Shakespeare, an introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Shakespeare, an introduction

William Shakespeare, the most famous writer of them all. In this series of lessons we are going to introduce you to the Bard and you will perform a scene from one of his plays.

Shakespeare's plays

Now we are going to watch some summaries of Shakespeare's plays to give you an idea of the kind of stories he wrote.

00:59

When and where was Shakespeare born?

1. 1564 in London
2. 1546 in Stratford upon Avon
3. 1564 in Stratford Upon Avon
4. 1546 in London

01:22

What did the Globe look like?

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

02:30

Why was it important to depict Richard III in a negative way?

1. He was much nicer than the Tudors who came after him.
2. In order to show what really happened.
3. It was well-known that Queen Elizabeth did not like him.
4. Because he was killed by Elizabeth's grandfather.

03:42

Why was it important for the plays that they could be acted indoors?

1. The players and audience preferred it.
2. They could be performed in winter.
3. They could use special effects.
4. King James did not like low temperatures.

04:33

Finish this sentence:
Words are used to portray ......

1. scenes that are too horrific to show on stage.
2. things you cannot show on stage.
3. many historical scenes.
4. the writer's ideas.

06:53

What is an iambic pentameter?

1. Ten syllables with the stress on the odd syllables.
2. Ten syllables with the stress on the even syllables.
3. Five syllables with the stress on every syllable.
4. Five syllables with alternating stress.

00:33

What happens at the beginning of the play?

1. Hamlet's father dies.
2. Hamlet sees the ghost of his mother.
3. Hamlet becomes king of Denmark.
4. Soldiers see the ghost of the old king.

01:07

Which sentence is not true?

1. Hamlet's uncle marries Hamlet's mother.
2. Hamlet is very sad about his father's death.
3. Hamlet loves Ophelia.
4. Polonius believes Hamlet loves Ophelia.

02:17

What did Hamlet not say?

1. He might have to act like a crazy man.
2. He would like to see Claudius' reaction to the play.
3. He loved Ophelia more than anything.
4. The Ghost might be lying.

03:01

What does Hamlet think about Claudius' reaction?

1. It is proof that Claudius killed his brother.
2. It shows him that Claudius really loves his brother's wife.
3. It is proof that Claudius hated his brother.
4. It shows that Claudius really had poison.

03:53

Why does Hamlet kill Polonius?

1. Because he has told him not to date Ophelia.
2. Because he is angry with him.
3. Because he thinks it is the king.
4. Because his mother tells him to.

04:48

What is in the letter that Claudius has given to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

1. You must kill the bearer of this letter
2. You must kill Hamlet
3. Many loving regards
4. Try to help Hamlet

05:41

Why did Ophelia become mad?

1. She was shocked by Hamlet's rejection
2. She missed her brother Laertes
3. She was sad because of her father
4. It was a disease that ran in the family.

07:52

Who is alive at the end of the play?

1. Hamlet
2. Claudius
3. Laertes
4. Horatio

More plays by Shakespeare

(summaries on Spark Notes)

Macbeth; Othello; King Lear; Julius Caesar; A midsummernight's dream; The Tempest

00:39

What does the prince say?

1. The prince will hear their arguments in a court of law
2. There will be a fight between the families to decide the dispute
3. The heads of the families will be killed if there is another fight
4. They must stop fighting or pay a fine

01:35

Why does Benvolio say they should crash the party?

1. So that Romeo can see Rosaline
2. So that Romeo can see Juliet
3. So that Romeo can compare Rosaline to other girls
4. So that Romeo can compare Juliet to other girls

02:34

Which person wants to fight?

1. Romeo
2. Juliet
3. Montague
4. Tybalt

03:09

Why does Friar Lawrence decide to marry Romeo and Juliet?

1. He thinks they are already quite old
2. He loves a romantic story
3. He can see that they are in love
4. He thinks it will bring peace

04:08

Why is Romeo banished?

1. Because he married Juliet
2. Because he killed Tybalt
3. Because he killed Benvolio
4. Because he killed Mercutio

05:14

Why does Juliet want to commit suicide?

