The Topic: William Shakespeare Easier - William Shakespeare was born in 1564 into a middle-class family. His father was a glove maker in the small market-town of Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1590, the young actor and writer moved to London. He became the most famous playwright of his time for his poetry and more than 37 plays, including tragedies, comedies, and history.   Harder - William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is known as the greatest dramatist the world has ever known, the finest poet who wrote in the English language, and the world's most popular author. His poetry and plays remain in print today in numerous languages and his dramatic works continue to be performed around the world.   People analyze Shakespeare's life and works to understand his long-lasting and broad appeal. Many Shakespeare scholars credit his continued appeal and fame to two related characteristics; his deep understanding of human nature and a broad knowledge base that encompassed varied interests and fields of study. Both of these attributes contributed to his development of vivid and varied characters from many walks of life and his creative use of language. Shakespeare's knowledge included music, law, the Bible, military science, politics, the sea, history, hunting, woodcraft, sports, and theater. In his literary works, he wrote of Kings, drunkards, generals, pickpockets, shepherds, hired killers and thugs, and philosophers. His understanding of people and their nature enabled him to create dramatic characters whose struggles and often failures extended beyond the setting of his plays.   About Shakespeare from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/about_content2.htm This site is a great starting point for studying the life of William Shakespeare. Other Websites for the Life of William Shakespeare: (2) Life and Times of William Shakespeare http://www.stratford.co.uk/hislife/home.html (3) Life and Times of William Shakespeare http://www.gprc.ab.ca/courses_and_programs/en1010/shakespeare/default.php    Shake Sphere by M.J. Cummings http://sites.micro-link.net/zekscrab/ Students of Shakespeare will find a wealth of information here; including plot summaries of every play, complete works, biography, criticism, sonnet analysis, quotations, study guides, and links. Other Comprehensive Shakespeare Sites: (2) Absolute Shakespeare http://absoluteshakespeare.com/ (3) All Shakespeare http://www.allshakespeare.com/index.php (4) Everything Shakespeare http://www.field-of-themes.com/shakespeare/ (5) Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/ (6) Shakespeare Classroom http://www.jetlink.net/~massij/shakes (7) Shakespeare's Life and Times http://web.uvic.ca/shakespeare/Library/SLT/intro/introsubj.html (8) Shakespeare Online http://www.shakespeare-online.com/ (9) Shakespeare Resource Center http://www.bardweb.net/ (10)Surfing with the Bard by A. Ulen http://www.ulen.com/shakespeare/ (11) William Shakespeare http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/shakespearebio.html (12) William Shakespeare - Biography and Works from The Literature Network http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/   Complete Works of William Shakespeare http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html Welcome to the Web's first edition of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. This site has offered Shakespeare's plays and poetry to the Internet community since 1993. Similar Websites: (2) Oxford Shakespeare edited by W.J. Craig from Bartleby http://www.bartleby.com/70/ (3) Plays of William Shakespeare from Electronic Literature Foundation http://www.theplays.org/ (4) William Shakespeare's Complete Works from Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org/reading/shakespeare/shakespeare.html (5) William Shakespeare's Complete Works http://jollyroger.com/shakespeare/ (6) Shakespeare: Internet Editions http://web.uvic.ca/shakespeare/ (7) William Shakespeare (1564-1616) sonnets from Sonnet Central http://members.aol.com/ericblomqu/shakespe.htm    Queen Elizabeth I http://renaissance-faire.com/Renfaires/Entertainment/Elizibeth-I.htm When Queen Elizabeth died at age 69, England was enjoying its greatest literary period. English ships were sailing into all seas, and the island kingdom had begun to establish its position as a world leader. Related Websites on Elizabethan England: (2) Elizabethan Card Games http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/Tattershall-tb/cards.html (3) Elizabethan Costuming by D. Leed http://www.dnaco.net/~aleed/corsets/general.html (4) Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth I