william shakespeare

E D U C AT I O N A L M O D U L E S
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
© BBC, 2002
Durée : 03 min 27 s
After providing information about the playwright’s family background,
the video presents us with two major sixteenth-century elements: the
plague and religious conflicts. We then learn about the blossoming
industry of theatre under the reign of Elizabeth I, when Shakespeare’s
skills as an author started to be talked about. With wealth and popularity
came Shakespeare’s greatest pieces of work, starting with comedies and
history plays in which he enjoyed blurring the distinctions between
kings and beggars.
DISCIPLINES, CLASSES ET PROGRAMMES
Anglais, collège, A2 vers B1
Écouter et comprendre.
Identifier le sujet général traité dans un document vidéo.
Recueillir des informations précises sur un thème donné.
Lecture d’image.
OBJECTIFS
– Compréhension orale
– Linguistique : prétérit
– Lexique : le théâtre
– Culture : William Shakespeare et le XVIe siècle
– Expression écrite : parler d’un personnage ou d’un lieu historique
au passé
2
DÉCOUPAGE DU FILM
00 min 00 s : Naissance de Shakespeare, conditions de vie difficiles
au XVIe siècle.
00 min 12 s : Lien entre le métier de son père (tanneur / boucher) et la
violence de ses pièces.
00 min 57 s : Les deux dangers du XVIe siècle, la peste et la persécution
religieuse.
01 min 24 s : Règne d’Elizabeth I et éclosion du théâtre avec la troupe
The Queen’s Men.
01 min 55 s : Londres, capitale du théâtre à la fin du XVIe siècle.
02 min 15 s : Création de la troupe Lord Chamberlain’s Men et début de
la prospérité.
02 min 51 s : Les comédies de Shakespeare et le renversement des rôles
entre riches souverains et pauvres gens du peuple.
3
SUGGESTIONS D’EXPLOITATION
PÉDAGOGIQUE
La partie A permet de repérer le sujet général. Pendant l’écoute, on veille
à ce que les élèves ne s’attardent pas sur des détails.
– Pour traiter la question 1, l’enseignant ne montre dans un premier
temps que le premier extrait pour que les élèves comprennent de qui
parle le document ainsi que sa dimension biographique.
– À la question 3, les élèves peuvent cocher toutes les cases puisque
toutes ces catégories sont potentiellement exploitables dans une
biographie. Ils remarquent ainsi qu’il n’est pas nécessaire de parler de
tout pour raconter la vie d’un personnage.
La partie B reprend le découpage de la vidéo proposé au début de la
fiche et permet un travail séquence par séquence.
– L’extrait II est difficile à comprendre pour des collégiens (rythme
sans pause, lexique inconnu). L’intérêt de cet extrait est de montrer
que Shakespeare a grandi dans un environnement plutôt sinistre
(gruesomely precise knowledge of butchery) et la répercussion de cet
environnement dans ses pièces, où le sang et la mort sont souvent
des éléments majeurs.
– Pour la question 2, prévoir une phase à l’oral durant laquelle
l’enseignant guide les élèves pour les amener à tanner,puis faire le lien
avec butcher.
La partie C propose une activité d’expression écrite où l’élève doit
rédiger une brève présentation d’un personnage ou lieu historique.
L’enseignant veille à montrer le lien entre événements révolus et l’usage
du prétérit.
4
FICHE PROFESSEUR
A. Overall comprehension
1. Watch the very beginning of the video (to 00:12). Who is the video
about?
William Shakespeare
2. What sort of document do you think the video must be?
The video must be a biography.
3. What could the video talk about then? (several possible answers)
– his family background
– his childhood
– the historical context of his life
– his love stories
– his career
– his death
4. Now watch the whole video carefully. What themes are really
mentioned?
– his family background
– his childhood
– the historical context of his life
– his love stories
– his career
– his death
B. Detailed comprehension
I. FIRST EXTRACT (to 00:12)
1. When was this famous person born?
William Shakespeare was born on April 23 rd, 1564.
2. Pick at least two of the three adjectives to describe life at that time.
“nasty”, “brutish”, “short”
3. Match each of these adjectives with its definition.
Adjectives
5
Definition
nasty
not nice, immoral, very unpleasant
brutish
cruel and violent
short
not long
II. SECOND EXTRACT (from 00:12 to 00:57)
1. Who is mentioned in this extract?
Shakespeare’s father
2. What are the men in the pictures doing?
They are cutting animal skin.
3. How is this job called?
They are tanners.
4. What can you say about the music and the atmosphere of this
passage?
It’s very gloomy/a little scary-disgusting/dark…
5. What are the two words in the extract which confirm this idea?
“blood”, “death”
6. Complete the following summary.
Shakespeare’s father was a tanner. This may explain why blood and death are
very important themes in his plays.
