A Theme Page about Shakespeare’s Plays and Language for intermediate level students, (A2.2 – B1), year 8-9 and above in Swedish Compulsory School.
Related Pages: Shakespeare EZ (6-7), Shakespeare’s Life
Warm-up
Upstart Crow – Message from the greatest writer of all time – YouTube (1:25)https://www.facebook.com/bbccomedy/videos/520205025193926/Look I wanna get something straight Alright It is absolutely not my fucking fault that you have to study my place So do not blame me I didn’t ask for this
What’s So Special About Shakespeare? | BOOK| Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen – YouTube (7:14)https://youtu.be/Q5HA9HfnG8s
What’s So Special About Shakespeare?
Songs
God, I Hate Shakespeare (Lyric Video) – Something Rotten! (Original Broadway Cast Recording) – YouTube (2:49)https://youtu.be/WyOjkFhhrnQ
Brian D’Arcy James, John Cariani and the cast of Something Rotten on Broadway sing “God, I Hate Shakespeare!”
The William Shakespeare Song by Horrible Histories – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/p8zdBxlNj0A
Amy Dewey: I did this as a project for my drama class. I do not own any of the pictures or the song all the links to the pictures are credited at the end of the song!
Vocabulary
Lesson Plans
Shakespeare | LearnEnglish | British Councilhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/shakespeareDo you know why Shakespeare’s plays are still so popular today? Find out in these videos and improve your English with the exercises.
Did Shakespeare write his plays? – Natalya St. Clair and | TED-Ed (4:06)https://ed.ted.com/lessons/did-shakespeare-write-his-plays-natalya-st-clair-and-aaron-williams
Some people question whether Shakespeare really wrote the works that bear his name – or whether he even existed at all.
Reading
No Fear Shakespeare: Shakespeare’s plays plus a modern translation you can understandhttps://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/
No Fear Shakespeare puts Shakespeare’s language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today.
BBC Learning English – Course: Shakespeare / Unit 1http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/shakespeareShakespeare Speaks was produced by BBC Learning English in partnership with The Open University. A series of video-based lessons on Shakespeare’s language
Listening
BBC Learning English – 6 Minute English / Shakespeare in plain English (6:11)http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-151029
Should the difficult language of Shakespeare be translated into Modern English?
Viewing
The Globe Theatre | PBS LearningMediahttps://www.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/shak13_vid_globehist/
Students will take a glimpse into the world of Elizabethan theater by watching actors perform scenes from Shakespeare’s plays on the stage of Shakespeare’s Globe.
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare in the Classroom – Miramax – YouTube (45:13)https://youtu.be/FfHVVodICrE
Released to support the film Shakespeare in Love, and featuring many of the cast, this film is a great background and introduction to Romeo and Juliet.
Script for Romeo and Juliethttps://internationaleveryman.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/rnj-1.pdf
A script for Romeo and Juliet to act as a play
Of Pentameter & Bear Baiting – Romeo & Juliet Part I: Crash Course English Literature #2 – YouTube (12:41)https://youtu.be/I4kz-C7GryY
In which John Green examines Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare. John delves into the world of Bill Shakespeare’s famous star-crossed lovers Part II
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet summary – YouTube (9:18) https://youtu.be/dRrvQ1vZxcg
Check out Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Video SparkNote: Quick and easy synopsis of the Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet Summary by Shmoop – YouTube (4:29)https://youtu.be/2Q6hIVRa_QA
Our parents always warned us that rushing into marriage was a bad idea. It wasn’t until we read Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet Cartoon Parody – YouTube (8:42)https://youtu.be/dersUM9QUts
A parody to the Famous Romeo and Juliet play written by William Shakespeare. The lines and scenes have been paraphrased for easy understanding, with audio and speech bubbles
Shakespeare close-ups: What’s in a name? – UR Skola (8:35) http://urskola.se/Produkter/172278-Shakespeare-close-ups-What-s-in-a-name
A monologue by a British actress about the role of Juliet, from UR.se. English subtitles available
Ben Crystal – Pt 5: Shakespeare’s accent – Speaking the bright and beautiful English of Shakespeare – YouTube (6:30)https://youtu.be/y2QYGEwM1Sk
Bill Crystal recites Romeo and Juliet the way it may have sounded in Shakespeare’s time
Fasterpieces HAMLET by William Shakespeare in 7 minutes – YouTube (7:45)https://youtu.be/9Rwbk2z2BtQ
The tragic tale of Hamlet, The Prince Of Denmark. Thanks to Fasterpieces, in a mere 7 minutes and 47 seconds you too can understand Shakespeare’s most powerful drama
Why should you read “Hamlet”? – YouTube (5:08)https://youtu.be/QTu39aMg_mU
Explore William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, “Hamlet,” a play about conspiracy, deception, and the tragic consequences of indecision.
Hamlet Summary by Shmoop – YouTube (5:27)https://youtu.be/LxEs-K8o1MI
If you’re in the play Hamlet, and your name is Fortinbras… you are a lucky, lucky man. Except for the fact that your name is “Fortinbras.”
Ghosts, Murder, and More Murder – Hamlet Part 1: Crash Course Literature 203 – YouTube (12:23)https://youtu.be/My14mZa-eq8
In which John Green teaches you about Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s longest and most-performed play.
Part 2
[Shakespeare: The Animated Tales] Hamlet – YouTube (25:39)https://youtu.be/OtNMjZoZNbM
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarried to his uncle, Claudius.
