Practical Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare (Oxford School Shakespeare Series)

Shakespeare is an important part of our literary heritage, and yet for many students the Elizabethan language is an obstacle to understanding and enjoying the plays. Shakespearean scholar and educator Peter Reynolds has an innovative approach to the text that breaks down those barriers by using games, exercises, music, and art. His fresh ideas for teaching Shakespeare's plays are presented in clear, detailed chapters with down-to-earth suggestions for actual classroom sessions.

For instance, Macbeth comes alive for students as they use the language of the play to cheerfully "insult" their colleagues by courtesy of Shakespeare. They'll begin to experiment with the sound of language in games like "Chinese Whispers" and "Alphabet Improvising". Best of all, they'll enjoy exploring the plays for themselves as they learn techniques for "de-mystifying" Shakespeare.

Covering everything from teacher preparation to follow-up work, Practical Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare is a stimulating and invaluable aid for all teachers of English.