National Endowment for the Humanities
Hamlet and the Elizabethan Revenge Ethic in Text and Film
Young scholars research the social context of Elizabethan England for Shakespeare's "Hamlet". They identify cultural influences on the play focusing on the theme of revenge and then analyze and compare film interpretations of the play.
Shakespeare Globe Trust
Fact Sheet: Actors
Back in Shakespeare's time, the public considered actors unruly, unlike the prestige they enjoy today. An informative handout outlines more about the acting profession in London during the Elizabethan era. Pupils discover how actors...
Shakespeare Globe Trust
Fact Sheet: Playhouses
Laborers used common materials to build London's first performance venues, including sticks, plaster, and ... hair? Using an informational handout, scholars learn about the construction of different types of playhouses where actors...
Shakespeare Uncovered
All the Globe’s a Stage: Shakespeare’s Theatre
“All the world’s a stage,” exclaims Jaques in As You Like It, but it is the structure of the Globe stage and how that structure influenced Shakespeare’s plays that is the focus of an on-line research project. Class members visit a series...
Curated OER
Hamlet and the Elizabethan Revenge Ethic in Text and Film
Students discover how Shakespeare's play interprets Elizabethan attitudes toward revenge, as reflected in the structure of the Elizabethan revenge tragedy, one of the most popular forms of drama of that era. Students perform certain...
Curated OER
Macbethan Art
Students review and reproduce an article of Elizabethan styled clothing as a part of an analysis of Shakespeare's Macbeth. In this Elizabethan art activity, students discuss the fashion of the Elizabethan era and research it online....
Shakespeare Globe Trust
Fact Sheet: The First Globe
Where did actors perform plays during Shakespeare's era? Using the handout, pupils learn about London's historical Globe Theatre and discover which of Shakespeare's plays actors performed there. Scholars also explore the cause of the...
Curated OER
Romeo and Juliet Mix-It-Up
High schoolers identify themes in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by analyzing the film or text. In this tolerance lesson plan, students create their own Elizabethan era terms related to interacting with different social groups. In...
Curated OER
Acting in Marriage-Is It on Stage or Off?
Learners compare views of marriage in Macbeth and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In this comparative literature instructional activity, students discuss and debate the marriages of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth Brick and...
Curated OER
Julius Caesar Oral Report
Students conduct research on William Shakespeare and Julius Caesar. They research and explore various websites, complete graphic organizers, and develop a research paper.
Curated OER
Literature: It's a Mad, Mad Macbeth
Students determine how the themes expressed in Macbeth are also applicable to contemporary society. They complete a series of written assignments demonstrating their comprehension of theme, content, and interpretation of the play....
Curated OER
So Much Can Happen in a Night!
Tenth graders explore Shakespearean comedy. They read and discuss A Midsummer Night's Dream and create a soundtrack, complete with CD cover, for the play.
Northern Virginia Community College
Introduction to Theatre: The Elizabethan Stage
This site mainly discusses the Elizabethan Theatres. It gives statistics about the various theatres of that time period, and provides interesting information about them. Some information on William Shakespeare is also provided.
Shakespeare Online
Shakespeare Online: History of Theatres
This site contains an in-depth history of the Elizabethan Theatre. It contains sections that are specifically about the Rose, Swan, and Globe Theatres.
PBS
Pbs: Shakespeare's London
Discover London as it was during the time of Shakespeare, a small world, but very ethnically mixed. This article discusses the "uneasy mix of cultures" found in the city around 1600.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Julius Caesar
This extensive site features resources for teaching William Shakespeare's history play Julius Caesar. Includes lesson plans and other teaching resources.
British Library
British Library: Teaching Resources: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Dreams, Illusion and Doubling
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare explores and reflects upon Elizabethan debates around the nature of dreams. These activities revolve around how the structure, characters and themes in A Midsummer Night's Dream reflect this...
University of Victoria (Canada)
Internet Shakespeare Editions: The Catholics Under Elizabeth
Article examines the treatment of Catholics during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Renaissance for Kids: Northern Renaissance
Read about how the Renaissance played out in European countries outside of Italy. Users can follow links to further information on the Elizabethan Era, William Shakespeare, the Reformation, and other connected topics.