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarkhttp://www.stickfigurehamlet.com/act1/scene1/page01.html
Stick Figure Hamlet brings comic visuals and imagery to this classic work of Shakespeare. This site is sure to motivate and interest even the most reluctant reader!
Shakespeare close-ups: To be or not to be – UR Skola (8:35) http://urskola.se/Produkter/172279-Shakespeare-close-ups-To-be-or-not-to-be
A monologue by a British actor about the role of Hamlet, from UR.se. English subtitles available
Shakespeare close-ups: How should I your true love know? – UR Skola (8:35) http://urskola.se/Produkter/172280-Shakespeare-close-ups-How-should-I-your-true-love-know
A monologue by a British actress about the role of Ophelia in Hamlet, from UR.se. English subtitles available
Why should you read “Macbeth”? – YouTube (6:08)https://youtu.be/rD5goS69LT4
There’s a play so powerful that an old superstition says its name should never be uttered in a theater. Brendan Pelsue explains why you should read (or revisit) “Macbeth.”
Macbeth by William Shakespeare | Plot Summary – YouTube (3:51)https://youtu.be/Fkwp8UbErcE
Professor Regina Buccola of Roosevelt University provides an in-depth plot summary of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s Macbeth summary – YouTube (9:20)https://youtu.be/uzAujyWpK_s
Check out Shakespeare’s Macbeth Video SparkNote: Quick and easy Macbeth synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the play.
[Shakespeare: The Animated Tales] Macbeth – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/qfnUq2_0FOY
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches. This video is for educational purposes. Rate…
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s King Lear summary – YouTube (9:59)https://youtu.be/ptXr7LKylpg
Check out Shakespeare’s King Lear Video SparkNote: Quick and easy King Lear synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the play.
King Lear by Shmoop – YouTube (2:44)https://youtu.be/E-n9HbYQkaM
King Lear was an evil king. He wanted pain and for everyone to be in a world of hurt. But after his death, we wonder why he died. Was it from a broken heart?
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s Othello summary – YouTube (9:12)https://youtu.be/Bp6LqSgukOU
Check out William Shakespeare’s Othello Video SparkNote: Quick and easy Othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream summary – YouTube (6:46)https://youtu.be/M1wMfOwlAZ8
Check out Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Video SparkNote: Quick and easy A Midsummer Night’s Dream synopsis, analysis, and discussion
Animated Tales – Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – video dailymotion (25:49)https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x53h9z6
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1597. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta.
Why should you read “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”? – YouTube (4:42)https://youtu.be/xCI6o-kbqrs
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” sees Shakespeare play with the boundary between illusion and reality – and dramatize the possibility that life is but a dream. Iseult Gillespie shares what makes this play a timeless classic.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Summary by Shmoop – YouTube (3:41)https://youtu.be/Twz-BuzvBM0
Love potions are tricky business (not that we’ve ever tried using one, of course). They can make you fall in love with the wrong person
The Merchant of Venice Summary by Shmoop – YouTube (3:52)https://youtu.be/fAjOMs8u4Bo
We tend to think of Shakespeare as the timeless author who did nothing but craft beautiful, hilarious plays for our enjoyment.
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar summary – YouTube (9:00)https://youtu.be/kgyAPrv30eg
Check out William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Video SparkNote: Quick and easy Julius Caesar synopsis, analysis, and discussion
Julius Caesar Summary by Shmoop – YouTube (3:22)https://youtu.be/79_XlPinhPM
We totally understand loving your country, but don’t murder your best friend over it. That’s a bit over the top.
Shakespeare close-ups: I am your wife – UR Skola (8:33) http://urskola.se/Produkter/172281-Shakespeare-close-ups-I-am-your-wife
A monologue by a British actress, about the role of Miranda in The Storm, from UR.se. English subtitles available
Shakespeare close-ups: All the world is a stage – UR Skola (8:34) http://urskola.se/Produkter/172282-Shakespeare-close-ups-All-the-world-is-a-stage
A monologue by a British actor, performing the famous speech from As You Like It, from UR.se. English subtitles available
Interactive
Site Landing Page | myShakespearehttps://myshakespeare.com/
Dive into the rich world of Shakespeare with our full-text, interactive editions of his plays. myShakespeare replaces traditional footnotes with multimedia resources for the 21st-century student.
More Materials
Shakespeare Facts | Shakespeare’s Globe | Globe Education / Shakespeare’s Globehttp://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discovery-space/fact-sheets
Playwrights in Shakespeare’s time used language to describe ‘special effects’ much of the time, but acting companies could also produce very dramatic special effects.
Which Shakespeare Play Should I See? An Illustrated Flowchart — Good Tickle Brainhttps://goodticklebrain.com/home/2016/4/18/which-shakespeare-play-should-i-see-an-illustrated-flowchart
An Illustrated Flowchart from Good Tickle Brain, answering the question Which Shakespeare Play Should I See?
How to Teach Shakespear So Your Students Won’t Hate ithttps://www.weareteachers.com/teach-shakespeare/
Whether you are a teacher tackling Shakespeare for the first time or a veteran looking to change how you’ve taught the Bard in the past, this will help.
30 Shakespeare Activities and Printables for the Classroomhttps://www.weareteachers.com/best-shakespeare-activities-printables/
A lesson plan! A lesson plan! My kingdom for a lesson plan!
Final Words
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