Shakespeare and Poetry

Shakespeare

Shakespeare is not easy to understand. In high school I read Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. We were all assigned characters and we sat in class and read our parts out loud. More than half of the book we read at home. I learned absolutely nothing. I didn't understand a thing about what I was reading. I think the way we broke down the book in class was awesome. Being forced to use other resources like the movie and the internet to translate the language and make it modern. We got to take a classic story and make it current, relateable, and understandable! I definitely want to take this concept into the classroom and apply it not only to Shakespeare, but other lessons that may need some "breaking down".

Poetry

I never have been a huge fan of poetry because I don't like being forced to be expressive or creative. I've learned through this unit that I don't have to be expressive at all. Poetry can be about anything and doesn't have to be jam packed with emotion and feeling. As a matter of fact, it can be just as impactful if it lacks emotion and feeling. I think it is important for students to learn to be comfortable with writing poetry at a young age. And they should understand that it doesn't have to be sappy or rhyme.