Elizabethan Theatre

Created by Karen Loftus

As with any theatre history unit, you have to decide what’s most important to introduce to the students. For this unit, we’ll focus on three things in the three different categories. Please refer to the Pacing Guide for more details and ways to supplement with other DTA materials.

Unit Overview

How do you introduce students to Shakespeare? This unit introduces the bard through life in Elizabethan England, the playwrights, players and playhouses. It also explores how to approach unfamiliar words and context clues in Shakespeare’s text. As with any theatre history unit, you have to decide what’s most important to introduce to the students. For this unit, we’ll focus on three things in the three different categories.

Additional Attachments

1: Playwrights & Players

This session introduces students to the Elizabethan Era, and its’ key playwrights and players.

2: Strange Language

Students learn how to use context clues to approach the unfamiliar words they will find in Shakepeare’s language.

3: Context Clues

Students review context clues and apply it to the Prologue from Romeo and Juliet.

4: Playhouses

Students are introduced to three of the most important playhouses in the Elizabethan Era, as well as the areas of the Globe Theatre.

5: Crime Scene Clues

Students apply their knowledge of context clues to find meaning in the Tomb Scene from Romeo and Juliet.

6: Expanding the Unit

Three suggestions for adding on to this unit are included, as well as a unit reflection for your students.

Attachments

Participation Rubric

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Elizabethan Theatre

Standards Addressed