Teacher's Guide to Studying Shakespeare
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by Arthea Reed, Ph.D.
Before Reading the Play
Most of us who love Shakespeare and Shakespearean drama are familiar with his plots, his characters, the historical background of each play, the Elizabethan theater, his dramatic conceits….It can be said that the better one is acquainted with Shakespeare’s plays, the more likely one is to enjoy them. Before asking students to delve into Shakespeare, it is important to help them gain the knowledge they need to enjoy the plays. (Note: The "Prefatory Remarks," "Introduction" and "Suggested References" in each Signet Classic Shakespeare are invaluable aids in the delving process.)
Prereading Activities:
- Assign each student to an investigative group: Shakespeare the man,
Shakespeare the playwright, Shakespeare’s theater, Shakespeare’s
England, the historical background of the play, the setting of the play.
After the groups have completed their research, have them present the results. - Shakespeare’s plays can be divided broadly into comedies and tragedies.
Since the tragedies frequently have comic elements and the comedies tragic,
divide the class into two groups, one to investigate Elizabethan tragedy,
the other to investigate Elizabethan comedy. Discuss the groups’ findings;
list elements on chart paper for future reference.
- Discuss the organization and dramatic techniques of Shakespearean
drama: five acts divided into scenes; rising action, climax and falling action,
chorus, prologue, soliloquy, asides, blank verse, use of mistaken identity,
characters as foils, multiple meanings of words…
- List characters on chart paper or the board (a list of characters
is found at the beginning of each Signet Classic edition). Briefly discuss
each, placing him/her within the context of the play (historic; social; comic
or tragic; foil…). Discuss the character each student might like to portray.
- Examine the vocabulary. Have students glance through the footnotes
in the Signet Classic edition and identify unfamiliar words. Make a list of
vocabulary by scene and act. Have each student look up at least one work to
determine its definition and derivation. Pronounce the word, its definition
and derivation.
- Tell the story to the class. Is you are a good storyteller, here’s your chance to shine. Shakespeare’s tales are wonderful to tell. Be sure to help students recall his organizational and dramatic techniques.
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