Activity+2

Activity Two

So Shakespeare was a pretty interesting character, wasn't he? Just to remind yourself, __**quickly**__ review your information from last lesson about his life and consider his importance based on this. To better understand Shakespeare's legacy to convey to the opposing councillors, you need to fully appreciate the magic and their universal timelessness of his works.

Consider some of the classic plays that you will have heard of, if not seen or read before -

Romeo and Juliet? 

Macbeth - or "the Scottish Play"? 

Hamlet? 

 1. Briefly note down what you may already know about these plays, or Shakespeare's work in general, and consider what you already know about why Shakespeare's works were so great.

 2. Research these key questions and jot the answers down in dot points on your Word document to be put creatively into your Prezi presentation. Remember to quote your resources next to the answers to avoid plagiarism.

 Some sources that may help you include: [|Shakespeare's Plays] [|Characteristics of Shakespeare's Plays] [|The Three Genres]  But remember to research widely to make sure that you have a thorough understanding - it will take a lot to convince these counsellors!

 a) How many works are traditionally attributed to William Shakespeare?

<span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> b) What three genres are Shakespeare's plays generally classified as?

<span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> c) What are the common characteristics of Shakespeare's plays?

<span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> 3. Read, using the University of Sydney - Collected Works of Shakespeare website, the classic Sonnet 116 (CXVI) and see if you can decipher the Elizabethan language used by Shakespeare to convey his ideas of love (you may like to use a Shakespeare Dictionary to help you if you get stuck, but try your best to do it by yourself). Add your ideas to your Word document and compare with your group. Once you have done this, use the No Fear Shakespeare website to compare Elizabethan language to modern English that you use every day in the first scene of the classic comedy play //Much Ado About Nothing//, and make some notes.

<span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> 4. Shakespeare's work is particularly known for its ability to move across times and cultures and be applied to many different situations. This is the reason why much of his work has been **appropriated** into a modern context. The story of //Romeo and Juliet//, for example, is loosely translated in the recent film //High School Musical// - a boy and a girl from two different, warring worlds meet and start a relationship, keeping it secret to avoid judgement from their peers. Briefly research the basic storyline of one of these recent films and the Shakespearian plays they resemble, and compare their similarities and differences. <span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> a) //She's the Man// and //Twelfth Night// <span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> b) //Ten Things I Hate About You// and //The Taming of the Shrew// <span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> c) //West Side Story// and //Romeo and Juliet//

<span style="color: #072d80; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Now that you know more about the great work that Shakespeare wrote, you can learn more about his continuing legacy next lesson to save his birthplace!