The games we play with language
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Play Section Covered In This Lesson
1.1.128-251 Lysander and Hermia lament the problems of lovers and
plan to run away and elope. Helena, heart-broken that
Demetrius does not love her attempts to win his
favor by telling him of the secret elopement.
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Whats on for today and why?
The language of Shakespeare can oftentimes be confusing or
unclear to students. Words and phrases can take on various
meaning depending on intonation, context, and usage. Today,
students will be divided into pairs and assigned roles of various
couples, reflecting the relationships between the entangled lovers
found in the play. They will establish a character profile and brief
history for each pair. The students will create a short role play
between characters and will use the Shakespeare Subject to
Change website to create some of the dialogue. At the end of the
class, if time permits, students will act our their scene in front of
the class. This lesson will be used to help students comprehend
the scene that they have read for homework the previous night. It
will also serve to familiarize them with some of the common words
and phrases used by Shakespeare, as well as show them how the
spoken word can change intended meaning.
What to do ?
1. Homework Review
Collect the previous night’s homework and field any questions the
students may have.
2. Assign Character Roles
Divide students into pairs and assign the following roles to them:
• Heather and Larry (Modern Times)
• Hillary and Damon (Modern Times)
• Heather and Hillary (Modern Times)
• Larry and Damon (Modern Times)
• Heather and Larry (Elizabethan Times)
• Hillary and Damon (Elizabethan Times)
• Heather and Hillary (Elizabethan Times)
• Larry and Damon (Elizabethan Times)
Each couple will be assigned two more students: One will be
a writer and one will be a director.
3. Create Character Profiles
The groups will work together for several minutes to
create character profiles for their couples.
• How did you meet?
• What qualities do you like about each other?
• When did you meet?
• Did you like each other at first?
• What do you do for fun?
4. Set the Context
•Heather and Hillary have been best friends since elementary school. They grew up in the same neighborhood, and treat each other like sisters. When Heather fell in love with Larry, Hillary was a little jealous of Heather’s relationship, but she was also happy for her friend.
•Heather wanted Hillary to be happy too, so she set Hillary up with Larry’s friend, Damon. Damon and Hillary went out for a few months, but then Damon broke up with her. Hillary was upset. She didn't know why he dumped her, even after he said that he loved her.
•This morning at school, Hillary overheard one of Damon’s friends say that Damon was in love with Heather.
5. Role Playing
•Scene 1: Hillary and Heather Hillary confronts Heather about Damon. Heather is shocked at first, then must convince Hillary that she is not interested in Damon.
•Scene 2: Damon andHillary Angry and upset at first, Hillary must convince Damon not to break up with her.
•Scene 3: Heather and Larry In despair, Heather asks Larry to help her convince Hillary that she doesn’t have a thing for Damon.
•Scene 4: Larry and Damon Suspicious, Larry confronts Damon about his feeling for Larry’s girlfriend, Heather.
6. Create the Dialogue
Using their knowledge of modern language and/or slang, paired with Shakespearean language and the Shakespeare Subject to Change website, students will create the dialogue for their scenes. Students will be encouraged to use a variety of language choices to give their scene the connotation they are trying to accomplish.
Students are required to navigate the Shakespeare Subject to Change website, particularly using the “Shakespeare Language” icon. They will be asked to use at least five words form the “Invented Words” portion, one phrase from the “Common Expressions” portion, and if applicable to the relationship, they should incorporate one of the phrases from “Creative Insults.” The students have creative license and are encouraged to emphasize tone and inflection to bring their dialogue to life. The students who are representing the modern version of the couple will use language that is common to their everyday vernacular. They must also fill the requirements for the Shakespeare Subject to Change website, however they must translate these words into a modern day version.
7. Setting the Stage
The writer is responsible for writing out the script that the groups come up with. The director will be in charge of determining position and movement, as well as gestures for the performance. The group should work collaboratively to come up with their scene.
8. Evaluation
If time allows (most likely suitable for two class periods or a block period), the groups will perform their scenes. The writer will assist with lines, while the director will assist with placement and movement.
9. Homework
Questions for Journal entries:
• What were the similarities/differences between the role play and
the scene in A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
• How do the characters handle the situation?
• How would you handle it?
• Choose one of the four characters (Helena, Hermia, Demetrius, or
Lysander) and describe how you think they would have handled the
situation if they were alive today.
-Marie Burkhardt
26 September, 2007
References
Surfing with the Bard. 22 September 2007
<http://www.shakespearehigh.com/faculty/teachers/lessons/roleplay.html>