There's a reason that Shakespeare's plays are still being read 400 years after his death—they're jam-packed with literary merit!
But for many students, the archaic words, complex metaphors, and unfamiliar references can make his plays seem like a daunting puzzle rather than an enjoyable read. However, with the right teaching strategies, you can share the richness of Shakespeare's texts without sacrificing the beauty that’s kept them relevant for centuries.
In this post, discover some creative and practical approaches to help students connect with Shakespeare's timeless stories and characters, making the Bard's work both accessible and engaging while celebrating its original brilliance.
1. Teach through performance
Shakespeare’s plays were written to be seen and heard—not only to be read. There's no better way to make students love Shakespeare than to get them to see the play in a natural setting. If you can't see a show live, playing a movie (or even just clips from a movie) can make the play more relevant and exciting—especially if there's a favorite star in it!
2. Focus on specific elements and key lines
A common complaint students have about Shakespeare is that "he's too wordy" or "I just don't get what he's saying." When you dig into his language, though, you see that he's actually quite concise.
There's so much depth to Shakespeare that sometimes you just have to zoom in on a few specific elements to show your students how much there is to explore. Get up close and personal with a key speech or soliloquy and examine it in depth. Once they realize how much he's saying in a few lines, or even in a few words, they'll come to appreciate his genius.
3. Stage 5-minute plays
Nothing helps students take ownership more than letting them be creative, so why not have them produce their own versions of the plays? Every play put on stage is abridged in some way, so allow them to write an extreme version!
Have your students develop quick, fun 5-minute versions of the play you're studying. They can use cut-up portions of the original text or they can make up their own dialogue. In either case they'll have a great time, and they'll be creating something new.
4. Present a history lesson
Shakespeare wrote during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a time full of social, political, and cultural complexities. Getting to know the historical background can help students understand the context of his work.
For instance, talk about the rigid social structure of the time, including the roles of different classes and genders. When students understand where women stood in society, how power worked among the nobility, and what life was like for everyday people, they can start to see why Shakespeare’s characters behave the way they do.
It’s great to lead discussions that tie these historical insights to today’s world. Ask questions like, "How do the themes of power, love, or justice in Shakespeare’s plays relate to the issues we deal with now?" This can make the plays feel more relevant for students.
5. Listen to audio read-alongs
Shakespeare plays aren't meant to drag on for weeks. Helping students pick up the pacing while reading is one of the best ways to get them to enjoy the plays. If you play an audio performance of Shakespeare's plays while students are reading along, they won't get bogged down in the text, and they'll have a much better time following the action.
6. Set the play in a new time
Watch some of the most popular film versions of Shakespeare and you'll see many, like Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo + Juliet, Ethan Hawke's Hamlet, or Ian McKellen's Richard III, that are set in modern times. This isn't a new trend. For over 100 years, directors have been staging Shakespeare in their own times and setting them in places that the Bard would never have dreamt of.
Ask your students to come up with a unique setting, and as you read, discuss how they would put on the play in a science fiction, Old West, or modern world. Break down how various scenes would have to be filmed or changed to deal with potential anachronisms or other difficulties: Maybe Lysander and the three lovers are hypnotized; possibly, Julius Caesar is the CEO of Rome Industries. You'll be amazed how engaged your students will be!
7. Maximize student understanding with Side By Side Editions
One way to help make sure students get the most out of the plays is to use an edition that includes original text right next to a modern "translation." Prestwick House Side By Sides are the perfect choice!
As students read the plays, they’ll enjoy the suspenseful plots, thrilling twists, deep emotions, and skilled character development of the original works without feeling overwhelmed by Shakespeare’s sometimes challenging language, and when they want to explore the play’s beautiful language, it’s right there—easy to understand.