William Shakespeare – Rap/ Study Guide
Verse 1
“ Yo, let me tell you about my boy William Shakespeare….Born in 1564… WHAT!”
This guy, William Shakespeare,
He wrote so many plays. ( know a few of his plays- Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing)
He had so much to say
In so many ways.
It’s like when he wrote his words,
( Means his plays were very popular)
He had a connection.
People catchin’ it just like a viral infection.
Did I mention?
If you wanna pay some attention,
We’re gonna educate you about his invention.
HOOK
William Shakespeare,
William Shakespeare,
Know ‘im, know ‘im.
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Love ‘im, love ‘im.
Verse 2
Now listen real close.
And listen real hard.
You gonna learn about this stuff from Richard.
Sonnets and couplets, iambic pentameter
(Poetry techniques he made popular)
Read ‘em like Damminger.
We’re gonna have you
Tearin’ up this stuff
( Simile used to make a comparison using “like” ie; figurative language)
Like you was a Hun.
Slammin ‘em
Havin’ fun.
And when you’re done,
You’re gonna know something about our history,
So, when you get to high school it won’t be a mystery.
Hook
William Shakespeare,
William Shakespeare,
Know ‘im, know ‘im.
William Shakespeare,
William Shakespeare,
Love ‘im, love ‘im.
Verse 3
Willy had his ways;
He made his own phrase.
( created phrases like: “ in a pickle, wild goose chase, green eyed monster)
Stuck it in his plays
Had you laughin’ for days.
Comedy and tragedy is mostly what he wrote. (be able to name a few of each)
His tragedies so sad you get a lump in your throat.
His comedies, hilarious
Dudes dressin’ like women.
( women were not allowed to perform, so men dressed like women and played the roles in Shakespeare’s plays)
His plots so complicated, they’d keep your head spinnin’.
Just think about the most
Crazy situation you been in.
Now, I must admit it he’d probably make it worse
With sorcerers, witches, and some crazy kinda curse (common characteristics of Shakespeare’s plays)
But First….
He’d wanna get you all involved in the drama.
Make it so intense you’d wanna call for your mama.
Then he’d make your laugh a lot
To break from the stress,
But two seconds later
His plays ended in death. ( Characteristic of a Tragedy)
Hook
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Know ‘im, know ‘im.
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Love ‘im, love ‘im.
Verse 4
Romeo and Juliet, double suicide,
( famous tragedy by Shakespeare)
Two teens livin’ in a fool’s paradise.
Such a tragedy, well, at least they tried.
Star-crossed lovers who loved and lost and died.
( famous Shakespeare phrase that means lovers who have issues.)
And then he made Hamlet avenge his father’s death.
He used a poison sword
That took his uncle’s breath.
And guess what happened next?
(famous tragedy by Shakespeare)
Hook
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Know ‘im, know ‘im.
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Love ‘im, love ‘im.
Verse 5
It was all Much Ado About Nothing
( famous Comedy by Shakespeare)
When Claudio and Benedict when lookin’ for some lovin’.
Then Beatrice and Hero gave them love with a twist.
Where else could you read
A crazy story like this?
Willy’s really clever;
Willy’s really smart.
He wrote about life
In a way that touched your heart.
Now, he wasn’t famous when he was a kid.
He worked his way up
The way most people did.
And then when his plays
Packed the Globe stage, ( Shakespeare’s theatre where his famous plays were performed- in London)
He was in his domain
Ahead of the game;
Then it came
1616 when he died.
( know the year he died and where he was buried)
But somehow his plays tested time and survived. (His plays are still famous today. They are classics)
Along with his rhyme,
And in my mind,
That’s where he’ll remain
Like a memory…inside of my brain.
Hook
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Know ‘im, know ‘im.
Willy Shakespeare,
Willy Shakespeare,
Love ‘im, love ‘im.