This casebook of materials about William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" will enrich students' understanding of the historical context of the play and encourage interpretations of its cultural meaning. Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" reflects perennial cultural concerns about order and freedom, particularly as they clash in the…

Reader-response journals were successfully employed in a "Reading Shakespeare" course for non-majors, making literary tradition accessible to students untrained in classical rhetoric. Students were encouraged to employ any combination of four approaches. First, students were invited to ask questions about the language, sequence of…

This curriculum guide is divided into four major sections: English Skills, Writing and Composition Courses, Literature Courses, and Elective Courses. Thirty courses are described, and the guide outlines the general objectives, specific objectives, activities, and resources for each course. The courses include Advanced Composition, Journalism I,…

This programed unit on "Macbeth" is intended for all high school students, not just those who are college bound. Its purpose is to provide the student with an understanding of the language of Shakespeare, an overview of the play, and general readiness for doing assignments on "Macbeth." This unit should work well within a…

Describes a teacher's experience teaching sixth grade drama in Britain, where drama is viewed as distinct from literature and stresses role playing. Outlines particular improvisation activities, scriptwriting projects, approaches to class discussion, and the use of dramatic activities to teach other subjects. (JG)

Based on the assumption that English should be central to the school curriculum, this book indicates that the main purpose of the English teacher is not to instruct, but to provide a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in which children can use and improve their language skills. The discussion covers current teaching practices in reading, literature,…

Discusses the efforts, problems, and controversies involved in the full-scale reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Critics question the cost and necessity while supporters proclaim its value as a monument to western civilization. The theater opens to a full season of plays in 1997. (MJP)

Describes the work of Peggy O'Brien and the Folger Shakespeare Library's Summer Institute. The Institute works with upper level secondary students helping them prepare scenes and performances of Shakespeare's works. Discusses some of the lessons learned during this process. (MJP)

Examines the theme of adolescent maturation and growing responsibility in Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part I." Uses excerpts from the play to illustrate key points in Prince Henry's developing sense of responsibility. Argues that this theme makes the play accessible and enjoyable for adolescents. (MJP)

In this article I seek to explore the ways in which different forms of differentiation can promote the inclusion of gifted and talented students in the classroom. Macbeth, the text being studied by this particular class, was the set text for the Standard Attainment Tests (SATs). This article discusses briefly the inherent problems involved in…

THIS CULMINATING UNIT OF THE 12TH-GRADE OREGON LITERATURE CURRICULUM IS BASED UPON ONE WORK, "HAMLET." THE TEACHER VERSION INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF (1) THE RELEVANCE OF HAMLET'S CHARACTER TO MODERN TIMES, (2) THE PROBLEMS IN THE CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE GHOST, CLAUDIUS, AND HAMLET, (3) THE PLAY'S THREE-PHASE STRUCTURE, (4) THE PLAY'S…

Several of the important themes of post-World War II English, French, and German drama are analyzed in this book. The first chapter briefly examines the major contemporary playwrights in each national literature. Subsequent chapters discuss contemporary drama as an expression of Artaud's "theatre of cruelty," its relationship to the changing…

The "Introduction to Shakespeare" course in the Quinmester Program involves the careful study of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" and the comedy "The Taming of the Shrew," emphasizing language, development of character and theme. The course also includes the study of biographical data relevant to the evolution of…

A quinmester course which concentrates on two Shakespearean tragedies is outlined. The focus of the course is on the tragic hero, his development, tragic flaw, and eventual downfall. Performance objectives, course content, teaching strategies and learning activities, and lists of student and teacher resources are provided. The course is designed…

TRAGIC AND COMIC FORMS OF DRAMA ARE EXPLORED IN THIS TWO-PART 11TH-GRADE LITERATURE UNIT. A SECTION ON TRAGEDY, TREATING THREE PLAYS, EMPHASIZES STRUCTURAL DIVISIONS, CONVENTIONS, AND SUBJECT MATTER PECULIAR TO THIS TYPE OF DRAMA. FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE CLASSICAL GREEK THEATRE AND THE ARISTOTELIAN VIEW OF TRAGEDY, THE FORM AND THEME OF…