III. THIRD EXTRACT (from 00:57 to 01:24)
1. Which century is mentioned in the video?
The sixteenth century
2. What adjective is used to describe this period?
“dangerous”
3. Describe what you see.
Religious people are about to be killed/hung.
4. What sort of conflict was taking place at that time? Tick the correct
answer.
– an economical conflict
– a political conflict
– a religious conflict
5. Who was fighting in this conflict?
Protestants and Catholics
6. Who was winning this conflict in England?
The Protestants
7. What can you see on the pictures now?
A man with a torch and dead bodies (in a cart)
8. What do you think happened to these people?
They were victims of an epidemic/of the plague.
9. Fill in the gaps.
The plague, a lethal* virus spread* by a mere sneeze*, kept lifeexpectancy to thirty-eight years.
6
10. Match each word with an asterisk with its correct equivalent, or
definition.
Words
Equivalent or definition
spread
transmitted
sneeze
éternuement
lethal
capable of causing death
IV. FOURTH EXTRACT (from 01:24 to 01:55)
1. Who can you see on the portrait?
Queen Elizabeth I
2. What did she encourage?
“drama” and “music”
3. Pick the name of a theatrical troop mentioned in this extract.
The Queen’s Men
V. FIFTH EXTRACT (from 01:55 to 02:15)
1. What can you see on the images?
Titles of Shakespeare’s tragedies
2. What was London like at the end of the century?
London was “the theatre capital of the world”.
3. Fill in the gaps.
“Permanent theatres, professional acting companies, license plays: a new world
with money to be made from writing.”
4. Recap! Explain in your own words the main idea of this passage.
At the end of the sixteenth century, theatre became very important in London and people could make
money thanks to theatre.
5. What sort of building can you see at the end of the passage?
A theatre
6. What is the shape of this building?
It is round/has a round/circular shape.
7. This building represents a very famous place. Do you know what it is?
The Globe Theatre, the theatre of Shakespeare’s company
7
VI. SIXTH EXTRACT (from 02:15 to 02:51)
1. Who was James Burbage?
He was a theatrical impresario (who opened one of the first permanent theatres).
2. Fill in the grid.
Year
1594
Creation
Theatre company
Name
Lord Chamberlain’s Men
3. Circle the words you hear.
– shared / shaved
– professors / profits
– profession / professional
– write / writer
– freeing / freedom
– patronage / patriarch
Expliquer ces mots si nécessaire.
4. Recap! Use your answers to complete the following summary.
As he created his own theatre company, William Shakespeare made
profits and became free from patronage.
VII. SEVENTH EXTRACT (from 02:51 to the end)
1. Circle the titles you hear.
– Romeo and Juliet
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream
– Hamlet
– Much Ado About Nothing
– King Lear
– As You Like It
2. Find the French title for each of these plays.
Original title
French title
Romeo and Juliet
Roméo et Juliette
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Le Songe d’une nuit d’été
Hamlet
Hamlet
Much Ado About Nothing
Beaucoup de bruit pour rien
King Lear
Le Roi Lear
As You Like It
Comme il vous plaira
8
3. What sort of plays are mentioned in this extract?
They are comedies.
4. What does Shakespeare use in his comedies?
– suspense
– irony
5. What did he love to do?
– turn the world upside down
– describe the world in a very realistic way
6. Why do you think he did this?
He used irony to make everyone equal, to give everyone a voice.
C. Up to you!
Objective: you’re a journalist and you have to write an article about
a historical character or a historical place.
1. Language
What tense will you use most? Why?
We will use the preterit to talk about past events that are completely over.
2. Pick one of the following topics. Use the information in the grid and
look for more information on the Internet to write your article.
HISTORICAL
CHARACTERS
Queen Elizabeth I
James Burbage
Birth
7 September 1533
1531
Death
24 March 1603
1597
Function
Queen of England and Ireland
from 1558 until death
Theatre impresario
Main events
- (get married) never
- (bring) stabilisation
- (reform) Church of England
- (build) first permanent
theatre
- (be) leader in acting
company
- (teach) acting / his son
Link with
(support) music and theatre
Shakespeare
9
(open) theatre just before
Shakespeare’s arrival in
London
HISTORICAL PLACES
The Queen’s Men
The Globe Theatre
Creation
1603
1599
Leader / Owner
Richard Perkins
The Lord Chamberlain’s
Men
Composition / Location 10 men
Main events
- (tour) every summer
- (perform) a lot of
comedies
- (depend) on the Queen’s
patronage
Link with Shakespeare none
Central London
- (be destroy) by fire (1613)
- (be close) by Puritans
(1642)
- (build) modern
reproduction (1997)
(be owned) by his acting
company
3. Write your article and present it to the class.
10
FICHE ÉLÈVE
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
A. Overall comprehension
1. Watch the very beginning of the video. Who is the video about?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. What sort of document do you think the video must be?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
3. What could the video to talk about then? (several possible answers)
– his family background
– his childhood
– the historical context of his life
– his love stories
– his career
– his death
4. Now watch the whole video carefully. What themes are really
mentioned?
