Shakespeare's Plays

Units of Study Shakespeare's Web Quest Elizabethan Times Shakespeare's Plays Shakespeare's Language Themes of Romeo & Juliet

Assignments for Shakespeare's Plays Unit: In this unit you will be looking at the types (genres) of plays that Shakespeare wrote. You will be reading parts of various plays to see the difference between the genres. Below are some links that you need to access in order to understand what types of plays Shakespeare wrote. Please access them in the order in which you find them. What types of plays did Shakespeare write? More information on the genres of Shakespeare's plays.  Once you have looked at the types of plays Shakespeare wrote, then access the links below to read about one play from each genre. There will be a quiz at the end of this, so take good notes. Tragedies Histories Comedies

MacBeth is one of Shakespeare's most well-known tragedies. Using the following links, read about the background, the characters of the play, a brief synopsis, and some quotes to get a good overview of what this play was about. Background of MacBeth Who's Who in MacBeth What's the Play About? Parts of the Play Itself BACK

Henry V Henry V is part of a four-part history of England's Royal House of Lancaster. It is one of the plays that has interested movie makers such as Kenneth Branagh and Sir Lawrence Olivier. This king is credited with saving the English language because he used English as the official language in all court documents. At the time, other kings had used French. Use the links below to find out about the background and the characters of the play. Read a brief synopsis, and some quotes to get a good overview of what this play was about. Background of Henry V Who's Who in Henry V What's the Play About? Parts of the Play Itself BACK

A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's earlier plays and best known comedies. In 1999, an updated film version of the play, starring Calista Flockheart, Michelle Pfieffer, and Kevin Cline came out at theaters. The title of the play could have come from the festival of Midsummer on June 24th, or it could have referred to the time during midsummer when Elizabethans believed that flights of imagination took place. Some Elizabethans believed that during midsummer people were more likely to believe in fairies and witches. Using the following links, read about the background, the characters of the play, a brief synopsis, and some quotes to get a good overview of what this play was about.   Background of A Midsummer Night's Dream Who's Who in A Midsummer Night's Dream What's the Play About? Parts of the Play Itself  BACK

Once you have finished reading about the plays above, ask Mrs. Blocher for your quiz on these plays. You should know something about the stories, the characters, and be able to talk about one passage from each play and why Shakespeare put that one passage into the play.

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Shakespeare's Web Quest | Elizabethan Times | Shakespeare's Plays | Shakespeare's Language | Themes of Romeo & Juliet

Laura Blocher
Date Last Modified: 5/7/2003