Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

Richard III by William Shakespeare

Subject: Literature (English Literature, Shakespeare)

Grade Level: 9-12 (Note: Shakespeare's language can be challenging. Consider student comfort level and introduce scaffolding techniques)

Time Allotment: 4-6 weeks (This can be adjusted based on class time and desired depth of study)

Learning Objectives:

Students will analyze the dramatic structure and language of Shakespearean plays.
Students will identify and interpret key characters and their motivations in Richard III.
Students will explore themes of ambition, power, and manipulation.
Students will develop close reading skills and analyze soliloquies and asides.
Students will participate in dramatic readings and discussions to enhance understanding of the play.

Materials:

Copies of Richard III by William Shakespeare (annotated version recommended)
Whiteboard or projector
Markers or pens
Handouts for activities and assignments (character charts, soliloquy analysis worksheet, discussion questions)
Access to audio recordings of Shakespeare (optional)

Lesson Procedures:

Week 1-2: Introduction and Background

Introduction: Introduce William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan era. Briefly discuss the Globe Theatre and the conventions of Elizabethan theatre.
The Play: Provide students with a synopsis of Richard III and introduce major characters.

Activities:

Students can create a family tree or diagram of the relationships between the major characters.
Research and present on a specific aspect of Elizabethan theatre (e.g., staging, costumes, audience participation).

Week 3-4: Language and Character Analysis

Shakespearean Language: Focus on key elements of Shakespearean language like blank verse, metaphors, similes, and soliloquies. Use excerpts from the play to demonstrate these elements.
Character Analysis: Students will analyze key characters like Richard III, Lady Anne, Buckingham, and Margaret. Discussions can explore motivations, soliloquies that reveal inner thoughts, and how characters manipulate others.

Activities:

Students can complete a character analysis chart that tracks a character's development, actions, and key quotes.
In pairs, students can act out a scene from the play, focusing on delivering lines with appropriate tone and expression.
Analyze a specific soliloquy (e.g., Richard's "Now is the winter of our discontent" speech) and discuss its purpose and the character's motivations.

Week 5: Themes and Morality

Theme Analysis: Identify and analyze key themes in the play such as ambition, power, manipulation, revenge, and the consequences of tyranny. Class discussions can explore how these themes are developed through plot, character interactions, and soliloquies.
Morality Play Elements: Discuss how Richard III shares characteristics of a morality play, where vice and virtue battle for dominance.

Activities:

Students can write an essay analyzing a specific theme in the play and how it is developed.
Hold a class debate where students argue for or against a character's actions based on their understanding of morality in the play.

Week 6 (Optional):

Modern Adaptations: Explore modern film or stage adaptations of Richard III and discuss how they interpret the play for a contemporary audience.
Wrap-up: Conclude the unit with a final project or essay that demonstrates students' understanding of the play. This could be a character analysis, a thematic essay, or a creative project that reimagines a scene in a modern setting.

Differentiation:

Provide students with annotated versions of the play or online resources that explain Shakespearean language.
Offer students recordings of the play to help with understanding the rhythm and flow of the language.
Allow students to choose creative projects that showcase their understanding (e.g., rewriting a scene in modern English, creating a graphic novel adaptation).

Assessment:

Note: This lesson plan is a framework and can be adapted to fit the specific needs of your class and the time available.