A Tech-Free Hamlet Unit: Tossing Lines

This game addresses the difficulty of Shakespeare's language, especially in regard to student fear of it. In this game, we abuse the Bard a bit, but through our mockery, we start to learn.... This is best done before the students start to read the play.

Tossing Lines
(A game where we use and abuse the Bard)

 

Objective:  To “de-mystify” Shakespeare’s language. Students are so timid with Shakespeare’s words, that they forget it’s only English. As a result, reading the words aloud becomes stifled and flat, and understanding suffers. In this activity, mistreating Shakespeare’s words is encouraged!

 

How to Play:  

• Students are divided into two groups: the “loudmouths” and the “thinkers.” The loudmouths are told that they will not need to think. The thinkers do not have to be loud. The loudmouths form an inner circle, with the thinkers on the outside.
• The loudmouths are each given one line from the play. These lines should have nothing in common, and can be taken at random from the text. The loudmouths are to each read their line in a plain, boring manner. Then, on the second time around, they are to read the same line in an outrageous, funny, obnoxious manner. The possibilities are endless.
• Then, while the loudmouths are quiet for a bit, each student in the thinker group will get a sheet with all of the lines on it, in no particular order. They are to attempt to “translate” the lines into plain English, without any assistance of glossary or context in the play.
• Then, the game begins. Using something soft, like a Nerf ball or bean bag (I use a stuffed Shakespeare doll), a loudmouth will deliver his/her line in an outrageous fashion, and then toss the ball to one of the thinkers. The thinker must then translate the line just said. The teacher can correct if necessary. Then the thinker will toss the ball to a new loudmouth, who will read his/her line, and then toss to a new thinker. This process repeats until the lines have all been said.