With this play which was first produced in 1960 Pinter became a well- known and admired dramatist. It is still considered one of his finest plays. It is the story of three character, Davies, an elderly wanderer who has been saved by the middle- aged Aston and brought into the home he shares with his brother Mick. The three characters in the course of the play talk at length and reveal their own respective characters. There is a sense of menace and threat in the relationships- and there is much focusing on trivialities of everyday life. The play in short is Pinteresque though it static quality, absurdity and illogic make it somewhat difficult to get a hold on.

This gripping and passionate tale of an Australian family is a natural for audio presentation, and Mary Woods gives a worthy rendering. The daunting variety of characters would challenge any reader, but after floundering briefly in the myriad distinctive voices, Woods hits her stride with distinction. As the plot takes the listener from the Australian outback to the Papal court, Woods brings to life characters ranging from loutish Luke O'Neill to single-minded Meggie Cleary to urbane Vittorio Scarbanza di Contini-Verchese, characters who speak not only with emotion, but also with believable accents.

The following book was designed to help students get the utmost of Shakespeare's work.The plots  summaryof the plays summary is presented with acts and scenes  helping the student learn the names of the characters. The next section describes the characters more fully and places them within the scenes. A discussion of both themes and style is followed by the placement in its historical context. The critical overview shares what critics have said about the work; and a collection of essays provide criticism written by Shakespeare scholars. Each entry ends with a list of sources and suggested further reading. Inset boxes include information about media adaptations, suggestions to "compare and contrast," and "Topics for Further Study." Black and white illustrations, reproductions of paintings of scenes, and some photographs of present-day actors in scenes from the plays are also in the text. Each volume ends with the same two-page glossary and a cumulative index to major themes and characters. This provides some help especially for those students for whom reading Shakespeare is a challenge because of their reading skills. It will help them sort out characters and plot in a more sophisticated way than a reference written for a younger audience.

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.
Packed with action and vivid portrayal of human relationships, Shakespeare's Macbeth traces the bloody climb to power and tragic ruin of a fate-plagued king. Count on CliffNotes on Macbeth to carry you through the rise and fall of a cast of characters that includes a cruel and ambitious warrior, his wicked wife, and a trio of witches who have wormed their way into audiences' hearts since William Shakespeare first presented their prophecies about 300 years ago.
Show your classmates – and your grade-granting teacher – that you're in the know with English literature. You can't miss with scene summaries, plot explorations, language simplification, and insights into the author's life and times. Other features that help you study include

    * A brief synopsis of the play
    * A character map to help you see relationships among the characters
    * Critical essays on major themes and stage productions
    * An interactive quiz to test your knowledge
    * Essay topics and practice projects

The Tempest (Cliffs Notes) by Sheri Metzger
Product Description
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

In CliffsNotes on The Tempest, you follow the famous story of Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Through magic, Prospero conjures up a storm that brings a ship full of his enemies to the island on which he and Miranda live. What follows is Shakespeare's comic masterpiece that's full of intrigue and romance.

Summaries and commentaries lead you, act by act, through this Shakespearean classic, and critical essays give you insight into the play as a political romance. Other features that help you study include

• Character analyses of the main characters
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• A section on the life and background of William Shakespeare
• A review section that tests your knowledge
• A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.