http://www.elizabethi.org/ (5) Life in Elizabethan England http://renaissance.dm.net/compendium/home.html (6) Life of a Child in Elizabethan England (Section within Virtual Renaissance, 1996 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/3588/Renaissance/Town/Children.html (7) Proper Elizabethan Accents http://www.renfaire.com/Language/index.html (8) Renaissance from Annenberg/CPB http://www.learner.org/exhibits/renaissance/ (9) Renaissance Faire http://www.renfaire.com/ (10)Shakespeare's Dentist http://home.cogeco.ca/~rayser3/dentist.txt (11)Timeline of Costume: Late 16th Century Europe http://www.costumes.org/pages/timelinepages/1570to1600a.htm   First, visit lots of the Shakespeare websites. Then complete one or more of the following websites.   Complete A Shakespeare Internet Treasure Hunt. Follow the procedures found at Hunt for Shakespeare Background by B.M. Mahaney.   Complete A Shakespeare WebQuest. Adapt or follow the procedures found at one of the following webQuest sites. (1) A Day in the Life . . . A Personal Journey Through the English Renaissance by J. Hebert http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/hebert/ (2) And You Were There . . . Life in Elizabethan England (Grades 9-12) by A. Lewis http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/schools/ashburnannex/WebQuests/ElizabethanQuest.html (3) Life in Shakespeare's Time (Grades 7-9) by L. Hicklin http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/shakespeare/ (4) Shakespeare Vs. History: A Julius Caesar WebQuest by R. Corkum and D. Thompson http://www.edu.pe.ca/threeoaks/caesar/webques.htm (5) William Shakespeare (Grades 9-12) by K. Baker http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~kbaker/webquest.html (6) William Shakespeare and His Play Othello (Grades 9-12) by E.A. Taylor http://www.lex4.k12.sc.us/shs/departments/English/Overview%20of%20Shakespeare%20Webquest.html (7) William Shakespeare, His Life and Times (Grades 9-12) from Archbishop Spalding High School http://www.archbishopspalding.org/shakespeare/ (8) William Shakespeare Webquest by S.L. Snellman http://www.billings.k12.mt.us/shakespeare/ (9) Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Stand Up by R.A. Bucci http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webshakespera.html (10)What Me Shakespeare? or Wherefore Art Thou So Boring? (Grade 9) http://www.eastern.k12.nj.us/departments/WebQuest5.html#Anchor-The-11481 (11)What Were You Doing In Elizabethan England in 1600? (Grade 10) by H. Carlson, T. Stephenson, and B. Jansen http://www.standrews.austin.tx.us/library/Shakespeare10th.htm   Take An Online Shakespeare Quiz. You will find a quiz at Are You Shakespearienced? and Shakespeare Biography Quiz. A set of much more specific quizzes can be at Hamlet Quizzes from Teacher First.   Debate the Authorship Controversy. Who really authored the writings attributed to William Shakespeare? Was he the man from Stratford, Edward De Vere -- the Earl of Oxford, Marlowe, Sir Francis Bacon, or someone else? Do the research, make your decision, and then convince others by presenting your case. Need help with the debate process? Visit another eduScapes 42eXplore project, Debate. (1) Marlowe Society http://www.marlowe-society.org/ (2) Shakespeare Authorship http://shakespeareauthorship.com/ (3) Shakespeare Authorship Sourcebook http://www.sourcetext.com/sourcebook/index.htm (4) Shakespeare Oxford Society http://www.shakespeare-oxford.com/ (5) Shakespeare Mystery form PBS Frontline http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shakespeare/ (6) Shakespeare Question - Who Really Wrote the Works of William Shakespeare? http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/~rtatum/shakespeare/ (7) Instead of a debate, you might want to hold a mock trial. Get plenty of ideas at Who Was Shakespeare? A Mock Trial.   Throw A Party - - In Honor of the Bard! Its a great way to celebrate the end of a Shakespeare event or to to kick it off! Find some party ideas at Shakespearean Feast. Consider food and refreshment, costume, music, and song.   Pretend You Are Living in Elizabethan England. Decide if you are a child, male, female, husband, wife. In some instances, you can choose your occupation. Then write a daily diary that describes your life for at least one week. O.K. - - so you have to ignore the fact that unless you were born into landed gentry or wealth, then its doubtful if you could write; if that bothers you then write the diary as a biographer.   Construct A Model of the Globe. Using cardboard, balsa wood, or other inexpensive materials, build a model of the old Globe Theatre. This is a big project, so you may want to collaborate with a group. As an alternative, you could paint a wall mural of the globe. It could even be a 'four panel' creation that provides views in all four directions.   