Wherefore art thou iPad?: Studying Shakespeare with Apps
October 7, 2013
If there’s any storyteller whose works are recreated again and again, it’s William Shakespeare. Each year there are films born out of his plays. While some are retold in another time period or loosely based on a particular Shakespearean arc, many, like this month’s upcoming Romeo and Juliet adaptation, use his famous rhymes. Though the tragic teen lovebirds’ tale is arguably the most popular of the Bard’s works, each has something magnificent to offer. In honor of the latest interpretation, here are some of the best apps for enjoying and understanding Shakespeare’s masterpieces from a variety of angles using your iPad.
SwipeSpeare from BookCaps – iPad App (Free)
Sometimes it’s difficult for a Shakespeare novice to fully grasp his meaning… you have to learn the lingo first. Luckily, there’s SwipeSpeare, the app that does it exactly what its name implies. Take a look at a passage of Shakespeare, then simply swipe to see a modernized translation. Swipe again and it will change back! That’s not all, though. SwipeSpeare also includes a free, searchable Shakespeare dictionary, biography, a Swipeable copy of Romeo and Juliet, original and modernized versions of the major Shakespeare plays, as well as accompanying study guides and lesson plans.
Romeo and Juliet: Explore Shakespeare
This is a comprehensive app that allows you to really dive into Shakespeare’s language and works. Read the play straight, or hover over various words and terms to explore interactive word clouds of different scenes. This app also includes a Themeline that demonstrates how the play’s themes change throughout the course of the story. Focus on one individual character and study their part in the play, explore family “Circles” with clear visuals, look up glossary terms, and more. You can also listen to a full audio performance of Romeo and Juliet, search the entire play for specific words and terms, read in-depth notes, and read further into analyses with various Cambridge articles. Romeo and Juliet: Explore Shakespeare is a great, interactive study-tool for students and literary buffs alike.
Shakespeare In Bits: Romeo & Juliet iPad Edition – iPad App ($14.99)
For just $14.99, you can download Shakespeare in Bits: Romeo and Juliet iPad Edition, for a gorgeous multimedia presentation of the classic play. Featuring the voice talents of Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen, this app really breaks down the meaning of Shakespeare’s words. The app includes over three hours of animation and accompanying text so you can fully understand every second of the story. Shakespeare in Bits’ study guide also contains biographies of each character, an illustrated relationship map, literary analyses, and study notes. Explore key themes, language, imagery, and famous quotes, all alongside the rich visual animation.
The iPad edition introduces even more features. You can watch in high resolution with a side-by-side view on your iPad, which means you won’t have to switch between the animation and text. There’s also a widened text view, simplified navigation, and text highlighting so you can follow along! For all you Shakespeare junkies, this company also offers Shakespeare In Bits: Macbeth and Shakespeare in Bits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.” Who will you be playing for Halloween? Stay tuned for a spooky Octa blog to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve.
