Fry's Planet Word - Series 1 Ep. 5 - The Power and the Glory

Episode Info

Synopsis

"Storytelling has been with us as long as language itself. As a species we love to tell our stories and this desire to both entertain and explain has resulted in the flowering of language to describe every aspect of the human condition. Eschewing any historical or thematic structure Stephen celebrates what makes a good story , why some writers just do it better and what makes him shiver with joy or conversely shudder with horror. From Homer’s epic to Joyce’s modern day reinvention with Ulysses, taking in Shakespeare , PG Wodehouse, Tolkien , Orwell, Auden , Bob Dylan and even the mangled web of words that became known as Birtspeak Stephen uncovers why certain words can make us laugh, cry or tear our hair out. Talking to storytelling gurus like screenwriter William Goldman and modern day interpreters of classics like Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson he looks at how character and plot are interwoven and how any schema to create the perfect story are doomed.

See all available episodes (5)

Episode Info:

Release:

2011

Running Time:

60 min

Certificate:

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children

Availability:

• Watch online: Unavailable
• Download: Unavailable

Genre:

• Documentary

Cast:

• Stephen Fry

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• In this first episode Stephen seeks to uncover the origins of human language.

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• What is it that defines us?

  Identity Series 1 - Ep. 2

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• This programme looks at the ways language is used and abused.

  Use & Abuse Series 1 - Ep. 3

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• In this programme, Stephen Fry explores ‘The Written Word’.

  Spreading The Word Series 1 - Ep. 4

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