Websites By Kids For Kids Elizabethan England from Springfield High School, IL http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/elizabethanengland.html The website focuses on important figures, events, and cultural trends of the time. Related Website: (2) Elizabethan Era by the Virtual Renaissance Team, Twin Groves Middle School Buffalo Grove, IL http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Renaissance/Town/Clothing/ClothingElizabethan.html   Indepth Analysis of MacBeth (1996 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/2888/ Struggling with Shakespeare? Try this site with its annotated, online version of the play, glossary of terms, summaries of each scene, and a list of character descriptions.   Richard III - A Play for Our Time (1999 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/26314/ Was Richard III the monstrous, unscrupulous, cruel and self-loving tyrant king as he was described by his contemporaries, including Shakespeare? This site examines three different profiles: the psychological, historical and political perspectives.   School of Midsummer Dreams (1999 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/25592/ Here you find a description and summary of the play, information on Shakespeare's life, and more.   Shakespeare Is Elementary (Grades 2-3) from Crichton Park School, Nova Scotia, CA http://www.cps.ednet.ns.ca/pageone.htm This website takes a look at the life and work of William Shakespeare. It includes a timeline, illustrations, and a few summaries of his plays.   Shakespeare Lite (1998 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/23293/ If you just need to know a brief plot outline of Shakespeare' s Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, or one of the comedies, try this site. Also includes famous quotes from each play, a biography of Shakespeare, and game Show questions on the Bard of Avon.   Shakespeare . . . the Storyteller of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (2000 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/C004953/ The website has information on Shakespeare's life, work and his plays plus debate whether the works credited to 'Shakespeare' were really done by the 'Shakespeare' we know.   Shakespeare With Will (1998 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/19539/saam.htm Read about the man and his life. Check out background information, themes, summary, vocabulary, and character sketches for the plays Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Learn to hurl insults like a Shakespearean!   Shakey's Place: The 3D Globe Theater (Award-winning 1997 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/10502/index.htm Enter Shakespeare's Globe Theater and learn about his life and works at this informative site.   Tragedies of William Shakespeare (1998 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge) http://library.thinkquest.org/17467/ The site contains the full text of all ten of Shakespeare's tragedies, and also includes play summaries, character descriptions, classroom guides, and helps for staging.   Few More Shakespeare Websites Shakespeare's Globe Theatre http://shakespeares-globe.org/home.htm This site is dedicated to the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance. Don't miss the virtual tour. More Websites On the Globe Theatre: (2) Globe from Shakespeare Resource Center http://www.bardweb.net/globe.html (3) Globe Theater and Its History http://www.sorcom.com/~creative/globe/ma/index.html (4) Shakespeare's Globe Research Database http://www.rdg.ac.uk./globe/home.htm (5) Shakespeare's Globe Theatre from All Shakespeare http://www.allshakespeare.com/globe/?PHPSESSID=2e37e0217cc3aa4f3fdafca077a5bf47 (6) WWW Globe Theatre http://www.geocities.com/aressel/   Quirky Shakespearean Words http://home.earthlink.net/~martmuel/shakespeare/ This web site contains notes or little essays about Shakespearean words that carry memory traces of their different occurrences or are linked to each other in strange ways. The web woven by the aggregate of observations is meant to throw a light on Shakespeare's poetic metabolism. Interpretations are pushed to and beyond the limit, in the hope that some truth will be found along the way.   Shakespeare Illustrated by H. Rusche, Emory University http://www.cc.emory.edu/ENGLISH/classes/Shakespeare_Illustrated/Shakespeare.html This site explores nineteenth-century paintings, criticism and productions of Shakespeare's plays and their influences on one another.   