– his family background
– his childhood
– the historical context of his life
– his love stories
– his career
– his death
B. Detailed comprehension
I. FIRST
EXTRACT
1. When was this famous person born?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. Pick at least two of the three adjectives to describe life at that time.
........................................................................................................
......................................................................................................
11
3. Match each of these adjectives with its definition.
Adjectives
Definition
not nice, immoral, very unpleasant
cruel and violent
not long
II. SECOND
EXTRACT
1. Who is mentioned in this extract?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. What are the men in the pictures doing?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
3. How is this job called?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
4. What can you say about the music and the atmosphere of this
passage?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
5. What are the two words in the extract which confirm this idea?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
6. Complete the following summary.
...........................’s ........................... was a ........................... .
This may explain why ........................... and ........................... are
very important themes in his........................... .
12
III. THIRD EXTRACT
1. Which century is mentioned in the video?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. What adjective is used to describe this period?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
3. Describe what you see.
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
4. What sort of conflict was taking place at that time? Tick the correct
answer.
– an economical conflict
– a political conflict
– a religious conflict
5. Who was fighting in this conflict?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
6. Who was winning this conflict in England?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
7. What can you see on the pictures now?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
8. What do you think happened to these people?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
9. Fill in the gaps.
The .........................., a lethal* .......................... spread* by a
mere sneeze* kept ..........................-expectancy to ..........................
years.
13
10. Match each word with an asterisk with its correct equivalent, or
definition.
Words
Equivalent or definition
transmitted
éternuement
capable of causing death
IV. FOURTH
EXTRACT
1. Who can you see on the portrait?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. What did she encourage?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
3. Pick the name of a theatrical troop mentioned in this extract.
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
V. FIFTH
EXTRACT
1. What can you see on the images?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. What was London like at the end of the century?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
3. Fill in the gaps.
Permanent ............................, ............................ acting
............................, license ............................: a new
............................ with ............................ to be made from
............................ .”
14
4. Recap! Explain in your own words the main idea of this passage.
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
5. What sort of building can you see at the end of the passage?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
6. What is the shape of this building?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
7. This building represents a very famous place. Do you know what
it is?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
VI. SIXTH
EXTRACT
1. Who was James Burbage?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. Fill in the grid.
Year
3. Circle the words you hear.
– shared / shaved
– professors / profits
– profession / professional
– write / writer
– freeing / freedom
– patronage / patriarch
15
Creation
Name
4. Recap! Use your answers to complete the following summary.
As he created his own theatre ............................, William
Shakespeare made ............................ and became
............................ from ........................... .
VII. SEVENTH EXTRACT
1. Circle the titles you hear.
– Romeo and Juliet
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream
– Hamlet
– Much Ado About Nothing
– King Lear
– As You Like It
2. Find the French title for each of these plays.
Original title
French title
Romeo and Juliet
Beaucoup de bruit pour rien
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Hamlet
Hamlet
Le Roi Lear
Much Ado About Nothing
Comme il vous plaira
King Lear
Roméo et Juliette
As You Like It
Le Songe d’une nuit d’été
3. What sort of plays are mentioned in this extract?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
4. What does Shakespeare use in his comedies?
– suspense
– irony
5. What did he love to do?
– turn the world upside down
– describe the world in a very realistic way
16
6. Why do you think he did this?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
C. Up to you!
Objective: you’re a journalist and you have to write an article about
a historical character or a historical place.
1. Language
What tense will you use most? Why?
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2. Pick one of the following topics. Use the information of the grid and
look for more information on the Internet to write your article.
HISTORICAL
CHARACTERS
Queen Elizabeth I
17
James Burbage
Birth
7 September 1533
1531
Death
24 March 1603
1597
Function
Queen of England and Ireland
from 1558 until death
Theatre impresario
- (get married) never
Main events - (bring) stabilisation
- (reform) Church of England
- (build) first permanent
theatre
- (be) leader in acting
company
- (teach) acting / his son
Link with
(support) music and theatre
Shakespeare
(open) theatre just before
Shakespeare’s arrival in
London
HISTORICAL PLACES
The Queen’s Men
The Globe Theatre
Creation
1603
1599
Leader / Owner
Richard Perkins
The Lord Chamberlain’s
Men
Composition / Location 10 men
Main events
- (tour) every summer
- (perform) a lot of
comedies
- (depend) on the Queen’s
patronage
Link with Shakespeare none
Central London
- (be destroy) by fire (1613)
- (be close) by Puritans
(1642)
- (build) modern
reproduction (1997)
(be owned) by his acting
company
3. Write your article and present it to the class.
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
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L I V R E T R É D I G É PA R M A G A L I R O U G E R I E , P R O F E S S E U R D ’ A N G L A I S ,
ACADÉMIE DE VERSAILLES
© S C É R É N - C N D P, 2 0 0 7