1. Because she can't marry Romeo
2. Because she has to marry Paris
3. Because her father hit her
4. Because she was in love with Friar Lawrence

06:38

What does Balthasar tell Romeo?

1. Juliet is going to marry Paris
2. Juliet and Friar Lawrence have thought of a clever plan
3. He can come back to Verona
4. Juliet is dead

07:51

How does Romeo die?

1. He takes poison
2. He is killed by Paris
3. He throws himself on the sword
4. He has a heart attack

Shakespeare Assignment

You are going to perform a scene from a Shakespeare play and perform it in class or record it in a short movie. There are two parts to this assignment: a poster and a short movie.

1 Make a poster

You will make a poster about a Shakespeare play, of course the poster is of the play which includes the scene you are going to perform. Include the following information in your poster:

• Which type of play is it (tragedy, comedy)

• Where is it set?

• How many characters are there? What are they like? (male, female, particular looks?)

• Ratings for the level of violence, dressing up as the opposite sex, etc.

• Describe what the scene is about and how it fits into the play (very succinctly).

• Please be creative i.e. surprise me!

2 Perform a scene

You are going to perform a part of a scene from Shakespeare for the rest of the class. It is up to you to select a part (the different scenes are below). You performance should last about 2 minutes per student. You may also ask extras from other groups. Before doing the actual play you need one of your players to be the “Chorus” and tell the audience what the main story is about and what the scene is about which they are about to see.

Make sure that everyone has a speaking part which is big enough to be graded.

You can change the setting and update the text to your liking. As long as it remains as dynamic, dramatic, and entertaining as possible, while remaining true to Shakespeare's spirit. Use of props will be rewarded!

Working on your own

If you prefer a solitary role, you can do one of Shakespeare's famous monologues.

Here you can find an extensive list.

Choose a scene.

In the following pages you are going to find a number of suggestions for your performance. However, you can choose any scene from Shakespeare that you like.

1 A midsummer night's dream

1. A Midsummer night’s dream (act 3, scene 1)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/msnd/page_66/

This is a big scene, you need at least 5 players and some play double roles:

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/dream/T.3.1.html

Richard III (act 1, scene 2)

2. Richard III (act 1, scene 2)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/richardiii/page_16/

Even though there are only two actors in this scene, it may be done by four people and you can be creative in the switching of the roles.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/richardiii/richardiii.1.2.html

3. Hamlet (act 5, scene2)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/hamlet/page_300/

(Start at line 209 and go on until line 349)

This is a normal scene, you need 4 players and some play double roles:

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/hamlet/H52.html

4. The Tempest (act 1, scene2)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/tempest/page_12/

(Start at line 309 and go on until line 374)

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players.

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/tempest/TempestText12.html

5. Julius Caesar (act 3, scene 1)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/page_98/

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players and an extra to do the small roles.

 (Do the play until these lines)

Ay, every man away:

Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels

With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/julius_caesar.3.1.html

6. The Merchant of Venice (act 4, scene 1)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/merchant/page_162/

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players and an extra to do the small roles.

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/merchant/MerchantText41.html

(Start with)

DUKE

170 You are welcome: take your place.

(Do the play until these lines)

280 For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

281 I'll pay it presently with all my heart.

7. Othello: Act 5, Scene 2

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/othello/page_270/

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players and an extra to do the small role.

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/othello/T52.html

(Do the play until these lines)

DESDEMONA

124 Nobody; I myself. Farewell

125 Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!

8. Titus Andronicus (act 5, scene 3)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/titus/section8/

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players and an extra to do the small roles.

https://www.playshakespeare.com/titus-andronicus/scenes/act-v-scene-3

(Do the play until these lines)

Kills Saturninus. A great tumult.

Exeunt Lucius, Marcus, Aemilius, and others and enter above.

9. Romeo and Juliet (act 2 scene 2)

Read this summary in plain English before you start with the original text.

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/romeojuliet/page_78/

This is a normal scene, you need 3 players and an extra to do the small role.

https://shakespeare-navigators.com/romeo/T22.html

(Do the play until these lines)

ROMEO

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.

Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from

their books,

But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.

Good luck