Stand Up For Shakespeare

Shakespeare's most famous works have been incorporated in school curriculums for decades, therefore there is no surprise that it has been translated into various forms in order for it to be taught effectively in class. With dramas, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, Shakespeare was able to explore many themes that are very relatable to his readers, which is why teachers today use both reading, technology and analyzing/performing in their classrooms so their students are able to understand the plot more clearly, see the different emotions that writing can evoke in a person, and to be able to use what they read to make a connection in other situations. Most of his famous works are still being taught in schools to this day due to their significant stories, …show more content…
But with performing, benefits arise. Students are given a chance to step into the character’s shoes, which then offers them the opportunity to identify with characters much more successfully. Performing allows students to embody a character as a whole, it doesn't just mean reading meaningless lines from a paper, it means being able to use one’s body language and tone to recreate scenes in a language that was written decades ago. The company, Stand Up for Shakespeare´s sole purpose was, we believe in the power of live performance and that this experience is essential in helping young people to understand the richness of the plays. In promoting the importance of the live experience, we set a challenge for ourselves and other theatre companies to ensure that we provide high quality productions, accessible to young people and supported by activities and resources that offer a deeper opportunity for engagement. …show more content…
One of those tricks is reading it out to the class, or reading it in a group within the classroom. Although all teachers may have a different approach to literature, some teachers have the same purpose within teaching this kind of literature, as shown in Resnikoffs article, “The major purposes of teaching literature courses are to improve ability in textual analysis, foster increased appreciation and interest in literature.”(Resnikoff). This being the main focus for teachers allows reading literature such as Shakespeare in class more enjoyable and reasonable for students, because they aren't forced into “loving” the literature they are reading. In the teachings of plays such as Macbeth and Hamlet such as my class has done, there are many scenes that can get confusing. Most of the time students don’t often remember names or remember what happens within the scenes, and struggle with exams. While reading it aloud it is said that “teachers might, as a regular practice in giving examinations, ask more intelligent questions.” (Resnikoff). This allows the students to have an easier time remembering the details of analyzing the scenes and the play while reading aloud. Teachers exemplifying that learning literature is not a memorization process, but with reading in front of the class or talking to students about the book you are able to make connections and help