Today I’d like to introduce you to …. the Bard: William Shakespeare!

I would like to start this post by sharing with you the magazine Gallant Gossip  created by a class of mine some years ago. I’m still so proud of it! Originally it was just printed as a booklet of paper like the copy I showed you in class. Then I created the on-line version. Reading it is a must as it will inspire you all for our next creative writing activity that, as for now, I want to keep secret .

Gallant Gossip by Laura Cimetta

If you’ve asked yourself the question. “Why do we have to study Shalespeare?” here you’ll find some answers. Why study Shakespeare?

• CHOOSE 3 REASONS write them in your notebook and bring them to class.

Here’s some links on W. Shakespeare http://absoluteshakespeare.com/index.htm or this one http://www.enotes.com/topics/william-shakespeare  From the beginning you’ll see there are TOO MANY TOPICS, related sites and too much info and you’ll feel … totally LOST ! Don’t worry, it’s normal! In order to help you cope with that feeling I have selected some links that will make you save time without feeling overwhelmed. You can plunge into the ocean if you feel like but let’s start surfing the lake! 🙂 Here are my suggestions:

1) Watch Shakespeare ‘s short biography. It gives the key events of Shakespeare’s life and work.

2) Take a short Shakespeare’s Biography Quiz

3) Have  a looK at the houses where he lived: beautiful Images of his properties in Stratford Upon Avon

4) Photos of the Globe theatre: http://www.wfu.edu/~tedforrl/shakespeare/globe.htm and if you like take a virtual tour of it. (The virtual tour requires the free Quicktime plugin for your browser but you can download it from page). It’s like being inside the theatre during a show!

5) If you want to have an idea of how many theatres there were in London look at this beautiful map of all Elizabethan theatres: 

6) In the future, after studying some of his works, should you doubt about the existence of Shakespeare as the dramatist who wrote Shakespeare’s plays read this: How We Know That Shakespeare Wrote Shakespeare: The Historical Facts. There’s also a movie Anonymous that claims he didn’t write his plays.

7) There’s also a beautiful Interactive folio of Romeo & Juliet where you can read his comedy, have explained the difficult words and also listen to it 🙂

Here’s a funny Video about Shakespeare’s language 🙂

If you like music this website offers you Shakespeare’s works through music. 

Let’s end this post with Shakespeare’s … dating tips so that you can get ready for your St. valentine’s day 🙂 If you register you can also do the activities (multiple choice ex. ) on the video here. Enjoy!

EXTRA WEBLIOGRAPHY:

1.  a list of the 13 words you didn’t know were invented by Shakespeare!
2. 60 second Shakespeare’s plays
3. Interactive Shakespeare
4. Tudor’s dressing game