Meno by Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett

MAS meno_1303

Meno (Ancient Greek: ?????) is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato. Written in the Socratic dialectic style, it attempts to determine the definition of virtue, or arete, meaning in this case virtue in general, rather than particular virtues, such as justice or temperance. The goal is a common definition that applies equally to all particular virtues. Socrates moves the discussion past the philosophical confusion, or aporia, created by Meno’s paradox (aka the learner’s paradox) with the introduction of new Platonic ideas: the theory of knowledge as recollection, anamnesis, and in the final lines a movement towards Platonic idealism.. (Introduction by Wikipedia)

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Run time: 2 hours, 24 minutes

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1 – Meno

2 – On the Ideas of Plato

3 – Part 1 of the Dialogs of Meno

4 – Part 2 of the Dialogs of Meno

Henry V by William Shakespeare

Queen Katherine of France by Laura T. Alma-Tadema
Queen Katherine of France by Laura T. Alma-Tadema

After the turmoil and uncertainty of Henry IV a new era appears to dawn for England with the accession of the eponymous Henry V. In this sunny pageant Chorus guides us along Henry’s glittering carpet ride of success as the new king completes his transformation from rebellious wastrel to a truly regal potentate. Of course, there is an underlying feeling that the good times won’t last, and this is all the more reason to enjoy the Indian summer before the protracted and bitter fall of the house of Lancaster. (Introduction by Algy Pug for Librivox)

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Run time: 3 hours, 4 minutes

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Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5

The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare

MAS Macbeth_by_Thomas_Beach
Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is considered one of his darkest and most powerful tragedies. Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corroding psychological and political effects produced when its protagonist, the Scottish lord Macbeth, chooses evil as the way to fulfill his ambition for power. He commits regicide to become king and then furthers his moral descent with a reign of murderous terror to stay in power, eventually plunging the country into civil war. In the end, he loses everything that gives meaning and purpose to his life before losing his life itself. (Summary by Wikipedia)
Lady Macbeth by Cattermole
Lady Macbeth by Cattermole

Hamlet by Shakespeare, simplified for school children and baffled adults

Benjamin_West_-_Hamlet-_Act_IV,_Scene_V_(Ophelia_Before_the_King_and_Queen)_-_Google_Art_Project

Hamlet by Shakespeare, simplified for school children?by Shakespeare Lynch Multimedia is performed by Michael Matus.

Description from iTunes:

Shakespeare made easier for schoolchildren and baffled adults with an easy to understand narrative adaptation and parallel text with the original. Why adapt Shakespeare? Well, it’s hard! A lot of actors in Shakespeare productions can act it, confusing audiences. A lot of teachers can’t teach it, confusing pupils. A lot of parents lack confidence helping with homework. This is for students of all ages and parents, too. The purpose is to make Shakespeare comprehensible and accessible. Shakespeare is the greatest of writers, for that reason everyone must attempt to grasp his genius. Read the original first and then consult this adaptation to help you. Use this as an aid. The poetry of the original cannot be matched. The action of Book One, Chapter 1 corresponds with Act One, Scene 1, (for the podcasts Episode 1 is 1-1) and so on This recording of Hamlet is read by Michael Matus, who has acted extensively with the RSC and will be appearing at the Globe in London during the Summer 2008 season.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Summary: Written around the middle of his career, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s great festive comedies. The men are back from the war, and everyone is ready for romance. The dashing young Claudio falls for Hero, the daughter of Leonato, governor of Messina, and his friend Don Pedro helps him secure her affection. These youthful lovers are contrasted with the more experienced (and more cynical) Benedick and Beatrice, who have to be tricked into falling in love. Don Pedro’s brother, Don John, provides the intrigue, and the dimwitted constable Dogberry provides the laughs. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett for Librivox)

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Click here to see downloadable CurrClick materials which could be used in a study of Shakespeare. Clicking this link will take you away from My Audio School.

Total running time: 2 hours, 17 minutes

Dramatis Personae

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5


The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Brutus and the Ghost of Caesar, copperplate engraving by Edward Scriven from a painting by Richard Westall, 1802, public domain image

Summary: William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, based on true events, concerns the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, his assassination in 44 BC, and its immediate aftermath. Probably written in 1599 and among the first of Shakespeare’s plays to be performed at the Globe Theater, Julius Caesar is one of his best-known dramas and has received innumerable performances throughout the centuries. (Summary by Laurie Anne Walden after Wikipedia)

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Total running time:  2 hours, 30 minutes

Dramatis Personae

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Jean-Baptiste Faure as Hamlet, painting by Edouard Manet, public domain image

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To listen, click play in the box below or click on the chapter links.

Summary from Librivox: Hamlet is commonly regarded as one of the greatest plays ever written. Drawing on Danish chronicles and the Elizabethan vogue for revenge tragedy, Shakespeare created a play that is at once a philosophic treatise, a family drama, and a supernatural thriller. In the wake of his father’s death, Prince Hamlet finds that his Uncle Claudius has swiftly taken the throne and married his mother, Queen Gertrude. The ghost of the dead king then appears and charges Claudius with ‘murder most foul.’ Hamlet is called to revenge his father’s death: but will he be able to act before it is too late?

Hamlet by Alfons Mucha, public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

Dramatis Personae – 00:02:42

Act 1 – 00:51:10

Act 2 – 00:41:11

Hamlet and the Gravediggers by Pascal Adolphe Jean Dagnan-Bouveret, 1883, public domain image

Act 3 – 00:55:03

Act 4 – 00:39:44

Act 5 – 00:43:30

Shakespeare Radio Theater

Shakespeare, The Queen in Hamlet, Abbey


Click here to see downloadable CurrClick materials which could be used in a study of Shakespeare. Clicking this link will take you away from My Audio School.

Hamlet part 1, presented by Columbia Workshop

Hamlet part 2, presented by Columbia Workshop


Juliet by Philip H. Calderon

Orson Welles in the final scene from Romeo and Juliet

As You Like It presented by Columbia Workshop

Speeches from Richard II

Soliloquy from Richard III

Juliet by Waterhouse

Scene from King Lear

Scene from Henry V

Twelfth Night with Orson Welles

Mister Shakespeare on Favorite Story

Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare

Hamlet Playscene by Harold Copping

Download as a zipped file

Internet archive page

Subscribe in iTunes

Click here to see downloadable CurrClick materials which could be used in a study of Shakespeare. Clicking this link will take you away from My Audio School.

To hear this book, click on the chapter links in this post or click play in the box below.

To read this book yourself, click here.

Miranda, The Tempest by JW Waterhouse

00 – Preface

01 – The Tempest

02 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

03 – Winter’s Tale

04 – Much Ado About Nothing

Dogberry examining Conrade and Borachio from Much Ado about Nothing

05 – As You Like It

06 – Two Gentlemen of Verona

07 – Merchant of Venice

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Shakespeare's Shylock by Charles Buchel

08 – Cymbeline

09 – King Lear

10 – Macbeth

11 – All’s Well That Ends Well

12 – Taming of the Shrew

13 – Comedy of Errors

Juliet by JW Waterhouse

14 – Measure for Measure

15 – Twelfth Night

16 – Timon of Athens

17 – Romeo and Juliet

18 – Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Ophelia by JW Waterhouse

19 – Othello

20 – Pericles, Prince of Tyre

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