If All the World's a Stage, Then Why Not the Classroom?
Many resources exist for the classroom teacher to help make the learning more exciting. My class ususally reads an act, then watches it. Even students who do not read well, seem to do better when they are able to watch the different characters interact either on video or acted out. With a "gifted" group (they are all gifted, just in different areas!) I've allowed volunteers to prepare a scene on their own time to present in class when we get to that part. Even when we don't act out the play, our technique of sitting in a circle and reading the parts is called "readers' theatre," and it is effective in keeping everyone's attention.
Finally, I resist the urge to pick apart the play and to overanalyze it. After all, which of us takes a pen and notepad with us to the movie show to take notes of the latest blockbuster? EXACTLY! Elizabethan audience members certainly were not jotting down notes or reading along with the script. They viewed his works for enjoyment, and so should we. I tend only to analyze the sections necessary for the understanding of the primary character's development, the conflict development or to better understand the theme.
Modernized versions of Shakespearean classics exist, like the 80's remake of Hamlet with Mel Gibson/Glen Close, Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo deCapprio, and more recently, A Midsummer Night's Dream." One note, however, modernized versions can lack the instructive value of a classic presentation because they lack the historical background, period clothing, and rich language, often straying from the original script and the bard's intent. I would also caution that they often have violence, innuendo, and nudity added to captivate modern viewers, so preview carefully! The version of Hamlet with Mel Gibson and Glen Close is excellent, capturing the essence of the Renaissance.
Teacher resources abound in mail order catalogs and on line. One mail order catalog even offered a cassette tape that set the cast of characters and the plot to a rap tune! Another neat choice is the collection of the bard's greatest "put-downs," a sure-fire favorite of students grades 7-12!
Remember, learning doesn't have to be tedious and serious to be meaningful! If your memories of studying Shakespeare are only slightly more pleasant than memories of trips to the dentist's office, break tradition and use these resources to captivate your learners!
GOOD PLAYS TO TRY:
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