For centuries, educators have taken a similar approach to teaching Shakespeare: read, analyze, repeat. But in an age of smartphones and streaming, isn’t it time we updated our approach? After 16 years of teaching, including 12 years with 10th grade honors English, I’ve learned that the key lies in a more holistic approach. Let’s explore how we can move beyond the traditional methods and bring Shakespeare to life for our students.
The Old Way of Teaching Shakespeare
When I first started teaching Shakespeare, I was determined to have my students understand every word, every nuance. I armed myself with countless books breaking down each line, believing that if students could grasp each individual word, they’d understand the whole. But this traditional method of teaching Shakespeare often led to:
- Student disengagement
- Lack of overall comprehension
- Missed opportunities for deeper analysis
The New Approach: Holistic Shakespeare Teaching
Now, my strategy for teaching Shakespeare focuses on the bigger picture. Here’s how I’ve restructured my approach:
1. Thematic Understanding in Shakespeare’s Plays
When teaching Shakespeare, we identify key concepts early on and trace them throughout the play. For Macbeth we might focus on:
- Ambition and its consequences
- The nature of guilt
- Gender roles and power dynamics
2. Character Analysis in Shakespeare
Instead of getting bogged down in language, we delve deep into character motivations. When teaching Shakespeare’s Macbeth, we might:
- Create character maps showing relationships and motivations
- Analyze key soliloquies for insight into characters’ thoughts
- Debate characters’ decisions and their consequences
3. Historical Context in Shakespeare Teaching
Understanding the historical backdrop adds depth to our Shakespeare lessons. For Macbeth, we explore:
- The political climate of Shakespeare’s time
- The influence of the Gunpowder Plot on the play
- Elizabethan/Jacobean attitudes towards witchcraft and kingship
4. Visual Aids for Teaching Shakespeare
Graphic novels have become a powerful tool in my Shakespeare teaching. They provide visual context that helps students grasp the story more easily, even with Shakespeare’s original language.
5. Multimedia Approach to Shakespeare
When teaching Shakespeare, we don’t just read the play; we watch various film adaptations, comparing interpretations and discussing how different directors bring the text to life. This version of the play (which you can stream for free!) performed at the Folger Shakespeare Library and directed by Aaron Posner is my favorite.
6. Creative Projects in Shakespeare Lessons
Instead of traditional essays, I now assign projects that allow students to engage with Shakespeare’s text in more innovative ways, such as:
- Social media campaigns for Shakespeare’s characters
- RPG-style games based on Shakespeare’s plots
- Modern retellings of key Shakespeare scenes
7. Language Exploration in Shakespeare’s Works
While we no longer focus on understanding every single word, we do pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of language in key moments. For example, when teaching Macbeth, we explore the concept of equivocation.
8. Contemporary Connections in Shakespeare Teaching
To make Shakespeare truly relevant, we draw connections between his plays and our students’ lives. This might involve:
- Comparing political ambition in Macbeth to modern politics
- Discussing how social media might change the plot if the play were set today
- Exploring how gender roles in Shakespeare’s plays compare to contemporary society
The Results of This Holistic Approach to Teaching Shakespeare
By taking this holistic approach to teaching Shakespeare, I’ve found that:
- Students engage more deeply with the text
- Classroom discussions are richer and more engaging
- Students develop critical thinking skills that extend beyond Shakespeare
Challenges in Teaching Shakespeare Holistically
Of course, this approach to teaching Shakespeare isn’t without its challenges:
- Balancing depth and breadth of Shakespeare study
- Time management in Shakespeare units
- Addressing concerns of Shakespeare purists
Conclusion: Revolutionizing Shakespeare in the Classroom
Teaching Shakespeare doesn’t have to be a battle against boredom. By thinking outside the script and approaching these timeless works with creativity and relevance, we can help our students see why Shakespeare’s plays have endured for over 400 years.
Where have you found success with Shakespeare? Add to the comments!
