Shakespeare

"To thine own self be true."

--William Shakespeare -- Hamlet

William Shakespeare 1564-1616

When I mention the name Shakespeare to my contemporaries (the non-English teachers) the most common response is a groan as they flashback to an experience in high school that they consider quite painful. They find the works of the Bard mysterious and often incomprehensible. I understand what they mean. It wasn't until my college Shakespeare courses that I truly developed a love for the most famous writings in the English language. It became my mission early in my teaching career to create experiences with Shakespeare's works that would offer my students the opportunity to develop the same feeling I have or, at least, an understanding and appreciation for the body of work William Shakespeare was able to create. To this end, I have spent many hours researching materials and teaching techniques related to the teaching of Shakespeare. It is my hope that through these activities 9th grade students' first experience with Shakespeare will be pleasurable and memorable.

This year we will study at least one (hopefully two!) plays. The first is usually Romeo and Juliet, however thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio, this play is already well known to today's high school students. With that in mind we will focus our attention on my favorite Shakespearean comedy ( a genre of Shakespeare's work often neglected in many high schools), Much Ado About Nothing. If time permits we will also cover Romeo and Juliet, and students who develop a taste for the work of the Bard will be encouraged to do out of class bonus project on A Midsummer Night's Dream or any other play that interests them and is not already a part of the curriculum.

Please take some time to browse the projects included in this section and forward your questions or comments.

last revised 7/23/98

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