Shakespeare passages exercise

A worksheet containing a number of short passages from Shakespeare’s plays. Students work out what each passage means and, optionally, what is the significance of the passage.

This is a challenging exercise best set as a class-wide task. At the conclusion of the task the teacher should lead students through a discussion of the answers. This approach will best illustrate the richness of Shakespeare’s language. Answer suggestions have been included.

Teachers concerned about presenting sexual content may wish to edit the .doc version of the file to remove passages 17 and 18 (both from Othello).

Suggested curriculum relevance

Australian Curriculum - English (Year 9)
 

ACELT1636 - Analyse texts from familiar and unfamiliar contexts, and discuss and evaluate their content and the appeal of an individual author’s literary style
 

National Curriculum in England - English programmes of study: key stage 3
Reading
Pupils should be taught to:

• develop an appreciation and love of reading, and read increasingly challenging material independently
• understand increasingly challenging texts
   

Please provide a rating. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Cover image: detail from Engraved view of London by C.J. Visscher showing the Globe. British Library, identifier 004880204. Public Domain.