Poe vs. Shakespeare

[Willow Oran]

Shakespeare is far better in my opinion. Poe is just plain... scary. Has anyone read his story "The Black Cat"? I think that's what it's called. Anyway, he talks about gouging the poor kitty's eyeball out with a knife, and than killing his wife and walling her body up inside a closet. Shakespeare is definetly the saner of the two. Although some of his plays are pretty morbid. Such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Titus Andronicus, most of the tragedys... they're both pretty morbid actually.

[WiseWizard]

So which do you think is better at morbidity?

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I think they're actually both great at morbidity after their own styles.

Now, a play written by Shakespeare but with a Poe plot would be brilliant

[Mirahzi]

Originally posted by Eruviel Greenleaf
Now, a play written by Shakespeare but with a Poe plot would be brilliant

But would a story written by Poe with a Shakespearean plot be equally brilliant?

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Originally posted by Mirahzi


But would a story written by Poe with a Shakespearean plot be equally brilliant?

I'd say not

[Mirahzi]

Hmm.. which do you think could write a better rendition of LotR?

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Originally posted by Mirahzi
Hmm.. which do you think could write a better rendition of LotR?

Um...don't want to think about that one...but I'd say Shakespeare.

[WiseWizard]

Shakespeare's mind would be able to handle all of the complexities in LotR and do justice to them. Poe would probably have all of the heroes die a horrible death and have the people of Middle Earth suffer under the eternal torment of Sauron. Anyways, Poe would probably be too drugged up to even know what he was trying to make a rendition of.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Good points, WW...but could we let Poe do the Barrow Downs scene?

[WiseWizard]

Why not?
So how about we give Poe all the dark moments, and give Will all the others?

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I think Will could do great things with some of the darker scenes...Gollum and betraying Frodo by leading them to Shelob.

[WiseWizard]

True, but Poe has a way of being eerily suspenseful, which is excatly what that scene is.

[Willow Oran]

Poe and Shakespeare working together to write a dramatic adaptation of LotR... scary. While we're on the subject, which author's works do you think the LotR characters would enjoy being introduced to more? And which pieces?

[Mirahzi]

I imagine the elves would appreciate Shakespeare's tragedies..
And the hobbits would like his comedies..
Humans would probably vary.

[WiseWizard]

I think the Goblins, Orcs, and Uruk-Hai would probably go for Poe. Shakespeare would probably just confuse them too much. Then again, make them try to read anything and they'll probably just spit on it and tear it to shreds......which is why we shouldn't give them Shakespeare.
The Nazgul would probably look at both books and say, "Great, now where's the ring?"
Sauron might actually enjoy Shakespeare more, though probably just the tragedies and histories. I get the sense that Sauron is simply misunderstood, and deep down just needs some good reading material.

[Rûdhaglarien]

I seem to be horribly outnumbered and I fear being attacked by Shakespeare lovers, but I like Poe better. I love Shakespeare too, of course, except for The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, don't like that one. I don't know, maybe morbidity just works for me. I love The Black Cat and what about The Masquerade or The Cask of Amontillado... and so many more. I don't know... I love MacBeth and Hamlet and such, but... I still like Poe better.
*covers face with hands and runs away from angry mob of Shakespeare lovers*
Please... don't hurt me too badly... I have a dance competition to prepare for.

[Varda Oiolosseo]

I like Shakespeare better! I really like A Midsummer Nights Dream!! I don't like Macbeth that much anymore since wev'e read it soooo many times at school and watched about 11 different versions! but it's not hat bad.

[Aeryn]

Well, Poe is the mystery/gore guy, and Shakespeare is the tragedy guy. There isn't a competition because they aren't playing the same game!

It would be like saying "Who's better, the Cardinals, or the 49ers"

[Elfhelm]

Shakespeare wrote great comedies, too!

But they both wrote sonnets. Let's see...

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least:
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee,--and then my state
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings'.


I don't think Poe can touch it...

There are some qualities–some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence–sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!


Nope, the Bard wins this one, methinks!

[sun-star]

I don't know Poe's poetry very well, but I can't believe he could touch Shakespeare when it comes to sonnets - no one could Does anyone have a favourite Shakespeare sonnet? There are too many good ones to choose, but I like "My mistress' eyes" a lot