Shakespeare's play of the same name, which could be another point of reference for Swift's lyrics ("I'm so very tame now / Never be the same now"). Its also proof that Swift has been incorporating famous poets work since the beginning of her career. The skull has no eyes; instead, "Et tu, Brute" is carved into it. Im not sure I would yet go that far for Taylor Swift, but watch this space, he concluded. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 166,800 academics and researchers from 4,661 institutions. The legend of Achilles in "State of Grace": B Not the most famous song on this album, and not the most original use of "Achilles heel," though it's not technically incorrect. 'King Nothing' suggests a strong sense of an unhealthy greed and a relentless desire to seek power and status, with an inevitable fall from grace as a repercussion of a lethal obsession: "All the wants you waste, all the things youve chased, then it all crashes down, and you break your crown.". The song's lyrics are a modern retelling of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers with references to Romeo and Juliet. This class is part of a group of introductory English offerings that focus on basic methods of literary analysis and research. Swift goes on to describe how she was stabbed in the back, lulled into a false sense of security by the glittering artifice of celebrity and friendship. Analyzing Swifts writing will hopefully help my students recognize how certain poetic and literary devices operate in older texts as much as those same books and poems from the past help them appreciate Swifts art at a deeper level. The first single from their album 'Cleopatra' (oh, hang on) The Lumineers say 'Ophelia' is a vague reference to people falling in love with fame. The lyrics refer to a conversation between characters Benedick and Beatrice, with the line "Serve God love me and mend, for man is a giddy thing," reworked from the play itself. Her verses become increasingly strong and build upon each other once she starts remembering the past. So, I figured it might be fun to pair each play with a Taylor Swift song, and here are the results: Note: For the purposes of this ranking, plays that are considered separate but tell the same story, such as Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II, will be listed together. Posted on Jan 11, 2022 You Might Think You Can Tell A Taylor Swift Quote Apart From A Shakespeare One, But No, I'm 99% Sure You Can't "This is a state of grace." by akkshanshbagga24 Community. Barrie, which contains themes of long-lost love, that also reflects the main theme of Swifts eighth studio album, Folklore., Swift often said that she loves to do a twist on a common phrase to fit her storytelling, and it is evident in songs like Getaway Car where she paraphrases Charles Dickens famous quote to it was the best of time, the worst of crimes, Swift is clearly obsessed withThe Great Gatsby, as most of us are, because she wrote not just one, but two different songs on different albums about the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Young at heart: England's Royal Shakespeare Company redefines age Hey! Finding a way to tap into students enthusiasm for Swift, and tie her songwriting to literary methodologies, is my version of following her lead. Professor of English, The University of Texas at Austin. In Wonderland, Swift usesAlice in Wonderlandby Lewis Carroll as a metaphor of falling deeply in love without realizing the danger around, while referencing scenes from the book, such as fell down a rabbit hole and the Cheshire Cat smile., I knew you tried to change the ending/Peter losing Wendy from Cardigan is a nod toPeter Panby J.M. As for This is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, the ode to Fitzgeralds novel comes in the first verse, as Swift says Feeling so Gatsby for that whole year, while describing an extravagant party scene which she hosts just as Gatsby did. ago Shakespeare being a Swiftie is the last thing expected. In the liner notes for "Red," Swift included a quote from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda:"Love is so short, forgetting is so long. The Bear Season 2's 5 Taylor Swift References & What They Mean For Richie ago Taylor outsold Swifts vivid imagery and emotionally gripping detail had all the markings of a great narrative poem. A world expert on William Shakespeare has compared Taylor Swift to some of historys greatest writers including the Bard himself and said she is a real poet. Swift's cheeky brag about her scarlet letter reflects this understanding; she draws a parallel between her own treatment by society and the misogynistic, puritanical mob mentality that Hester is subjected to. Swifts references to Shakespeare were evident in the song, where she sings: You were Romeo, you were throwin pebbles/ And my daddy said, Stay away from Juliet. Sir Jonathan lauded the singers ability to change and adapt Shakespearean themes for contemporary audiences. redistributed or derived from. He said he bought Swifts debut album Fearless the second he heard that song and used it to show his students at Warwick University how Shakespeare has been changed and adapted over the years. The semester began with the pairing of Swifts songs