In english and language arts, the main battle is often just getting students interested in looking at language. Teaching shakespeares language teaching literature, teaching. The lesson also serves as an introduction to the kind of work students are expected to do in the. Welcome to the fun and games area of wills world, hosted by our very own puck the mischievous star of a midsummer nights dream here, youll find lots of fun resources to help you liven up your lessons and get students excited about shakespeare in 2016. But it keeps the basic axiom of elizabethan studies. A handbook for teachers cambridge school shakespeare 9780521577885. Although certain grammatical treatises were published in shakespeares day, organized grammar texts would not appear until the 1700s. Shakespeares language teachingenglish british council. Shakespeares words shakespeares words by ben and david crystal is an incredible book. According to linguist david crystal, only 5 to 10 per cent of shakespearean english is different from modern english. Shakespeare dumbed down, shakespeares life, reading shakespeares language, the southpaw, a book of nonsense, the millionaire miser, oranges. Shakespeare s language is poetry and it is centered on words. This activity gets all students involved in speaking shakespeares language and gives them an experience of working from a script as the basis for a performance. Take things a step further and remove words from the equation entirely.
Activity investigating the language of shakesspeare, and matching up common tudor phrases. An ebook reader can be a software application for use on a computer such as microsofts free reader application, or a booksized computer that is used solely as a reading device such as nuvomedias rocket ebook. Those who have studied latin or even french or german or spanish and those who are used to reading poetry wil havl little difficulte understandiny the lang guage of shakespeares poetic drama. Here are all the word lists to support the reading of grade 6 unit 4 s texts from springboard s common core ela series. Here are all the word lists to support the reading of grade 6 unit 4s texts from springboards common core ela series. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The objective is to help them understand shakespeare s language and specific word choices. Students complete a glossary for some key words using websites like shakespeares words and haverling hs language of shakespeare. Here are four techniques to teach literary devices in romeo and juliet, but these ideas could be transferred to any of shakespeares plays. Shakespeare s language royal shakespeare company one of the many fine educational resources from the rsc website. Learn about william shakespeare, the worlds most famous playwright, and enjoy our colouring pages and printable activities, puzzles and worksheets.
Among our greatest contemporary critics, sir frank kermode is the author of such classics as the sense of an ending, and his recent memoir, not entitled, vividly captured a life in letters. It is all the more astounding when one not only considers shakespeares sparse formal education but the curriculum of the day. Untangling shakespeares winding lines can tie you up in knots. Teaching figurative language in shakespeares plays is one of them. Often with a conventional dictionary a single word has a multitude of definitions. Shakespeare achieves this by weaving incredibly rich networks from the same kinds of substantive nonsense and nonimporting patterns that pop. The early modern english language was less than 100 years old in 1590 when shakespeare was writing.
Shakespeares language teachingenglish british council bbc. This will help them to gain crucial closereading skills. Here s a great task to encourage the children to do some historical research and some descriptive writing too. Print a copy for each student to keep handy as they tackle shakespeares works. Here s a collection of shakespeare worksheets, designed to help make learning about the playwright fun in the classroom or home.
All inspired by shakespeares plays, honesty, individuality, confidence, and selfesteem. All inspired by shakespeare s plays, honesty, individuality, confidence, and selfesteem. Introduction to shakespeares language powerpoint and activity packet introduction to the language of shakespeare powerpoint shakespeares julius caesar fun prereading activity common core aligned vocabulary activity megapack. Who better to explore it anew than lifelong scholar and fan frank kermode. These lessons are best for intermediate to advanced english language. Visit shakespeares birthplace this is where the story began mary ardens farm family fun at a working tudor farm from shakespeares childhood. Excerpt from reading shakespeares language vocabulary.
In most cases, thinking of shakespeare as boring is an unfortunate hangover from school. Get some tips from barbara mowat and paul werstine, who are familiar with the editing of the plays and have written the essay reading shakespeares language. The insight and suggested lesson plans are all old hat and boring. Shakespeare s words shakespeare s words is the companion website to the book by david and ben crystal. Shakespeares words by ben and david crystal is an incredible book. Moore teacher students can perform the play in language familiar to them while incorporating shakespeares most famous lines. Shakespeare from stage to page scholars think shakespeare was born on april 23, 1564 and died on that day in 1616. A close reading activity to accompany the book william shakespeare and. A short list of words we use today thanks to shakespeare, including a. Shakespeare as a youth would have no more systematically studied.
It is a glossary and language companion that gives accurate definitions of shakespeares words. How to make an insult there are three columns on the other side of this page. Kids can experience william shakespeares england and get their first taste of the bards sublime craft with this lively biography and activity book. Old pro frank kermode discusses the languagemainly the classical rhetoricused by shakespeare particularly in the plays after 1600. Great scenes from shakespeares plays dover classic. He contributed over 3,000 words to the english language because he was the first author to write them down. It also invites learners to share any previous knowledge they have of shakespeares work and think critically about his relevance for contemporary readers and audiences. Download these free letter sets one for general shakespeare, one for macbeth to create bulletin boards or other classroom displays. In his 1998 book precious nonsense, booth argues that the experiences that shakespeares poetic language evokes with such verve and subtlety are intensifications of everyday language experiences. During three decades of adulthood he produced some of the most perceptive and beautifully expressed observations about the human condition.
