Shakespeare in the bush shakespeare in the bush the article of laura bohannan entitled shakespeare on the bush, is a narrative account of her experience in sharing hamlet with the tiv of west africa. Shakespeare in the bush is about laura bohannan traveling to stay with the tiv people of nigeria. It explores how difficult it is to translate shakespeares hamlet into the cultural idiom of the tiv in west africa the tiv are mostly located in nigeria. This story, by laura bohannan, is a perfect example that literature is open to many interpretations. Laura bohannans article in natural history, shakespeare in the bush introduces anthropology to a broad audience through a. You americans, said a friend, often have difficulty with. The general point made by laura bohannan in her work shakespeare in the bush is that not every culture sees things the same way, but that there is cultural bias between different cultures and people. In this article by laura bohannan called shakespeare in the bush the article starts off by talking about an american anthropologist leaving oxford for tiv in west africa.
Shakespeare in the bush university of baltimore law. Laura bohannan shakespeare in the bush pdf laura bohannan s article in natural history, shakespeare in the bush introduces anthropology to a broad audience through a retelling of hamlet. Examination of laura bohannas essay, shakespeare in the bush. Just before i left oxford for the tiv in west africa, conversation turned to the season at stratford. Shakespeare in the bush summary the anecdote shakespeare in. The author of shakespeare in the bush notes that in the tiv language, the word for scholar also means witch. Shakespeare in the bush summary the anecdote shakespeare. Originally published in 1966, shakespeare in the bush introduces anthropology to broader audiences. One of these three was a man who knew thingsthe closest translation for scholar, but unfortunately it also meant witch.
View shakespeare in the bush summary from eng 101 at new york city college of technology, cuny. While she is there she hopes to prove that human nature is. It is an ethnolinguistic group living in west africa, occupying remote regions, difficult to reach even by foot. However for the tiv, the story is laden with scenarios that they would believe to be utterly obscure and unlikelyeven. Shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan, arranging a marriage in india serena nanda in bohannans article it shows great cultural differences and communication differences. Previously the writer believed that great literary works like hamlet have some sort of universality in them and can be comprehended by people of different cultures with equal ease. Shakespeare in the bush written by laura bohannan and anne. Shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan, hamlet, the tiv. To many people in our culture the play of hamlet is wellknown, and accepted without many difficulties. In this article written by laura bohannan, the quotation given above sums up the article and is important for understanding it. Bohannan also wrote two books during the 1960s, tiv economy, with her husband, and return to laughter, a novel.
Shakespeare in the bush an american anthropologist set out to study the tiv of west africa and was taught the true meaning of hamlet. A couple of weeks ago i visited my brother in law james. Shakespeare and warwickshire dialect rosalind barber goldsmiths, university of london r. Shakespeare in the bush chapter 1 flashcards quizlet. Laura bohannan discussion questions location emerged from south central africa tiv live in the benue state of nigeria 1. Anthropology questions question shakespeare in the bush is a story of an american anthropologist by the name laura bohannan. Academic journal article shakespeare bulletin george w. Shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan before you read. Just before leaving oxford laura has a discussion with a friend who claims that americans often dont understand the true meaning of shakespeare hamlet, because shakespeare was a very english poet. May 22, 2006 todays entry is laura bohannons essay shakespeare in the bush. Her friend stated that shakespeare was a very english poet and that people of other cultures could certainly misunderstand his literal meanings.
She goes to africa where she pays a visit to a local tribe called tiv. Aneekha habeeb, linguistic anthropology assignment 12012017 shakespeare in the bush the author goes to tiv in africa and while she is there she tells the people a story that she thought is a great piece of literature in her society, which is also ours. Laura bohannan 1922 march 19, 2002 pen name elenore smith bowen, was an american cultural anthropologist best known for her 1966 article, shakespeare in the bush. Download shakespeare and biography, david bevington, oxford. An american anthropologist set out to study the tiv of west. Analysis on laura bohannans r essays in her essay shakespeare in the bush, laura bohannan attempts to illustrate whether there is a universal understanding through her experience of sharing hamlet with the tiv in west africa.
