Unit
Unlocking Shakespeare's Text
Created by Anna Porter
5 lessons
Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s text holds valuable tools that students can use to unlock and understand meaning. In this unit by Anna Porter, students explore how to use the tools of research, context, textual analysis, imagery and punctuation to help them unlock meaning in Shakespeare’s text. This unit is created for an Intermediate to Advanced drama class with a basic background in plot structure and acting technique.
Through this five lesson series, students will use journals, participate in class discussions, activities and performance to explore the tools used to unlock a text. Assessment tools include informal assessment as well as a final group presentation and performance.
Start here
The overview lays out the goals and objectives for the unit, as well as a materials list and lesson descriptions.
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1Lesson 1Approaching the TextAs a class, students will explore the tools of context, meaning of words, and imagery to unlock meaning in a Shakespearean text. Students will then use these tools to create a modern translation for their text. Students will also be introduced to resources and begin work on a monologue that they will continue to use throughout the unit.
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2Lesson 2Imagery and InsultsStudents will use insults and compliments to explore sound and imagery created in Shakespeare’s texts. Students will also practice this form, then create a short scenario where they must use their voice and body to bring Shakespeare’s imagery to life to achieve a specific emotional response.
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3Lesson 3Finding Emotion and Action in TextStudents will explore Outbursts, Action Words, and Emotion Words through structured activity and textual analysis.
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4Lesson 4PunctuationStudents will learn the clues and meaning behind the punctuation that Shakespeare used. Students will also dissect, analyze, and color code examples. They will also use physical movement tied to specific punctuation to help them explore how it can communicate meaning in the text. Students will then apply this and analyze their performance script by examining their punctuation.
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5Lesson 5PerformanceStudents will demonstrate their understanding of textual analysis, painting with words and imagery, and physicalizing punctuation by preparing and performing a staged reading of a Shakespearean monologue in a group presentation.
Standards Addressed
Speech Drama 10
Speech Drama 20
Improvisation Drama 10
- 1 use warmup techniques for preparation of body, voice and mind
- 10 demonstrate appropriate rehearsal methods
- 14 discover how various emotions affect one vocally and physically
- 24 select and use vocal techniques appropriate to a character
- 26 use body language to add physical dimensions and depth to a character
- 3 maintain concentration during exercises
- 30 demonstrate understanding of and apply the concepts of a character’s objectives and motivation
- 31 demonstrate the ability to focus on, and achieve, the objective of a scene
- 32 sustain a character throughout a scene or exercise
- 9 use appropriate stage directions
Improvisation Drama 30
Acting Drama 20
- 1 analyze a script for explicit character clues
- 10 critique the work of self and others through observation of specific details
- 14 identify and use operative words in a script
- 15 analyze script for a character’s transitions
- 2 create, select and sustain physical details of the character from scripted material
- 7 demonstrate the ability to play a character from the character’s point of view
- 8 demonstrate the ability to memorize required text
- 9 demonstrate the ability to pick up cues effectively
Acting Drama 30
Theatre Studies Drama 10 (Greek, Medieval or Elizabethan, and Canadian)
Theatre Studies Drama 30 (Early or Middle or Late drama)
Movement Drama 10
Playwriting - Drama 20
Improvisation/Acting Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Goal III Objectives
Junior Orientation
- communicate through use of voice and body
- demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
- demonstrate trust by becoming comfortable, physically and emotionally, with others
- focus concentration on one task at a time
- generate imaginative and creative solutions to problems
- listen effectively
- meet deadlines and follow through on individual and group commitments
- move in a variety of ways
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
- respond to directions without breaking concentration-side coaching
- share ideas confidently with others
- show awareness of story sequence
- speak, move, and generate ideas spontaneously
- support positively the work of others
- work cooperatively and productively with all members of the class in pairs, small groups and large groups
Movement Level I - Beginning
Movement Level II - Intermediate
Speech Level I - Beginning
Speech Level II - Intermediate
Speech Level III - Advanced
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
- 1 use warm-up techniques for preparation of body, voice and mind
- 6 understand and apply the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, climax and plot
- 7 use stage vocabulary: stage areas, body positions and crosses
- 8 demonstrate appropriate rehearsal behaviours and routines
- 9 communicate a clear beginning, middle and end in spontaneous and planned scenes
Improvisation/Acting Level II - Intermediate
- 15 use the body and body language to enhance characterization
- 20 enter and exit in character
- 21 sustain a character throughout an exercise or scene
- 22 create business appropriate to character and situation
- 23 demonstrate understanding of character motivation
- 24 recognize that relationships exist between characters in given situations
Junior Goal I Objectives
- develop a positive self-image
- develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
- develop self-confidence
- develop self-discipline
- develop the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
- develop the ability to interact effectively and constructively in a group process
- develop the ability to offer and accept constructive criticism
- develop the willingness to make a decision, act upon it and accept the results
- explore and develop physical and vocal capabilities
- extend the ability to explore meaning through abstract concepts
- extend the ability to explore, control and express emotions
- extend the ability to think imaginatively and creatively
- extend the ability to understand, accept and respect others- their rights, ideas, abilities and differences
- strengthen powers of concentration
Theatre Studies Level 1 - Beginning (performance analysis)
Theatre Studies Level II - Intermediate (Theatre History)
Theatre Studies Level III - Advanced (The script)
- 10 demonstrate understanding of the concept of dramatic convention
- 11 demonstrate understanding of plot structure
- 12 analyze a script to identify character, setting and plot
- 7 define the elements of script, dialogue, directions, characters and settings
- 8 demonstrate understanding of directions used in a script
- 9 read a script aloud
Senior Goal I Objectives
- apply imaginative and creative thought to problem-solving situations
- demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
- demonstrate the ability to considered decisions, act upon them and accept the results
- demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively and constructively to the group process
- demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
- demonstrate the ability to offer, accept, and reflect upon, constructive criticism
- demonstrate the ability to recall and use sensory information
- develop a positive and realistic self-image
- extend physical and vocal capabilities
- extend the ability to concentrate
- extend the ability to control and express emotions
- increase self-confidence
- increase self-discipline
Senior Goal II Objectives
- be capable of creating and expressing a believable character from scripted and non-scripted material
- develop techniques that enhance vocal and physical communication
- develop the ability to select appropriate physical and vocal expression for feelings, ideas and images
- develop the ability to understand and apply the specific presentation techniques demanded by various dramatic forms
- explore various approaches to analyzing a script for purposes of study and/or presentation
Senior Goal III Objectives
Orientation Drama 10
- concentrate on the task at hand
- demonstrate behaviour appropriate to given circumstances
- demonstrate effective use and management of time
- demonstrate self-discipline, self-direction and a sense of responsibility
- listen to self and others
- make effective decisions or choices
- offer and accept constructive criticism with a desire to progress
- positively support the work of others
- share ideas confidently
- solve problems imaginatively and creatively
- work cooperatively and productively
- work with abstract concepts
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