Shakespeare Images http://www1.mwc.edu/~wkemp/gallery/shakespeare_images/shakimages1.htm Here is a collection of images of and related to Shakespeare.   Shakespeare Magazine http://www.shakespearemag.com/ This online version has a few featured articles from the current and archived issues plus a teaching resources section.   Shakespearean Tragedy by A.C. Bradley from Clicknotes http://www.clicknotes.com/bradley/welcome.html This site contains the complete text of the critical classic that examines the substance and construction of Shakespeare's tragedies.   More Websites for Specific Shakespeare Works All's Well That Ends Well: (1) All's Well That Ends Well by R. Douthat from SparkNotes, (2) All's Well That Ends Well from IGD Solutions Antony and Cleopatra: (1) Antony and Cleopatra by R. Douthat and D. Hopson from SparkNotes, (2) Antony and Cleopatra from IGD Solutions As You Like It: (1) As You Like It by B. Florman from SparkNotes, (2) As You Like It from IGD Solutions Comedy of Errors: (1) Comedy of Errors by R. Douthat from SparkNotes Coriolanus: (1) Coriolanus by R. Douthat from SparkNotes Cymbeline: (1) Cymbeline by R. Douthat from SparkNotes Hamlet: (1) Hamlet Navigator by P. Weller from Clicknotes, (2) Hamlet by B. Phillips from SparkNotes, (3) Hamlet, Prince of Denmark from IGD Solutions Henry IV: (1) Henry IV Part 1 by S. Mandel and B. Phillips from SparkNotes, (2) Henry IV Part 2 by S. Mandel from SparkNotes Henry V: (1) Henry V by S. Mandel from SparkNotes Henry VI: (1) Henry VI Part 1 by F. Latil from SparkNotes, (2) Henry VI Part 2 by F. Latil from SparkNotes, (3) Henry VI Part 3 by F. Latil from SparkNotes Henry VIII: (1) Henry VIII by F. Latil from SparkNotes Julius Caesar: (1) Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: A Paraphrase by K. Livingston, (2) Julius Caesar by F. Latil from SparkNotes King John: (1) King John by F. Latil from SparkNotes King Lear: (1) King Lear (1619) from Center for Electronic Texts and Image, University of Pennsylvania - - Note: Hit the Stop button on your browser to halt automatic redirect, (2) King Lear by S. Mandel from SparkNotes, (3) King Lear from IGD Solutions Love's Labour's Lost: (1) Love's Labour's Lost by R. Gaines from SparkNotes, (2) Loves Labours Lost from IGD Solutions Macbeth: (1) We're Making Macbeth!, (2) Macbeth Navigator by P. Weller from Clicknotes, (3) Macbeth by B. Phillips from SparkNotes, (4) Macbeth from IGD Solutions Measure for Measure: (1) Measure for Measure by D. Grossman from SparkNotes, (2) Measure for Measure from IGD Solutions Merchant of Venice: (1) Brief Textual Analysis of Sections of The Merchant of Venice, (2) Merchant of Venice from Masterpiece Theatre, (3) Shakespeare and Anti-Semitism: The Question of Shylock, (4) Merchant of Venice by R. Douthat from SparkNotes, (5) Merchant of Venice from IGD Solutions Merry Wives of Windsor: (1) Merry Wives of Windsor by F. Latil from SparkNotes Midsummer Night's Dream: (1) Midsummer Night's Dream by B. Phillips from SparkNotes Much Ado About Nothing: (1) Much Ado About Nothing by S. Mandel and M. Jacobson from SparkNotes, (3) Much Ado About Nothing from IGD Solutions Othello: (1) Othello Navigator by P. Weller from Clicknotes, (2) Othello by R. Douthat from SparkNotes, (3) Othello, The Moor of Venice from IGD Solutions Pericles: (1) Pericles by F. Latil from SparkNotes Richard II: (1) Richard II by S. Mandel from SparkNotes Richard III: (1) Richard III by S. Mandel from SparkNotes Romeo and Juliet: (1) Romeo and Juliet Navigator by P. Weller from Clicknotes, (2) Romeo and Juliet by B. Phillips from SparkNotes, (3) Romeo and Juliet from IGD Solutions Sonnets, Shakespeare's: (2) Shakespeare's Sonnets by B. Phillips from SparkNotes, (2) William Shakespeare (1564-1616) sonnets from Sonnet Central Taming of the Shrew: (1) Taming of the Shrew by P. Gardner from SparkNotes, (2) Taming of the Shrew from IGD Solutions Tempest, The: (1) Shakespeare’s The Tempest: Themes and Characters by M.A. Carleton, (2) Scene Notes, (3) Tempest, (4) Tempest by S. Mandel from SparkNotes Timon of Athens: (1) Timon of Athens by F. Latil from SparkNotes Titus Andronicus: (1) Titus Andronicus by M.P. Phua from SparkNotes Troilus and Cressida: (1) Troilus and Cressida by R. Douthat from SparkNotes Twelfth Night: (1) Twelfth Night by S. Mandel and R. Douthat from SparkNotes, (2) Twelfth Night; or What You Will from IGD Solutions Two Gentlemen of Verona: (1) Two Gentlemen of Verona by S. Houghteling from SparkNotes Winter's Tale: (1) Winter's Tale by R. Douthat from SparkNotes   Websites For Teachers Appreciating the Bard's Art: Rewriting Shakespeare's Epitaph Using Iambic Pentameter (Grades 