Let's Shake Up Shakespeare!

In a classroom where critical thinking is cherished and answers are never really wrong, one can argue that there really is no right way to interpret Shakespeare’s works. In terms of developing a 21^st Century learner, we should teach our children that almost everything is open to interpretation, and the meaning of a story is not written by the author but rather created by the reader.

To Construct or Not to Construct, That is the Question

Many teachers are finding success in taking a social-constructivist approach to teaching Shakespeare; where learners, not the teacher, develop their own meaning of the story based on how the text relates to their own lives. In other words, they are not trying to figure out what the text meant to Shakespeare, but rather what the text means to them. Students are able to use modern-day realities and their own personal life experiences to take a more active role in reading, rather than listening passively to a lecture.

 

 

Activities to try with your class:

• Break up scenes amongst small groups in your classroom and allow pupils to act out their own version of the scene using modern characters (imaginary or real).

• Analyze Hollywood’s versions of the classics such as “Ten Things I Hate About You” (Taming of the Shrew) and “Romeo Must Die” (Romeo and Juliet). Your class can write editorial reviews of these adaptations, drawing upon comparisons between the text and the film.

• Search for unlikely connections between traditional Shakespearean theatre and today’s television and film “theatre”. (Think: The Sixth Sense and Hamlet: both boys talk to their dead fathers)

To Thine Own Words Be True

Shakespeare’s distinctive vocabulary is often the most challenging aspect of dissecting his works. The words are often outdated and the prepositional phrases are juxtaposed, which can make deciphering almost impossible for young readers. If readers are able to make sense of the individual words and phrases, they are more likely to understand, and hopefully enjoy, what they are reading.

Activities to try with your class:

• Create a “modern dictionary” in which Shakespearean words are translated into modern kid/ teenager friendly language. Example: The word adieu can be translated as “see ya later”. Remember that 400 years from now, many of our commonly used phrases will be incomprehensible.

• Play around with root words and suffixes like _eth and change modern words into Shakespearean words. Example: May I drinketh some water?

• Write and speak in his style by reversing the placement of the nouns and verbs and/or prepositional phrase. Example: To the bathroom, may I go? Challenge: Use only iambic pentameter!

• Omit the words do, does, did or done when speaking and writing. Example: Where live you?

What Art Thou Making?

Make sense of Shakespeare by making art! Shakespeare is well known for his extensive use of figurative language and visual imagery in his works. Therefore, allowing learners to turn words into masterpieces can lead to valuable learning experiences. Using the arts as form of literary analysis can help alleviate stress for those who struggle with reading and writing. Moreover, allowing students to use an ulterior mode of comprehension, such as visual arts, drama, dance, or music can help build creativity while helping them to make sense of what they are reading.

Activities to try with your class:

• Illustrate an inspirational quote from one of Shakespeare’s famous works and hang it around the school!

• Create a mask or portrait of what a character might look like (HINT: Don't allow them to choose a character that has been used in a film).

• Choose a scene and build a stage background or diorama to match.

• Add some music to your art: turn a Shakespearean sonnet into a music/rap video.

• Have a Shakespearean festival at school and invite everyone, including parents, to dress like Shakespeare or his characters.

• Host a news show and have your class to interview William Shakespeare himself.

Related Lessons:

William Shakespeare PowerPoint

This is a simple 8-page PowerPoint presentation that would make a great introduction to the world of William Shakespeare. It contains vivid pictures of the Elizabethan Era and reviews the types of writing (plays, sonnets, comedies, tragedies) created by Shakespeare. This could also be used as a review or as a mentor text before assigning pupils the task of creating their own presentation.

Shakespeare Crossword

This is a fun crossword puzzle for the upper grades. It can be given as homework or as a review before a test. It is more fun than simply requiring learners to answer a bunch of questions about what they have learned!

Experiencing Romeo and Juliet

In this 9^th grade mini-unit plan, use technology and writing to compare the 1996 film version of Romeo and Juliet with the film West Side Story. Also, compare and contrast characters, songs and style. The lesson plan also encourages pupils to create a presentation about their findings, rather than compiling a traditional report.