Here is the final exercise in the series, ‘Shakespeare 101’, my preferred way to kick off a unit of Shakespeare in the Drama or English classroom.  This exercise (number 4 in the series) is a good one for reminding students that when characters speak they have an intention, something they need or want, usually from … Continue reading Hook, Probe, Deflect: Shakespeare 101

Here is Exercise 3 in the series, ‘Shakespeare 101’, my preferred way to kick off a unit of Shakespeare in the Drama or English classroom.  Shakespeare’s blank verse includes 10 syllables per line arranged in iambic pentameter. What happens when this rhythm is disrupted? It happens more than you’d think and is a neon sign … Continue reading Interrupting Lines: Shakespeare 101

Today continues the series ‘Shakespeare 101’, my preferred way to kick off a unit of Shakespeare in the Drama or English classroom.  Exercise 2: ‘Words as Weapons’ is an adaptation of The Globe Theatre’s exercise of the same title. I’ve shortened it here in the interests of time in the classroom.  You can find the … Continue reading Words as Weapons: Shakespeare 101

Shakespeare’s Classroom at King Edward VI SchoolTaken by Amy Perry in July, 2013. How we begin a new unit of Shakespeare, in the rehearsal room, the Drama classroom or in the English classroom, can set the tone for the whole unit. So often students get caught up in a preconceived notion that Shakespeare is poetry, … Continue reading Thought Experiment: Shakespeare 101