9-12) by M. Barton an AskERIC Lesson Plan http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Arts/Literature/LIT0002.html Students begin to appreciate Shakespeare's genius as they struggle to compose six lines in iambic pentameter, knowing that he wrote tens of thousands in his plays. Other Shakespeare Lessons at AskERIC: 2) Introduction to Shakespeare (Grades 10-12) by J.M. Kush http://askeric.org/cgi- bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Arts/Literature/LIT0033.html 3) Introduction to Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era by S. Riddle http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Arts/Literature/LIT0022.html 4) Shakespeare Via the Internet (Grade 12) by V. Ignatenko http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Computer_Science/EDT0018.html   Lesson Plan from Folger Shakespeare Library http://www.folger.edu/education/getlesson.cfm Each month you'll find new teaching ideas on this page. Visit the Lesson Plan Archive to search their database by play or topic.   Shakespeare for the Developmental Reader by J. Ramadei, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/5/79.05.05.x.html This curriculum unit promotes the readability of a Shakespearean text for developmental readers. The teacher must focus on the student’s largest intimidation with Shakespeare—his unfamiliar language. The unit, then, becomes a guide to the first reading of any Shakespearean play. 'Macbeth' is used for specific examples.   Shakespeare Magazine Teaching Resource http://www.shakespearemag.com/tr.asp Here is a collection of Shakespeare lesson plans.   Shakespeare In Education http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/educational.htm This page contains both links to sites designed to teach Shakespeare over the Internet and in the classroom, and sites which contain mostly non-print educational materials (such as CD, other software, posters and illustrations, etc.) related to the teaching of Shakespeare.   Teacher Resources for Specific Plays As You Like It: (1) As You Like It Resources from the Web English Teacher All's Well That Ends Well: (1) Study Questions for Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well by J.M. Massi Hamlet: (1) Hamlet- Prince of Denmark from Teachers First, (2) Hamlet Resources from the Web English Teacher HenryV: (1) HenryV / Julius Caesar / King Lear from Teachers First, (2) Henry V Resources from the Web English Teacher Julius Caesar: (1) Julius Caesar Resources from the Web English Teacher, (2) Julius Caesar Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics King Lear: (1) King Lear Resources from the Web English Teacher, (2) King Lear Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Macbeth: Macbeth from Teachers First, (2) Macbeth Resources from the Web English Teacher, (3) Macbeth Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Merchant of Venice: (1) Merchant of Venice / Midsummer Night's Dream from Teachers First, (2) Merchant of Venice Resources from the Web English Teacher Midsummer Night's Dream: (1) Midsummer Night's Dream Resources from the Web English Teacher Much Ado About Nothing: (1) Much Ado About Nothing / Othello from Teachers First, (2) Much Ado About Nothing Resources from the Web English Teacher, (3) Much Ado About Nothing Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Othello: (1) Othello Resources from the Web English Teacher, (2) Othello Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Prince and the Pauper: (1) Prince and the Pauper Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Richard III: (1) Richard III Resources from the Web English Teacher, (2) Richard III Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Romeo & Juliet: (1) Romeo & Juliet from Teachers First, (2) Romeo and Juliet Resources from the Web English Teacher, (3) Romeo and Juliet Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Taming of the Shrew: (1) Taming of the Shrew / Tempest from Teachers First, (2) Taming of the Shrew Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Tempest: (1) Tempest Resources from the Web English Teacher, (2) Tempest Teacher Guide from Penguin Classics Twelfth Night: (1) Twelfth Night from Teachers First, (2) Twelfth Night from the Web English Teacher   William Shakespeare author iambic pentameter Renaissance literature language comedy tragedy history romance sonnet writing Elizabethan England dramatist Tudor theater acting Stratford-upon-Avon skits, plays & scripts characterization poetry allusion quotation monologue actor controversy class differences epilogue pub 'bard of Avon'        Created by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, 3/02.