Memorizing Shakespeare

[engteach219]

:)I am teaching Romeo and Juliet, and would like to do an assignment where I have students make masks, and then present these while memorizing certain lines from the play. However, this is my first year teaching, and I'm unsure of how much the 9th graders are capable of memorizing. I didn't want to assign too much OR too little. I also would like to know which lines are the most popular for memorization.

Thanks!!

[dtrim]

I usually did 20 lines. Students had to create an introduction that explained where the lines came from (scene splicing was O.K.) and why they chose the lines they did.

This is a tough one to justify to principals/parents when the complaints come in. My justification was that drama is meant to be presented and dramatic lines are meant to be memorized. Be sure to have your justification for the assignment at the ready!

[Brit]

we were expected to have either a sonnet or a soliliquy in grade 9, and the whole hamlet "to be or not to be" in 11th. WITH punctuation -- we had to write it, point for point.

I think memorization is a quickly dying art. If you need justification, I've always heard of memorization being a mental exercise that strengthens certain neural pathways. I don't have any studies at teh top of my head, but I think if you could find one, you'd be set when parents come askin'.

Me personally, I perfer Lewis Carroll when it comes to memorization....

'Twas Brillig, and the slythey toves
did gyre and gimble in the wabe....

so much more fun than dreary ol

to be or not to be,
that is the question.
whether 'tis nobler.....

yeah, my neural pathways could use some exercise.

[Clix]

Both of the prologues are great, as are the soliloquies in 2.2.

[Clearly Canadian]

All mimsy were the borogroves
and the momrathes outgrabe

Love Lewis Carroll. Makes an interesting exercise in identifying parts of speech, since many of the words are nonsense, but still function as nouns, verbs etc.

I agree about the memorization being a dying art. Including the masks is a great idea, easily the combination of presenting the lines and the mask go to improving student comprehension of the play, and demonstrating that understanding through art and presentation. How the students deliver the lines will also demonstrate if they understand what is happening in the play.

Is there an objective in your curriculum that relates to public speaking, or presentation, just in case you do need to justify your assignment.

[mercygate]

:)I am teaching Romeo and Juliet, and would like to do an assignment where I have students make masks, and then present these while memorizing certain lines from the play. However, this is my first year teaching, and I'm unsure of how much the 9th graders are capable of memorizing. I didn't want to assign too much OR too little. I also would like to know which lines are the most popular for memorization.

Thanks!!

I'm older than dirt, but in my 9th grade drama class, I learned the whole balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet. How much kids memorize will depend a lot on WHY they are memorizing. Make them act the part. That also helps them understand the text.

[Maoman1]

:)I am teaching Romeo and Juliet, and would like to do an assignment where I have students make masks, and then present these while memorizing certain lines from the play. However, this is my first year teaching, and I'm unsure of how much the 9th graders are capable of memorizing. I didn't want to assign too much OR too little. I also would like to know which lines are the most popular for memorization.

Thanks!!

In my 9th grade year,( I'm in 11th now) my teacher had everyone pair up and each pair did a re-enactment of different scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Memorization isn't a dieing art yet, but it is getting there. My American History class had to memorize the Preamble. We all did fantastic on it and we had 1 week to do it. I recommend that you try the whole pairing up stratagy. It was easy but challanging to do and you get to see your students have a great learning expirence. As for the lines, I would go for scenes rather than lines. You could have one pair do the fighing scene in the city center and have a student say "A plague on both your houses!" as he falls over onto the floor. Or you can do the ever so famous balcony scene and have them actually act it out. It takes time to present, but it is really worth it.

[shermanj1]

Shakespeare to 9th graders is like trying to teach them Chinese. Most teachers don't realize that Romeo + Juliet is a PLAY not a novel. Shakespeare's artwork was meant to be viewed by an audience, not read. This is why the majority of young high school students hate anything Shakespeare.

What helped me understand and learn to love Shakespeare was my 10th grade teacher. We would go over a few scenes or an Act and he would explain the sexual innuendos and poetic symbolism and then we would watch that part of the play (movies or DVDs). This allows the students to put the text they just read into "reality" in a sense.

Trust me, this is a great way to teach freshman Shakespeare.

Sorry to ramble, but also a helper on memorization. Seeing the scenes acted out "beats" Shakespeare into students' heads.

[mercygate]

Shakespeare to 9th graders is like trying to teach them Chinese. Most teachers don't realize that Romeo + Juliet is a PLAY not a novel. Shakespeare's artwork was meant to be viewed by an audience, not read. This is why the majority of young high school students hate anything Shakespeare.

What helped me understand and learn to love Shakespeare was my 10th grade teacher. We would go over a few scenes or an Act and he would explain the sexual innuendos and poetic symbolism and then we would watch that part of the play (movies or DVDs). This allows the students to put the text they just read into "reality" in a sense.

Trust me, this is a great way to teach freshman Shakespeare.

Sorry to ramble, but also a helper on memorization. Seeing the scenes acted out "beats" Shakespeare into students' heads.
I agree that Shakespeare doesn't make sense unless it is ACTED. Having the kids act the scenes FORCES them to come to grips with the text -- they have to know what it means. Movies are great.