【10】Hamlet—哈姆雷特

Dana Gioia

Any effective actor or public speakerlearns how to infuse language with emotion. The same words spoken withdifferent emotional tones have a very different effect on the listener.

In learning to recite poetry, you need tochoose the emotion or emotions you want to convey. Listen to these threedifferent versions of a few famous lines from William Shakespeare's Hamlet. First, you'll hear actor JamesEarl Jones, then Michael York, and finally Mel Gibson.

James Earl Jones

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageousfortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them.

Michael York

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageousfortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them.

Mel Gibson

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageousfortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them.

Dana Gioia

Notice how different the same words soundedin each version. Actors do the same thing as singers. They cover their wordswith emotion. Sometimes you'll want to cover a single line, sometimes theentire poem.