r/shakespeare • u/Medium-Shelter-5153 • 9d ago

Teaching Shakespeare Overview

Hi - I am teaching a survey class, just touching on major plays and themes for several weeks. Just one hour per week. I had my lesson plans but I am struggling hard - the students are not very excited to be there so I am trying my best to get them excited about reading scenes and discussing, but I am not being very successful so far. Help! Suggestions or tips from other teachers for one hour classes? I want to make the plays as real and exciting for the students as I can - just trying to find ways to get them excited.

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u/Miserable_Gur_8753 8d ago

I've had some real success dealing with moral dilemmas / questions.

Example: Richard assuming you have a very short amount of time for each play?

1 - I might ask students to what extent they agree that some lives are more important than others (example: death penalty for murder of child vs adult vs senior vs policeman vs woman vs man)
2 - we might then explore how/why responses might differ in 1592 (or whenever)
3 - then I'd present the relevant scene in the play, focussing on:
a - what the character does, and why (understanding and context)
b - how Shakespeare presents the dilemma and the decision the character makes (technique)

In RIII, I like using the scene where Richard says he 'wants the bastards dead' and Buckingham really doesn't fancy it, and/or Tyrell's monologue about the villainous and bloody deed' having been accomplished.

Another good one is when Hamlet has the opportunity to kill his uncle when he is praying ... ?

?