Shakespeare's plays are still popular today because they involve situations and experiences that still matter.
If you're studying NCEA English or NCEA Drama, you'll get to dive into Shakespeare's stories. I think it's amazing that we get to learn from these plays because they teach us important life lessons we can use in real life.
This blog is last of a series of three blogs where I talk about my top three favourite Shakespeare plays and why I love them.
It requires sophisticated delivery to make sure your audience is tormented by the prospects that they will not receive the happy ending they desire, and that there are consequences to actions.
#1 Othello
Synopsis / Storyline:
If you like a love story gone wrong, you will love Othello. This story is about a jealous friend (Iago) that wants to go up in ranks, so he sabotages the life and love story between his friend (Othello) and the innocent and beautiful Desdemona.
Favourite Scene to teach NCEA students:
There is a well-known scene (Act 5 Scene 2) in Othello that I enjoy teaching.
I think it is a great scene to teach as it is a very suspenseful scene where NCEA students can play with love, betrayal and anger. Iago is a fantastic character that I really love to hate. He spends the entire play scheming and showcasing his cunning, whilst fuelled with envy.
How NCEA Drama students benefit from performing this scene:
NCEA students must select deliberate NCEA Drama techniques and stage directions that are driven by three levels of emotions (love, angry and betrayal).
NCEA students must select deliberate NCEA Drama techniques and perform stage directions that showcase higher and lower status based on societal norms (e.g. male vs female).
As a Shakespearean comedy has high expectations of over exaggerated drama techniques, NCEA students have to apply a lot of energy in developing suspense in the journey towards Desdemona's death.
As Shakespearean tragedies have high expectations of showing the journey towards a tremendous catastrophe, as well as participate in audience interaction. NCEA students have to show a level of contrast between good verse evil, making sure the main character/protagonist has an ill fate foreshadowed, while an antagonist marvels in their successful motives to make sure it eventuates. When done well, this would make the audience wreathe with anger.
NCEA students understand how powerful language is when they discover (after deciphering the Shakespearean language) how specific and detailed each description truly is. For instance, when Othello's soliloquy describes why he must commit murder and refers Desdemona to be similar to a rose that is petal plucked.
NCEA students learn to appreciate tragedy for what it is, and realise, it requires sophisticated delivery to make sure your audience is tormented by the prospects that they will not receive the happy ending they desire, and that there are consequences to actions.
This is a wonderful play that will tip your scales. It is a great play NCEA students will enjoy analysing and performing.
All the best,
Tovah
Tovah's Tutoring Company Ltd ®
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