I created this slideshow for my Short Stories class. It shows some adaptations that have been created for Oscar Wilde's short story, "The Nightingale and the Rose". Please enjoy!
2. About Wilde
Born: October 16, 1854
Family and relations:
- William and Jane
- Constance Lloyd – married in 1884
- Lord Alfred Douglas – affair in 1891
Work History
- Woman’s World magazine
- Writing
Arrested in 1895
Died: November 30, 1900
1881 Lecture Tours
First works – Poems in 1881
Short Stories
- Happy Prince and Other Tales 1888
- The House of Pomegranates 1892
Novel - The Picture of Dorian Gray 1890
Plays
- A Woman of No Importance 1893
- An Ideal Husband 1895
- The Importance of Being Earnest 1895
3. The Nightingale
and The Rose “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” in 1888
Story Summary
Characters
Student
Young Woman
Nightingale
Themes
Love
Knowledge
Sacrifice and Death
Point of View
Other Animals
Rose Bushes
4. Style
Morbid
“So the Nightingale pressed closer against the
thorn, and the thorn touched her heart, and a
fierce pang of pain shot through her. Bitter,
bitter was the pain, and wilder and wilder grew
her song, for she sang of the Love that is
perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in
the tomb.”
Paradox
“She would not sacrifice herself for others. She
thinks merely of music, and everybody knows
that the arts are selfish.”
“'What a silly thing Love is,' said the Student as
he walked away. 'It is not half as useful as Logic,
for it does not prove anything, and it is always
telling one of things that are not going to
happen, and making one believe things that are
not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as
in this age to be practical is everything, I shall
go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.‘”
Repetition
“Give me a red rose.”
“But the tree shook its head”
The Evil in Human Nature
“'I am afraid it will not go with
my dress,' she answered; 'and,
besides, the Chamberlain's
nephew has sent me some real
jewels, and everybody knows
that jewels cost far more than
flowers.‘”
5. Ballet Adaptation
Created by Christopher Wheeldon
Premiered on June 8, 2007 at the
New York State Theater
Original Cast starred Wendy Weldon
as the Nightingale
Difficult to create because story is
known for dialogue
http://videos.nymag.com/video/Ba
ckstage-New-York-City-
Ballet;Theater#c=YFC8Z2BWLC36F3P
N&t=Backstage:%20New%20York%20C
ity%20Ballet
6. Opera Adaptation
Composed by Elena Firsova
Premiered July 8, 1994 at Almeida
Theatre
Mash up of Wilde’s story and
Christina Rossetti’s poems
Remember me, when I am gone
away…
Sleep, unforgotten sorrow, sleep
awhile…
So tired am I, so weary of to-day…
Time flies, hope flags, life piles a
wearied wing
Opera Duration: 80-90 Minutes
