2. Read the background material about Rosalynde by Evan Thomas and the introductory material about As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Read the excerpt from Shakespeare’s play. Then answer the question. Rosalynde is a pastoral novel written by Evan Thomas and first published in 1590. The story begins when Sir John of Bordeau, a very wealthy knight, dies and leaves his estate divided equally among three sons. One of the sons, Saladyne, the older brother, steals all of the estate from the other two brothers and is particularly cruel to his brother Rosader. In fact, Saladyne forces Rosader into servitude for two or three years and makes his life miserable. The brothers share a deep animosity toward one another and the plotline follows Saladyne’s efforts to harm his brother. Rosader evades his brother’s efforts and ends up falling in love. This moves the focus of the plot to Rosader’s romance with Rosalynde, a young woman who is also dealing with family problems. A series of adventures occurs in which the brothers actually come to each other’s rescue and eventually even marry their true loves in a shared wedding.
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy written by William Shakespeare. The story begins with a lively argument between two brothers, Oliver and Orlando, which provides a brief summary of their past and the nature of their hostile relationship. From this point forward, the events and character interactions are very similar to those in Rosalynde, but Shakespeare adds a humorous twist to the intrigues and complications of the story. Read the excerpt from the opening of the play As You Like It, in which the older brother, Oliver, confronts his younger brother Orlando.
excerpt from As You Like It
by William Shakespeare

OLIVER: Know you where you are, sir?
ORLANDO: O, sir, very well; here in your orchard.
OLIVER: Know you before whom, sir?
ORLANDO: Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know
you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle
condition of blood, you should so know me. The
courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that
you are the first-born; but the same tradition
takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers
betwixt us: I have as much of my father in me as
you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is
nearer to his reverence.
OLIVER: What, boy!
ORLANDO: Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
OLIVER: Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?
ORLANDO: I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir
Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice
a villain that says such a father begot villains.
Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand
from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy
tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself.
ADAM: Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's
remembrance, be at accord.
OLIVER: Let me go, I say.
ORLANDO: I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My
father charged you in his will to give me good
education: you have trained me like a peasant,
obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like
qualities. The spirit of my father grows strong in
me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow
me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or
give me the poor allottery my father left me by
testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.
OLIVER: And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is spent?
Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled
with you; you shall have some part of your will: I
pray you, leave me.
ORLANDO: I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good.
OLIVER: Get you with him, you old dog.
ADAM: Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my
teeth in your service. God be with my old master!
he would not have spoke such a word.
Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM
What details does Shakespeare borrow from Rosalynde in this excerpt from As You Like It? How does Shakespeare transform elements of Rosalynde in the opening of his comedy? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be one or two complete paragraphs.

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