Hughes-BlaumYALitLens1

back to personal page. Kelsey Hughes-Blaum Dr. Sherry Literature for Young Adults Transmedial: // King of Shadows // In her story // King of Shadows, // Susan Cooper provides all of the elements that are essential in creating literature that engages today’s young adult audience//. King of Shadows // not only chronicles Nathan Field’s suspicious journey back to 1599, but allows for its young readers to be exposed to the work of Shakespeare, Elizabethan history, and the mechanics of theatre. Although Cooper’s book already allows for an enriching, yet enjoyable, learning experience, // King of Shadows // could create even more of an impact if it were to come to life through the medium of theatre. If // King of Shadows // was performed as a play, readers would be able to experience it not only from a linguistic perspective, but from a visual standpoint as well. Therefore, through the use of theatre as a medium more learning styles are catered to. If a large performance is out of the question, this idea can be utilized effectively on a smaller scale. For example, if I were to teach // King of Shadows // in my own (future) classroom, I would split the class into groups and provide them each with a key scene from the story. Each group would be in charge of mastering their given roles, creating a set that corresponds to their scene, and acting it out for the rest of the class. Exploring // King of Shadows // through this lens allows for students to actively engage in the material. In addition, this activity would reinforce key aspects of the text by providing a visual representation for the students. This visual representation would have significance in that the students would have to combine Cooper’s descriptions of setting and character with their own creative interpretations. Scene selection plays a large role in the insight this transmediation would allow. I would select the scene that takes place in chapter two when Nat summarizes some of the rising action in // A Midsummer Night’s Dream // and then performs some of his role as Puck because it allows insight into the work of Shakespeare, as well as the execution of the lines (Cooper 28). I would also focus on scenes that illustrate how theatre operated in Elizabethan times, such as in chapter six when Cooper describes all of the different preparations that took place prior to preforming (tumbling practice, fencing practice, etc.) (Cooper 50-58). Another key attribute of the text that I feel should be highlighted is Cooper’s portrayal of London in 1599. One scene that thoroughly covers Nat’s initial experience with Elizabethan London is in chapter four when he is describing the sounds and smells of the crowded streets (Cooper 38-40). Acting out these scenes can help students to grasp a better understanding of the characters and action, as well as the historical aspects as well. Engaging in // King of Shadows // as a theatrical performance would allow for a more dynamic experience. However, the transmediation from text to theatre could be quite challenging. First of all, putting on a performance takes a lot more work than simply reading a story. Casting, time, budget, and location would all need to be considered. However, I feel that putting in extra effort to ensure student learning, comprehension, and engagement would be worth it in the end.