with Renaissance love poetry. Tom Hanks as. He constantly finds himself back in Germany, presumably due to PTSD-induced flashbacks; he refers to this as becoming "unstuck in time. Enjoy a selection of music inspired by his life and work. Swift's references to Shakespeare were evident in the song, where she sings: "You were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles/ And my daddy said, 'Stay away from Juliet'." Sir Jonathan lauded the singer's ability to change and adapt Shakespearean themes for contemporary audiences. Are you enjoying NYCTastemakers? Sports anchor perfectly hides 45 Taylor Swift references in broadcast Hawthornes novel provided a framework for Swifts ideas, as she states in an interview, I was a big fan of a fairy tales growing up, and youll see a lot of references to like Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlet Letter, and thats from my reading., The Great Gatsby: Swift makes references to F. Scott Fitzgeralds classic novel in two of her songs, one being from happiness , Swifts 7th track in her 9th album Evermore, and the other being This is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, Swifts 13th track on her 6th album, Reputation. Minnesota Sports Anchor Chris Long Goes Viral For Taylor Swift Segment What If told you they're masterminds Also Othello brings back memories of my last year in highschool in 2019 it was hell Taytay_Is_God 5 hr. This course has rather modest ambitions. Swift seems to refuse to succumb to the same fate as Caesar and she's using her new voice to make her feelings about how she feels in a post-Kimye feud world known far and wide. In this section I will analyse the metaphors for love in the respective works of Taylor Swift and William Shakespeare and categorise the results in the following categories: "love is a bond", "love is fire", "love is light", "love is a natural force", "love is war", "love is insanity" and finally, "the object of love . Whether we're talking song lyrics or sonnets, Romeo or John Mayer, star-crossed lovers or Starbucks lovers, both Taylor and Shakespeare know exactly how to tug on our heartstrings. It's as if she believes she has been backstabbed by people she may have thought were her friends and they have gravely harmed her. Swift uses the getaway-car metaphor to tell the story of a doomed relationship, which she used selfishly as a vehicle for escape. However, Swift ends the song with a happy ending, allowing the two lovers to get married. Im not sure I would yet go that far for Taylor Swift, but watch this space.. "Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds?" (LogOut/ Some more of these include: Rebecca: tolerate it no body, no crime, Jane Eyre: invisible string mad woman. Taylor Swift doesn't want any more bad blood. All the Literary References in Taylor Swift Songs At the same time, the songs imagery moves from fall to winter as she reflects upon the relationships beginning and frosty end. The song, Swift said to the Los Angeles Times, was inspired by Romeo & Juliet, and Swift states that I was going through a situation like that where I could relate. Though her inspiration from Shakespeare, Swift was able to release a chart topping and timeless hit which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Shakespeare made a Taylor Swift reference :0 66 7 comments Best Add a Comment justbreathin150 5 hr. "There is a lesson in knowing that you can live your life in a way that you're proud of and people are still gonna take shots," she told Vanity Fair one year before the song's release. An avid reader herself, Swift deploys forms like metaphors, conceits and structures that are part of a shared literary heritage that students might otherwise find old-fashioned and irrelevant. Taylor Swift is a real poet, Shakespeare expert says as he - ResetEra ", The book's protagonist Billy Pilgrim is a World War II veteran, whose trauma breaks his ability to form a cohesive narrative. He also noted instances where Swift has alluded to or referenced Ernest Hemingway, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. Mark Antony's dialogue inspires once again, this time with the line "Come, let's have one other gaudy night; call to me all my sad captains; fill our bowls; once more, let's mock the midnight bell," from Antony and Cleopatra. Taylor Swift's Literary References Quiz - By wickedsmileyify - Sporcle In a piece for The Sunday Times Magazine titled Why Taylor Swift is a literary giant, he wrote that he had one of the best nights of [his] life at one of Swifts concerts. She writes the song in a way that mirrors the recursions of memory. When Lady Macbeth says "yet do I fear thy nature, it is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way" she says it with a distaste, accusing her husband of being too soft and unambitious; and not made of sterner stuff like herself. 2 min read. ! