The Wee Willie Web Quest

OBJECTIVE: You will complete this simple quest over the life and times of Big Willie to make with the understanding.  Why?  We’ve discussed in class that to understand the art (writing), one must understand the artist (writer).  Thus, you need to gather some background about Big Willie and his times. 

 

THE QUEST: You will watch a fifty-minute A&E Biography: William Shakespeare.  You may answer Questions 1-12 with information from this documentary.  To answer the rest, you will visit the sites below to gather information and answer the questions.  You may make notes on this packet, but your final thoughts should be typed in COMPLETE THOUGHTS (the reader should NOT have to have read the questions to understand YOUR answers!).  Please illustrate your answer (right-click theft) where it would prove illustrative.  After you finish getting to know the man, get to know his theater: Take a virtual tour of The Globe Theatre.  Become a virtual guest.  Show me what you learned (again, right click, copy/paste, caption--that sort of thing):

1.        Why are Shakespeare’s plays still popular today?

2.       Which political or social events occurring in late sixteenth century England might have influenced Shakespeare’s choice of subjects for his plays?

3.       How was his work received and in what ways did the social and cultural environment of the day shape the public response to his work?

4.       How did Shakespeare’s work change over the course of his career and to what events do you attribute these changes?

5.       Describe a typical day in the life of William Shakespeare during the years he spent in London writing and acting on the stage.

6.       How was Shakespeare’s daily routine different from that of a late twenty-first century playwright?

7.       The documentary suggests that little is known of Shakespeare’s life, particularly his childhood and early adulthood. What kinds of evidence do scholars use to learn about the life of a sixteenth century writer? Why is so little known about William Shakespeare’s personal life? Do his plays and poems offer significant insights into his personal life?

8.       What is a sonnet? Why did Shakespeare choose to write in the sonnet form? To whom were many of Shakespeare’s sonnets written? What does this suggest about him? Read several of the Bard’s and then cut and paste your favorite.  Explain why you chose this sonnet and be prepared to dramatically read it aloud—you may not sucketh.

9.       How did the plague affect Shakespeare’s work and life?

10.    Almost all of Shakespeare’s stories were borrowed.  Why were they still worthwhile?

11.     What kind of education did he receive?  What books was he required to read? How did Shakespeare’s education influence his work? React!

12.    What was it like to go to the theater in Shakespeare’s London? Describe:

·         What was it like to watch a play as a groundling? (That means you need to find out what the heck a groundling is!)

·         As a rich person?

·         Explain the role of props and costumes in Shakespeare’s theatre versus the role of language.

·         Was there any interaction between the actors and their audience?

·         Was it quiet and dignified in the theatre?

·         How elaborate was the scenery?

·         Who played the ladies' roles in the plays?

·         Why weren’t performances given in the evening?

13.    Whom did he marry? Why? React!

14.    Is Shakespeare a fraud?  Who was Edward de Vere?  Frontline’s perspective. Much Ado about Something.  React!

15.    What are Big Willie’s seven ages?

16.    Find out about Queen Elizabeth. What sort of monarch was she? For what is she most famous?

17.    What did Shakespeare leave his wife in his will? React!

 

FINAL PRODUCT:

Your answers should be written in paragraph form, but please number your questions.  Remember, I shouldn’t have to read the question to understand your answer.  (Embed the question!)  As well, you illustrations should MAKE SENSE and be captioned and explained.