Introduction
AP English 12
Miss Rachel Mayes
"He was not of an age, but for all time!" [Ben Jonson, Preface to the First Folio]
2016 marked the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the most celebrated English writer of all time. In the Preface to the First Folio (the first bound collection of Shakespeare's writings, published in 1623), contemporary poet and playwright Ben Jonson predicted that Shakespeare's popularity would far outlast his life--as long as Shakespeare's writings survived, his spirit itself would live on, as accessible to the modern reader as he was to the citizen of Elizabethan England. And in many ways, Jonson was correct. But some scholars go so far as to claim Shakespeare was a man ahead of his own time; his views resemble the 21st century American more than they do the peasant in 16th century London. In addition to being exceptionally ethnocentric, this claim is difficult to support. The modern reader can certainly identify with Shakespeare's characters, but can he claim that Shakespeare himself belonged to this era rather than his own?
Task
As you complete this WebQuest, you will examine Shakespeare's environment, his language, and his worldview. Does Shakespeare's culture look like the one around you? Does he use language the same way you do? Does he filter facts through the same basic assumptions you hold? Having researched each area, you be the judge.
Process
1. Shakespeare's Day and Age
As you watch the following video, pay special attention to the narrator's explanation of Shakespeare's life. How did his early life (birth, education, etc.) differ from your own?
Select 3 categories in the following article to read (e.g. Life and Death, Wealth, and Music and Dance). Using a T-chart, contrast life in Shakespearean times with life in your times. (e.g. What was the average life expectancy during Shakespeare's time? What is it in your time?)
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~sflores/345world.html
2. Shakespeare's Language
Shakespeare demonstrates a working vocabulary of approximately 20,000 words, over 2,000 of which were first recorded in Shakespeare's writings. But did Shakespeare invent all 2000 of them? What does this article suggest?
http://mentalfloss.com/article/48657/20-words-we-owe-william-shakespeare
The English language is a living language, so its words can change in meaning over time. Although the vast majority of Shakespearean words and phrases are still in use, not all of them mean what they meant when Shakespeare used them.
Select three words from the following list and look them up in the Oxford English Dictionary. What meanings did that word hold in the 1600s? What do they generally mean today?
-Quick (adj)
-Kind (adj)
-Revolve (v)
-Weird (adj)
-Minion (n)
-Honest (adj)
3. Shakespeare's Worldview
Without consulting any sources, define "worldview" in your own words.
According to this article, what piece of literature influenced Shakespeare's writing? How is this influence evidenced in his works?
http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/why_study_shakespeare.htm
Modern scholars often claim that Shakespeare actually subverted cultural norms regarding class and societal structures. An Englishman in Shakespeare's day would likely have held to a social order called "the Great Chain of Being." After reading the matieral under subheading "The Renaissance and the Great Chain," summarize the Great Chain of Being.
So far, we've read Macbeth and Twelfth Night. In these plays, have you encountered any characters who are rewarded for social climbing, or are characters punished for trying to break free of the Chain of Being? Give examples.
Evaluation
Student responses will be graded by the following criterion:
- Accuracy of information
- Specific details to support claims
- Correct grammar and mechanics
- Thoughtful analysis (actually reading and critiquing information, not simply regurgitating it)
Each answer is graded on a 5-point scale (1=incorrect information, incomplete conclusions, 2=correct information, incomplete conclusions--should have gone into more detail, 3=adequate information, adequate conclusions, 4=thorough explanation of information, thorough conclusions, 5=outstanding explanation of information, outstanding conclusions)
Conclusion
Now that you've gained a deeper understanding of Shakespearean culture, do you think it's fair to say that Shakespeare is your contemporary? Are his environment, language, and worldview consistent with your own, or do they differ drastically? Come to the next class period ready to summarize your findings from today and explain, using specific, relevant facts, why you do or do not believe Shakespeare's world is consistent with 21st century America.