In this unit, students will focus on what we have learned in the past about a character's identity and apply it to the
new information that we will acquire in the proposed unit, giving them a strong foundation for comprehending
Shakespeare's works as well as the art of characterization. The focus will be on developing the important ability to
analyze characters in literature. Students will be required to analyze some of the most famous and complex characters
in three of Shakespeare's plays - Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and King Lear. Analyzing characters and the
role they play in developing a plot helps to provide insight in to and better understand the stories one reads. An
analysis should involve a detailed examination of all aspects of the character, including but not limited to: traits,
features, and, motivation. This analysis will be aided by a special graphic organizer that was created for this unit.
(Developed for English Language Learners, English Language Arts, grades 6-8 combined class; recommended for English
Language Learners and Struggling Readings, Middle and High School grades)
Comments: