First off, I love your blog. Can't go wrong with a daily dose of Shakespeare!! Second, I wrote an essay about how Shakespeare high school curriculum could be so much better (vary the plays studied, treat it as a play not a book, etc) and my teacher has said she'll try to work it into the schools curriculum! Anyways, what do you think of the way Shakespeare is taught in high school?

It’s actually quite difficult for me to answer this question as I hardly know anything about pedagogy! I suppose the way Shakespeare is taught will vary depending on the standards/requirements that are in place in different countries and states (my understanding is that American states each have different curriculum requirements, but correct me if I’m wrong). So it’s a little tough for me to comment on something with that broad of a scope since I’m not very knowledgeable on the matter.

Generally speaking, though, yes - I agree with you that Shakespeare is a bit more enjoyable and easier to learn if it’s treated as a play, and not a book. I could say the same for most plays actually…I’ll have no idea what’s going on in a Pinter play until I can see it being performed (or at least envision it), and even then it’s sometimes a stretch…but I digress. Shakespeare is not easy to grasp and I know a lot of young students view it as something very dry and boring, if not also extremely intimidating. And that’s not their fault at all. I suppose it would really depend on the teacher’s style and how the material is being presented to them. For example, a teacher I had when I was younger assigned us each to a role (which would switch in each scene so every student got a turn), and we’d read through it out loud in class as if it was a play. I also think it would be quite helpful to be shown a film adaptation (or better yet, a live performance) to really see how each story is played out.

I’m sorry this is such a vague answer, but like I said, I don’t feel that I know enough about education or pedagogy in general to give a really good answer. I’d be really interested to read your essay, though, if you’re willing to send it over!

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