For the month of May, the students on 8 north will be learning about Shakespeare and reading his work. To start, we will study how the English language developed from its origins through Elizabethan times, continuing into modern day. We will study how works come into the language and spellings/pronunciations change. Then, the students will learn about Shakespeare's poetry as a prelude to reading Romeo and Juliet.
While we read the play, we will place emphasis on understanding the literature not as a novel, but as a drama. Periodically we will perform scenes, rather than only reading them. As well, we will view various clips from stage and film productions. By the end of the unit, the students will be familiar with Shakespeare, his writing in general, and the classic, Romeo and Juliet.