Shakespeare in school
Focus Questions
EPISODE 11
1.
2.
3.
Briefly summarise the Shakespeare in school story.
Many people may see William Shakespeare’s work as…
How is the performance shown in the BtN story, trying to make Shakespeare
relevant to young people?
4. Why is William Shakespeare considered the best writer and poet of all time?
5. Which modern movie was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s work?
6. Describe the props used in the production.
7. Why is Shakespeare’s writing difficult to understand?
8. Do you think Shakespeare’s work is still relevant today? Explain your answer.
9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
10. What was surprising about this story?
TH
10 MAY 2011
Learning Area
English, The Arts
Key learning
Shakespeare in school
Ask students to record what they know about Shakespeare and his work on sticky
notes then place on a mind map. What would they like to find out? As students
complete the following activities, they can add information to the mind map.
Review the map when students have completed the activities.
Synopses of Shakespeare’s work are available at
http://www.playshakespeare.com/
Students can choose one or more of the following activities:
Research Shakespeare’s life using print and online resources. Create a timeline
of major events in his life or a poster displaying interesting facts.
The Globe Theatre was a play house where Shakespeare performed many of
his greatest plays. Take a virtual tour of The Globe at the following website
http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/movies/sound_globe.swf
Describe some of the sights, sounds and smells you might encounter watching
one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Shakespeare’s plays were written in Early Modern English. Rewrite the
following lines into Modern English.
“To thine own self be true: and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can’st
not then be false to any man.” Hamlet
“Give me thy hand, `tis late: farewell, good night.” Romeo and Juliet
Students will develop a
deeper understanding of
the life and work of William
Shakespeare.
Take on the job as The Globe Theatre’s special effects expert.
http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/movies/special_effects_primary
.swf
Shakespeare was well known for the insults included in his work. Some of
these included:
Thou urchin-snouted foot-licker
Thou swag-bellied pignut
Thou beetle-headed canker-blossom
To hear some more of Shakespeare’s insults and find out which play they are
from go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/onenightofshakespeare/onenighto
fshakespeare_insults.shtml
Create your own Shakespearean insults using a word from each column at the
following website http://www.folger.edu/documents/KidInsults.pdf
Shakespeare is believed to have invented many of today’s well-known
expressions
As luck would have it
Tower of strength
Seen better days
Green-eyed monster
Vanish into thin air
One fell swoop
Without rhyme or reason
What does each phrase mean and use it in a sentence or short paragraph. Use
the internet to find out which Shakespearean plays the expressions are from.
 Related Research Links
Shakespeare online – Shakespeare’s plays
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/
Children’s BBC - Shakespeare
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/showbiz/shakespeare/newsi
d_3539000/3539058.stm
BBC History - Shakespeare
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/shakespeare_william.shtml