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Macbeth Reading Thread
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Leslie wrote: "Louise wrote: "Brand new to the discussion group so I hope this works. Leslie and Jenna, I used to live 30 minutes drive from Stratford. We had to drive down Edgehill (famous for its English Civil..."
I teach 9th graders (first time in 14 years of teaching) I was hesitant to let them do the balcony scene (I know which boys want to kiss which girls, or the fight scene (every boy in the room wanted in the room wanted to be part of that). So we read some and listened to some on tape.
Mod
It's a great idea and wouldn't it be cool if we had theatre space or workshop spaces available for reading and acting plays. Like in a rec centre or something!
Candy wrote It's a great idea and wouldn't it be cool if we had theatre space or workshop spaces available for reading and acting plays. Like in a rec centre or something!I agree - that would be fun. I took a theatre dramatic literature class and we all said we would get together and read the plays aloud, but I think we only got our act together for one play, and mostly ended up reading all the plays on our own time. Sort of sad, really.
Leslie wrote I have personal issues with teaching a play about two teen suicides to teens.William responded with Your comment, Leslie, reminded me of the tragic effect that Goethe's The Passions of Young Werther aparently had on some young men and women of the late 1700s--not that I witnessed them myself.
I'm not sure I'd want to witness a rush of suicides to emulated Romantic Werther anyway! =) I love the song "pourquoi me revellier" from the French opera version, though.
Leslie, an interesting point about two teens committing suicide that I had never even considered when teaching it to high school students. And one of the goals, generally, is to make the play accessible and interesting to everyone, who might find Shakespeare's language at times rather difficult...
Jenna wrote: "Leslie wrote I have personal issues with teaching a play about two teen suicides to teens.William responded with Your comment, Leslie, reminded me of the tragic effect that Goethe's The Passions ..."
The Sorrows of Werter is noted the Shelley's Frankenstein as one of the the books the Creature used to teach himself to read, and the character noted it as the book which made him question his existence.......
YA novels tend to be about a specific issue or problem, or group of them. There are a great many about suicide. There are some re-imagings of Romeo & Juliet that change the ending. Walter Dean Myers & Sharon Draper both wrote YA novels -- that are very good-- like this. Draper's is Romiette & Julio, I can't remember the Myer's title. I've often thought that teaching one of these would be a good introduction to the play -- and it's problems. It's not just the suicides, there are three murders as well.
Mod
I've known a few college students who played the "game" after seeing the movie too.
I tried to do research on statistics regarding that movie and suicides by russian roulette. They are difficult because gun show wounds are often recorded as accidents and some stats are in denial that a gun game is a form of suicide.
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I am going to watch the BBC production of Mac Beth this weekend on Monday. I watched the first half hour and was very pleased with how much this discussion had helped me in getting into the roles and the story and added layers of meaning to my impressions so far. Thanks to all who hsave been posting here.
I've got company this weekend, a yard sale, I must be nuts so wish me luck...it will be a "rest" to watch MacBeth<...
Cheers
Candy
I too had a better time reading the play, with an intelligent approach from many point of views, thanks everyone who were in this thread, hope to see yous in other discussions. Currently I'm reading Macbeth the King by Nigel Tranter.
Leslie et al. wrote: Leslie wrote I have personal issues with teaching a play about two teen suicides to teens.William responded with Your comment, Leslie, reminded me of the tragic effect that Goethe's The Passions of Young Werther aparently had on some young men and women of the late 1700s--not that I witnessed them myself.
I'm not sure I'd want to witness a rush of suicides to emulated Romantic Werther anyway! =) I love the song "pourquoi me revellier" from the French opera version, though.
Leslie, an interesting point about two teens committing suicide that I had never even considered when teaching it to high school students. And one of the goals, generally, is to make the play accessible and interesting to everyone, who might find Shakespeare's language at times rather difficult...
Interesting - -as Dear Abby addressed this just the other day:
DEAR ABBY: My son was required to read "Romeo and Juliet" in his freshman year of high school. It has always bothered me that this play is considered good for teenagers to read, much less required reading. The story ends with Romeo and Juliet committing suicide, which is considered "romantic."
Teen suicide is on the rise. I feel we don't need teens seeing this in literature as a romantic way out of problems. What do you think? -- MICHELLE IN CHUBBUCK, IDAHO
DEAR MICHELLE: The writings of William Shakespeare have long been considered classics of literature, and when students are assigned to read "Romeo and Juliet," it's done under the guidance of a teacher. The characters' suicides have never been considered a reasonable solution to the problem of their warring families not allowing them to be together; the play is regarded as a Shakespearian tragedy.
Suicide among teens does not happen because of blighted romance. It happens because the teenager is mentally disturbed, and friends and families are unable to pick up on cues that the young person is in serious trouble. That is why when someone talks or "jokes" about committing suicide, it's so important to report it so the person can get professional help.
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maybe I have just taught it long enough--thanks all!
Romeo & Juliet is typically taught first because the title characters are the same age as the students learning about them. It is thought that impetuous Romeo and naieve Juliet are "easier" protagonists to reach, than Henry V or Othello or Prospero, for instance.In New York where I live & teach the curriculum is: R & J, Julius Caesar, the Scottish play and Hamlet. Pretty much the only students who get a history play or comedy are students who take a Shakespeare elective or who have a teacher (and department, BOE) willing to choose literature that is not on the list.
Not exactly off topic, but has anyone seen the *marvelous* Canadian tv series set in a Shakespeare festival called "Slings and Arrows?" In the first season they do R & J on the mainstage, plus other plays on other stages, then the Scottish play in the 2nd season, then The Tempest in the 3rd season. Each season is 6-8 episodes long.
Oh, I meant Huzzah? Huzzah! I'm a bit slow without my 16 year old to test me!
It's all right, Leslie. I read your 'bravo,' as 'congratulations!,' not the name of a tv channel. I watched it on the Sundance channel, after I'd already bought it. Also available from Netflix. Now all three seasons can be bought together.
Hi all. After all my grumping about Rome & Juliet, I found this great blog post re: teaching said play, and I am rejuvenated! Any interested teachers, go to Dana Huff's blog (it is always great) http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=253
Leslie, thanks for the tip -- I'll have to check it out. And pass it along to a friend who is an English teacher and was already tired of teaching it...
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Louise wrote: "Brand new to the discussion group so I hope this works. Leslie and Jenna, I used to live 30 minutes drive from Stratford. We had to drive down Edgehill (famous for its English Civil War battle, eve..."
Really good to hear Louise--I teach juniors in high school, and I always have them perform at least one scene of each play we read. (Not always sure that it does the play justice, though.) I am very jealous that you live with the ghosts. I am reading FOOL right now and I wish there was always a bloody ghost here...