Todays entry is laura bohannons essay shakespeare in the bush. To end an argument we could not conclude, my friend gave me a copy of hamlet to study in the african bush. A dramatic reading of shakespeare in the bush youtube. Peter holland and stanley wells oxford shakespeare topics provide students and teachers with short books on important aspects of shakespeare criticism and scholarship. Examination of laura bohannas essay, shakespeare in the. Shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan originally in natural history augsept 1966 bohannon, laura 1971, from conformity and conflict. The author decided to use shakespears hamlet to demostrate the concept of the story is universal. Laura bohannans shakespeare in the bush has been in many anthropology readers. It is also available from natural history as a free pick from the past. You americans, said a friend, often have difficulty with shakespeare. Shakespeare in the bush is a case in point, although in many ways of limited value. Laura bush offers a remarkable look at the private world of this famously reserved woman, as well as the beliefs and attitudes that shape it. Shakespeare in the bush, and encountering the other.
In the story shakespeare in the bush, author laura bohannan has an argument with a friend about the interpretation of shakespeare s literature. Laura bohannan nee laura marie altman smith, 1922 march 19, 2002 pen name elenore smith bowen, was an american cultural anthropologist best known for her 1966 article, shakespeare in the bush. She brings with her copy of shakespears hamlet to prove to an english colleage that the points therein are universal and. More specifically, bohannan suggests that a story, hamlet, that she thought that there was only one interpretation to, can obviously be interpreted in many ways. During her visit bohannan carries hamlet, one of shakespeares writing with her. While she is there, she hopes to prove that human nature is universal and the same everywhere and that the tiv will understand and interpret the story of hamlet in the same way that the people in her culture have. Shakespeare in the bush just before i left oxford for the tiv in west africa, conversation turned to the season at stratford.
Laura bohannan s article is available from natural history. Laura bohannan s shakespeare in the bush has been in many anthropology readers. He was, after all, a very english poet, and one can easily misinterpret the universal by misunderstanding the particular. Throughout the story the tiv object to some of its details, however, overall they are able to understa. A literary analysis of the essay shakespeare in the bush by. Jan 12, 2014 taken from shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan in this part we could see that, because of the bothering comments of the elders, she started to question her knowledge of the book, that is why she took down notes and analyzed those new factors on the plot said by the tiv. To sum up, she had a hard time explaining the book to. Shakespeare and biography, david bevington, oxford university press, 2010, 0191615145, 9780191615146, 192 pages.
However, as the author is telling the story she is interrupted. Pdf in 1966, laura bohannan wrote her classic essay challenging the supposition that great literary works speak to universal human concerns and. Laura bush has 22 books on goodreads with 44398 ratings. Mar 16, 2011 summary of shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan. In this essay, dominique brancher takes her cue from laura bohannans classic article, shakespeare in the bush natural history 75. At each turn in the story, the tiv interpret the events and motives in hamlet using their own cultural knowledge. Becuase of cultural differences the tiv elders interpret things differenlty then how bohannan wants them to. She wrote the article after she had an experience in the bush trying to read the natives there the story of hamlet written by william shakespeare. Read cnn s fast facts about laura bush and learn more about the wife of the 43rd president of the united states, george w. So he spoke to the dead chief saying, tell us what we must do so you may rest in.
Summary of shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan laura bohannan is an american anthropologist who goes to visit an african tribe called the tiv. Shakespeare in bush shakespeare in bush is the story in which the tribesmen make the change her views about the single and universal interpretation of stories. Naive realism shakespeare in the bush is about an ethnographer, laura bohannan who describes her attempt to tell the story of hamlet to the tiv elders in west africa. Answers to the questions on shakespeare in the bush. When he was telling the story of hamlet to the tribe they had a hard time accepting most of the things he was saying and in our society that happens in a daily bases. More specifically, bohannan argues that the tiv people in west africa are incapable of reaching the same interpretation of hamlet as she.
Antony and cleopatra as you like it hamlet henry iv part i julius caesar king lear macbeth the merchant of venice a midsummer nights dream othello romeo and juliet the sonnets the taming of the shrew the tempest twelfth night blooms shakespeare through the ages. Shakespeare authorship controversy questia online library. If you were told a story by another culture, would you be able to justify their the characters motivations. Bohannan felt that shakespeare was a universal play, meaning it can be read and understood by all people at all times. Shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan pdf an american anthropologist set out to study the tiv of west. I am here to voice my strong support for the courageous people of afghanistan women and men who have suffered for years under the taliban regime. In the story shakespeare in the bush, author laura bohannan has an argument with a friend about the interpretation of shakespeares literature. Summary of shakespeare in the bush nannahauges blog.
