Explaining Character in Shakespeare

Activities

Lesson 1: This introductory lesson gives students an opportunity to learn more about who students really are, as well as who the characters in the play really are.

Anticipatory Set: Have students brainstorm and define the word “authentic” by writing what it means to them on a sticky note and post it on a poster.

Activity: Students will create an “I AM’ poem about themselves, giving them an opportunity to think about themselves as an “authentic self”. They will then have a fellow classmate ask questions to see if they agree or disagree about what their fellow classmate wrote. This will move students toward an understanding of whether the characters of the play are being authentic.

Lesson 2: In preparation for their essay, students will participate in a World Café exercise while reading. A World Café is an Avid Strategy that is effective [] for hosting large group dialogue. World Café will focus on the following:

The process will begin with the first of four or more five-minute rounds of conversation for the small group seated around a table to answer and discuss one question. At the end of the allotted time, each member of the group moves to a new table, while the host stays, welcomes the new group and shares previous responses, ready for a new discussion.

The questions that will be asked are the following:

1. If the play was about a man being tamed, what would it look like?
2. Have women changed since the time of the play?
3. Have men changed since the time of the play?
4. Do people wear disguises to get what they want?

After the end of the activity, the host will summarize the different responses and an open forum discussion will begin.

Lesson 3: Students will read The Taming of the Shrew. They will use this text to answer the following question using textual evidence from the play: Has Katherine been tamed? Is she a fake or a phony? Why or why not?

Activity: Students will determine in a detailed and developed five-paragraph essay whether or not Katherine has been tamed. They will use textual evidence to help with their decision, incorporating at least three quotes.

Lesson 4: Students will watch the film version of The Taming of the Shrew, noting similarities and differences, again closely examining Kate’s final speech. Is the portrayal of Katherine different from their perception after having read the play?