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Pop Goes Shakespeare The Bard in Modern Music - BBC Swift confirmed she read the joint biography in a 2018 interview. While delivering New York Universitys 2022 commencement speech, Swift urged the graduating seniors to embrace their enthusiasms and be unafraid to explore their interests. The first song is, of course, Swifts most popular one, Love Story, the song is Swifts reimagining of William ShakespearesRomeo and JulietandThe Scarlet Letter. Shakespeare does Eurovision as artists from across Europe re-imagine his plays and poetry. Share it in the comments below. Of course, this could be intended as a simple comparison between a dangerous plant and an innocent flower. Having sold more than 200 million records globally, Swift is one of the bestselling musicians in history. 35. Balconies, a remonstrative father, star-crossed lovers this is a love story unmistakably based on Shakespeare's most famous tale of teenage love. She is the most streamed woman on Spotify and the only act to have five albums with more than 1 million copies sold in the US. "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens contains one of the most famous opening phrases in all of literature: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ", In the first line of "Getaway Car," Swift swaps the last word for "crimes.". Speaking of Swift's 1989 album, which is referenced by a shirt that Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany Jerimovich (Gillian Jacobs), is wearing in the flashback episode, it's . Who said it: Shakespeare or Taylor Swift? - TODAY Can you beat your friends at this quiz? She was born in 1989, almost 10 years before Napster started a chain reaction that resulted in the implosion of the music industry, and yet she's already managed to build an entertainment conglomerate that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars a year. After sulking through the first few days of his apprenticeship, he grows tired of living a directionless life. He said he first spotted references to Shakespeare in that track, on which she sings: "You were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles/ And my daddy said, 'Stay away from Juliet'." The academic. Swift revisited the concept of "falling down the rabbit hole" in her 2020 song "Long Story Short," doubling down on its negative implications ("And I fell from the pedestal / Right down the rabbit hole / Long story short, it was a bad time"). Make sure to join our mailing list for NYCTM and never miss the chance to read all of our articles! With Taylor Swift taking over Minneapolis this past week, Minnesota sports anchor Chris Long went viral for getting more than 40 Taylor Swift song references into his local newscast, including . In 12-year-old terms, "the road less traveled by" represents the life of an "outcast," someone who marches to the beat of their own drum. Throughout the song, Swift expresses a distrust of society and enduring faith in her own ideals, echoing the main theme of "The Scarlet Letter," which ends with Hester's redemption and the death of her lead tormenter. Taylor Swift has joined the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences along with Ke Huy Quan, Austin Butler, Stephanie Hsu, and nearly 400 others. Analysis: the pop star's references to books and classic literature allows us to see her self-awareness and growth as an artist. Read about our approach to external linking. 'The Bear' Season 2's Chocolate Banana, Taylor Swift References and Taylor Swift is undoubtedly a spectacular songwriter and an outstanding singer, but what if she wasnt? The Friar's words therefore are more than just a difference of . Swift, who has sold over 200 million records worldwide, is one of the most successful musicians in history. 4. Unless otherwise stated, all content is We can all agree on that. Lyrics like "Hearts go to their graves" suggest this track had an equally tragic ending. Swift uses the line a little differently, telling her past lover that whoever loves him next is a beautiful fool. Swift knows that this next lover will have no luck with this man, and she uses the reference from the Great Gatsby to introduce more context into the song. Leading up to the premiere of its new series Will, TNT teamed up with Genius to present some of the best Shakespeare references in. These popular Taylor Swift songs have drawn inspiration from literature Taylor Swift fans 'ghost' work to attend sold out concert. His family and friends don't understand the intensity of what he's been through, so his coping mechanisms are widely misunderstood. He concluded his article by saying that while he was not yet ready to compare Swift to Bob Dylan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, he believed that her potential was limitless. Who Said It: Taylor Swift Or Shakespeare? - Playbuzz Billy Bragg has embraced this sentiment but has managed to turn it on its head by weaving its meaning into a love-letter, almost worthy of being read at an altar, offering himself as the deliverer of an "extra pint" to a loved one. Swift uses "falling down the rabbit hole," which transports Alice to Wonderland, as an extended metaphor for falling in love and losing her mind in the process. To them, all moments in the past, present, and future are happening simultaneously. Renowned scholar Sir Jonathan Bate, a former Shakespeare professor at Warwick University, has praised Taylor Swifts talent as a poet and compared her to some of historys greatest writers, including William Shakespeare himself. Oct 26, 2015, 06:09 PM EDT AP Taylor Swift is a genius. