Shakespeare Room
(week 12 entry)
We had an interesting tutorial at the Shakespeare Room at the State Library today. Being in this room which was constructed in the 1940s with its tudor rose carvings, royal emblems and Queen Elizabeth’s coat of arms which was emblazoned in latin, “Semper Eadem seemed to transport us back into time and made me wish I had a library such as this! It is the kind of library where maybe one book in it held the key to a secret door opening to a passage somewhere hidden.
The wood carvings were definitely amazing. There was the masks of comedy & tragedy which obviously symbolized Shakespeare and his work and it’s interesting to note that both masks are connected, maybe symbolizing the unity of both elements ie. There is comedy in tragedy and tragedy in comedy. This in line with the double tudor roses carved on the ceilings symbolizing unity.. The windows were stained with the seven ages of man from “As you like it” and it co-exists with mythical creatures of merman and mermaids carved on the walls.
The most interesting part of the room was the original book of Shakespeare’s works containing all his plays. The unique and beautiful font of the text was a sight to see, so was the excitement on everyone’s face in being able to touch and hold something that was so old. We also got to touch and hold a 16th Century copy of Ben Johnson’s works.
This was a very good ending to a great course this semester.
State Library of NSW
We had an interesting tutorial at the Shakespeare Room at the State Library today. Being in this room which was constructed in the 1940s with its tudor rose carvings, royal emblems and Queen Elizabeth’s coat of arms which was emblazoned in latin, “Semper Eadem seemed to transport us back into time and made me wish I had a library such as this! It is the kind of library where maybe one book in it held the key to a secret door opening to a passage somewhere hidden.
The wood carvings were definitely amazing. There was the masks of comedy & tragedy which obviously symbolized Shakespeare and his work and it’s interesting to note that both masks are connected, maybe symbolizing the unity of both elements ie. There is comedy in tragedy and tragedy in comedy. This in line with the double tudor roses carved on the ceilings symbolizing unity.. The windows were stained with the seven ages of man from “As you like it” and it co-exists with mythical creatures of merman and mermaids carved on the walls.
The most interesting part of the room was the original book of Shakespeare’s works containing all his plays. The unique and beautiful font of the text was a sight to see, so was the excitement on everyone’s face in being able to touch and hold something that was so old. We also got to touch and hold a 16th Century copy of Ben Johnson’s works.
This was a very good ending to a great course this semester.
State Library of NSW