Teaching Shakespeare
Through Exercises on Acting and on the Basic Emotions
by Gerald Grow, PhD
An original WWW publication: http://www.longleaf.net/ggrow
Abstract. This article describes a college
Shakespeare course employing participatory methods. Students carried
out a series of exercises designed to put them in touch with the
basic emotions and to approach the plays in terms of those emotions.
Students carried out other exercises derived from actor training--including
vocal warmups and memorizing and delivering two speeches. Various
experiments are described which attempted to engage students more
immediately with the plays. Plays mentioned: Romeo and Juliet,
King Lear, and The Winter's Tale.
Contents -- "Teaching
Shakespeare" by Gerald Grow
Introduction
The Basic Emotions
1. Gesture, 2. Sound,
3. Word
4. Symphony of Emotions
The Basic Emotions in
Disguise
Emotional Modulations
Juxtaposition and Contrast
Techniques from Actor Training
Character
Dialogue
Memorizing
The Angry Speech
Warmups
Other Methods Used
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Author
Professor, Division of Journalism
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL 32307
Gerald Grow's Home Page