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. In the book, Gatsby is a key player in the city's party scene, known for hosting blowouts at his mansion and allowing guests to act however they please. FX. Taylor Swift, Ke Huy Quan, and Nearly 400 More Join the Academy - Collider More than a decade before the rediscovery of the car park king, Oxford Indie-Rock band Supergrass had paid homage to Shakespeares portrayal of a scheming, underhand monarch in their second single from their album 'In It For The Money'. This ambiguity speaks to the full version of Dickens' opening line, in which he presents a list of opposites and dueling ideas: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.". Can you beat your friends at this quiz? "It was the best of times, the worst of crimes" is so such a satisfying play on the Dickens line, and I feel like the theme of being pulled in opposite directions is laid down right at the start of the song.. Edit: your comments are giving me life and a whole lot of books/poems to put on my reading list. Sir Jonathan also highlighted Swifts references to other literary giants, including Ernest Hemingway, Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. 1 / 10. That balcony, for example, he wrote. "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" opens with a scene of opulence and hedonism: big parties, champagne seas, rattling chandeliers, no rules. "Delicate" is a particularly notable example. The song gestures at infidelity, painting Swift as a liar ("I didn't mean it") and a criminal ("Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys / That was the last time you ever saw me"). Taylor Swift References. She also compares her ex-lover to the deceitful Cheshire Cat character ("Didn't you calm my fears with a Cheshire Cat smile?"). The specific line "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones," would sometimes be repeated by singer Bruce Dickinson, sometimes reversing the words, before live performances of this Heavy Metal track - a genre you might not consider going hand-in-hand with Shakespeare's works. And now you can finally tackle that long list of books you been wanting to catch up on. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! In referencing the play, whose most climactic scene involves the titular Caesar being betrayed and murdered by his closest friends, Swift has made a fairly damning statement of her own about her current feelings towards Kimye without saying a word. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor's love story was chronicled in "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century" by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. This ballad is said to be "for all those whose sanity is dependent on the phases of the moon." A woman who called in sick for work planned ahead, and turned up to a Taylor Swift concert in disguise, just in case she was caught on . Its so interesting how literature and literary references are all around us if we just listen carefully even in Taylor Swift songs! The first is in This Is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, where Swift sings about a friendship that was wild and extravagant but ended because of lies. Fortunately for Richie, his haze of uncertainty and despair in The Bear season 2 is followed by clarity of vision and purpose. The essence of the #beachread, most would agree, was more of a mood than anything else: attached to #vacation, it should be #enjoyable and #easy, with brisk pace and simple diction. After his abduction, Billy adopts the Tralfamadorian idiom "so it goes," which is used 106 timesin the book usually when someone has died. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. "I think love is fearless." Interestingly, the tone of "Furious Love" doesn't seem to compliment Swift's lyrics, since Burton and Taylor's relationship would be considered a failure by most standards. With various nods to an assortment of characters, including Macbeth, Julius Caesar and King Lear, 'The Kind Must Die' is a pensive look at how the mighty can fall from their pedestals and the consequences that follow. ", "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century", confirmed she read the joint biography in a 2018 interview. From NYC best-selling to lesser known novels, youll be sure to find one that resonates with you from this summer reading list! Many tabloids branded her a "player" or "maneater," while in other corners of the internet, rumors about her relationship with Karlie Kloss had recently begun to pick up steam. #english. Why I teach a course connecting Taylor Swift's songs to the works of It was a time characterized by excess of wealth, alcohol, and self-indulgence that partially led to the stock-market crash of 1929. For a few years, I taught it as a Harry Potter course. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Harrison Brocklehurst Trash UK Taylor Swift is William Shakespeare reincarnated. o m g. follow me on social media for daily shenanigans :))instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jackbenedwardstiktok: @jackbenedwards spotify tunez: https://open.spotify.com/user/jackbenedwardstwitter: http://www.twitter.com/jackbenedwardsgoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20013214.Jack_Edwardsi wrote a book!!