This video introduces shakespeares language, and how to understand it using various strategies. Teaching shakespeares language nouvelle ela teaching resources. Resource books, case studies, insights and research, milestones in elt, elt. Indeed, shakespeares language seems to exist in a world serenely indifferent to the political turf wars of the academy, perhaps in part because kermode has written this book, as he states in. If you are planning a trip to the uk with your school group, university, club or society we can enrich your visit through formal or informal learning, tailored specifically for. A new introduction, by jonathan hope, explicates the differences between shakespeares language and our own, provides a theoretical and contextual framework for the pieces. His plays have been translated into more than 100 languages and continue to be performed around the world to this day. Explore with your students the techniques that shakespeare uses to capture the magic of the couple s first meeting and to make that meeting so memorable. Its no surprise, then, that shakespeares l anguage is a deeply significant publication. This collection of essays considers the characteristics, excitement and unique qualities of shakespeares language, the relationship between language and event, and the social, theatrical and literary function of language. Teaching shakespeares language nouvelle ela teaching.
Shakespeares language made simple shakespeare for kids. Shakespeares language can be a challenge for fluent english. Engaging students with figurative language in shakespeares. Shakespeare teaching resources shakespeare for kids books. They also complete a translation activity of shakespeares language inclass or as homework. Nov 05, 2016 luckily, there are so many ways to bring in relevance, movement, and critical thinking. Introduction to shakespeares language value bundle. He has written about everything from the nature of narrative to romantic imagery, and now he has created an important and charming book, shakespeare s language. Can they pretend to be william shakespeare writing to his wife anne hathaway. Shakespeares romeo and juliet presents starcrossd lovers whose plight has become the subject of many of todays novels, plays, films, and television dramas. Have your students translate lady macbeth s lines in act v, scene 1.
The objective is to help them understand shakespeares language. I recently received my copy of brendan kelsos shakespeares macbeth for kids, and i cant wait to use it in my classroom 6th7th language arts. Old pro frank kermode discusses the language mainly the classical rhetoricused by shakespeare particularly in the plays after 1600. Heres a fun worksheet for the kids to try thats great for practising literacy skills and for learning some history too.
Of this number more than one tenth or 1,700 were used. The remarks in this book are totally essential to know, if we want to understand that the axiom is too short. Fun shakespeare worksheets for kids activity village. Moore teacher kelsos ability to mix the modern language with some of the original lines helps to create a play that is engaging to watch. Reading shakespeare languags e for many people today, reading shakespeares language can be a problembu itt is a proble m tha cat n be solved. Have students devise book covers or rewrite a scene or sonnet using. Help students understand and engage with shakespeares language with these activities on vocabulary, grammar, and rhythm. William shakespeare 15641616 was an english playwright, actor and poet, and is widely regarded as the greatest english writer of all time. Engaging students with figurative language in shakespeare. Best shakespeare books for younger children childrens. To make an insult, pick one word from each column and string them together.
An awesome activity that will go with any shakespeare play unit. Shakespeare s romeo and juliet presents starcrossd lovers whose plight has become the subject of many of today s novels, plays, films, and television dramas. Shakespeare language skitsa fun, memorable activity in which students choose from a list of scenarios, then work in groups to write and present a skit using shakespearean language. Can they imagine they have been asked to see a shakespeare play performed in the original globe theatre and describe the experience in this diary. Students wont forget these skitsor the shakespearean language they use. This haunting language explains shakespeare s status as an icon of world culture. No dictionaries had yet been written and most documents were still written in latin. Shakespearean insults you too can speak shakespeare. From hamlet to a winters tale, from julius caesar to the tempest, kermode traces the development of shakespeares language from a simple expressiveness to an ornate complexity. Staging swordplay, learning to juggle, and creating authentic costumes like a flamboyant shirt with slashed sleeves or a ladys lacetrimmed glove bring the theater arts to life. Sep 30, 2004 a new introduction, by jonathan hope, explicates the differences between shakespeare s language and our own, provides a theoretical and contextual framework for the pieces that follow, and makes transparent an aspect of shakespeare s craft and the critical response to itthat has frequently been opaque. I always have students compare answers with each other and double check any questions they may have. Nov 06, 2016 this video introduces shakespeare s language, and how to understand it using various strategies.
Exploring idiomatic expressions in shakespeares plays with the help of some activities. Suitable for english language learners, including adult learners. Explore with your students the techniques that shakespeare uses to capture the magic of the couples first meeting and to. A vocabulary list featuring excerpt from reading shakespeares language. A couple of years ago i asked derek walcott, one of the finest living poets in the language and certainly the most. He also introduced nearly 3,000 words to the english language. In this lesson, students will learn about grammatical changes since shakespeares time, and. In these lessons, students will learn how to read and respond to the text of the play. Efl talks and workshops for english language learners, from the shakespeare birthplace trust. Shakespeare was bred and fed in the century long musical movement that produced the english madrigal, at exactly the same time as monteverdi did it in italy. He also discussed how the rude, aparently unlettered and ignorant audiences of shakespeares time were able to understand many of the complexities of his plays that are either forgotten or simply not dealt with now. Shakespeare dumbed down, shakespeare s life, reading shakespeare s language, the southpaw, a book of nonsense, the millionaire miser, oranges. English language learners shakespeare birthplace trust. Shakespeares language student worksheets the united kingdoms international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
A practical linguistic guide provides students with a solid grounding for understanding the language of shakespeare and its place within the development of english. Shakespeares language is poetry and it is centered on words. We welcome students studying english as a foreign language efl, and offer shakespeare related courses that are specifically designed for english language learners. May 06, 2000 shakespeares language frank kermode allen lane. Renowned scholar kermode not entitled, 1995 explores the evolution of shakespeares language in a friendly, accessible, and choppy romp through the bards oeuvre. According to linguist david crystal, only 5 to 10 per cent of shakespearean english is.
867 1340 1098 251 377 908 1565 611 191 862 457 1327 1183 622 589 51 26 445 851 208 932 685 575 1024 1245 688 605 1344 431 299 671 248 1005 999 495 637 647 1161 1313 372 931