However, in the tiv culture there are several errors in the plot that the chiefs point out. Laura bohannan encountered a major translation problem in telling the story of. Shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannon went to tiv in west africa author thinks human nature is the same throughout the whole world, even if details are different hamlet as an example 2 nd trip to tribe, lived with elder for 3 months o wanted to see ceremonies but old men cannot walk from homestead to homestead because the swamps rose could only brew beer drank all day had to do research. Shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan can be used as an introduction to the concept of culture, moral universals, human nature, and anthropology.
Laura bohannans article is available from natural history. As she explains in shakespeare in the bush, laura bohannan encountered a major translation problem in telling the story of hamlet to the tiv, because they had no word or concept for ghost. This is said by the village elder, and it shows how the culture we came from affects the way we think, they started relating to their culture whilst listening to hamlet. Shakespeare in the bush is one of the most anthologized anthropology articles of all time, vying with horace miners body ritual among the nacirema. Fran caldwell, a young, idealistic drama teacher in her first high school job, announces that.
Laura bohannan1966 in her story shakespeare in the bush describes a tribe called tiv. Perhaps laura bohannans essay shakespeare in the bush might be. Summary of shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan. An american anthropologist set out to study the tiv of west africa and was taught the true meaning of hamlet. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book will surprise readers whose knowledge of the first lady comes from cautious media interviews and speeches. Aug 12, 2014 shakespeare in the bush daron acemoglu and james robinson though it is a bit of a distraction from the theme of state formation, we cant mention the tiv and the work of paul and laura bohannon without mentioning laura bohannons wonderful story published in 1966 shakespeare in the bush. Laura bohannan describes her attempt to tell the classic story of hamlet to tiv elders in west africa. A dramatic reading of shakespeare in the bush duration.
In her essay shakespeare in the bush, laura bohannan attempts to illustrate whether there is a universal understanding through her experience of sharing hamlet with the tiv in west africa. Bohannans view of cultural interpretations are all cultures basically same or can humans be so different that there is no point of comprehension among them. The anecdote shakespeare in the bush, by laura bohannan, is about her trip to tiv tribe in nigeria, west africa who tales hamlet to nigerians living the african bush. Cupid reads shakespeare in the bush, a funny narrative of an american anthropologist traveling to africa and discovering the true meaning of hamlet. She intends to use shakespeares writing to prove that the content within hamlet is universal and can be applied in.
Sep, 2017 alexis johnson emic, etic, and shakespeare in the bush. Laura bohannan, shakeaspeare in the bush,natural history, augustseptember, 1966. The understanding that ghost are omens, the fast union of a younger brother to his deceased brothers wife is expected, chief must have many wives, omens cannot talk, the idea of witch craft, age mates must avenge murder. She brings with her copy of shakespears hamlet to prove to an english colleage that the points therein are universal and can, with a little help explaining certain custums, be. An analysis of laura bohannans shakespeare in the bush. Pdf shakespeare in the bush by laura bohannan abhijit. The anecdote shakespeare in the bush, by laura bohannan, is about her trip to tiv tribe in nigeria. Shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan, arranging a. This is the model of culture that anthropologist laura bohannan took with her when she went to visit the tiv. By laura bohannan just before i left oxford for the tiv in west africa, conversation turned to the season at stratford. As she explains in shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan.
Shakespeare in the bush human dimensions of organizations. Emic, etic and shakespeare in the bush sociology of culture. Shakespeare in the bush essay example topics and well. Each and every one of us has the responsibility to stop this suffering caused by malaria because every life in every land matters and all of us can do something to help. Still mulling over the subject, ray later entertains an objection to the plot that evokes the story about embedded cultural norms that laura bohannan recounts in her story of fieldwork with the west african tiv tribe, shakespeare in the bush 1966. Shakespeare in the bush laura bohannan laura bohannan ts a professor of an thropotogy atthe university of minos, at chicago.
First published in 1971, reading this essay in high school really turned me on to anthropology. This article was written by laura bohannan after she went on a visit to the african bush. Taking into account bohannans essay shakespeare in the bush 1966, this article intends to discuss the intrinsic relationship between language and culture through the lenses of literary translation. Jan 31, 2012 the general argument made by laura bohannan in her work shakespeare in the bush is that due to the cultural differences of many societies there are multiple interpretations to any piece of work.