Designed by
Lynn Holliday
Jan Kuntz
Anne Williams
DeKalb High School English Humanities Department
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State Goals |
Your classmates desperately need your help! They are having
trouble understanding the Shakespearean play which they are reading.
It is common knowledge that Shakespeare is meant to be seen and not read,
so your job is to choose a brief scene from the play, interpret in a way
that you find it enlightening and interesting for the class, rehearse it,
and then present it to the class.
After completing this assignment, you and your classmates will have a better
understanding of the play, characters, historical context, costumes, and staging.
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In order to perform the scene from a Shakespearean play, you
will need to research the following aspects of the work:
General:
These
sources will help you to begin your research. They include internet
and print materials.
Hamlet:
These
are specific websites which will help you find information on the historical
aspects of the play.
Macbeth:
These
are specific websites which will help you find information on the historical
aspects of the play.
Romeo
and Juliet: These are specific websites which will help you find
information on the historical aspects of the play.
Theatrical
Miscellaneous
1. Form a group of two or more people and pick a scene which will
be approximately 10 minutes in length to perform.
2. Decide who will be acting each role.
3. Research and report on three areas. Use at least nine sources
including internet and print sources. The three areas of study will
include the following:
a. Historical Context: Study the historical period in which the work is set. Using a graphic organizer, compare and contrast the original time period with Shakespeareās adaptation. Include any historical facts from the time period which might further enlighten the class about the play. Include a works cited page for your sources.4. Offer a 2-3 minute oral report on your research including the historical context and costumes design.
b. Character Analysis: Analyze an important character and find two opposing interpretations of the role. Decide which interpretation agrees with your groupās ideas and write a paragraph which defends this choice. Document your choices using MLA format.
c. Theatrical Components:
- Design two costumes for two of the characters in the play. They should be representative of Shakespeareās theater. These can be presented in a medium of your choice: i.e., drawing, fabric, construction paper. Include a works cited page for your costumes.
- Perform the scene for the class. This can be a live or videotaped performance. Choose movements for the scene which show the relationships between the characters. Notecards can be used; however, they should not hamper the flow of the performance.
After completing this project, your classmates will be forever grateful to you because they will now understand the play, and it will be forever etched in their memories. In addition, you have learned valuable research skills, examined the historical context in which the play was written, utilized literary criticism, and designed costumes.
As you continue your education, this
project will serve as a basis for understanding different types of literature,
including Shakespeare. You also have developed a greater respect
for the various aspects of play production. Just remember that Shakespeare
is fun and remember your teacher when you receive your Tony Award on Broadway.
This project meets the criteria of the following
Illinois State Board of Education
learning standards:
LANGUAGE ARTS:
State Goal 1: Read
with understanding and fluency.
Last modified November 2002