Reading and Dramatizing Shakespeare's Sonnets

Each of William Shakespeare's 154 sonnets is unique, conveying different emotions and states of being. However, they do have some things in common; each tells a brief story about the speaker's attitude and feelings about the person he is addressing. 

In class, you will be turning these sonnets into scenes and dramatizing them.

Directions:

1. Read the sonnet assigned to your group several times; annotate it then write a modern day paraphrase of it. To help you understand the poem, use context clues, dictionaries, and discuss with group members.

2. Summary - what is happening in the poem? What is the most important, main idea of the poem? Who is speaking? Who is he speaking to? Why? 

3. Analysis - how does Shakespeare convey his ideas and emotions? Through what literary techniques? Is there anything you don't understand - write your questions.

4. Dramatization - turn the sonnet into a scene. Each student must have a role and the entire poem should be used. You can use the paraphrase or the original language. 

You have 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to rehearse. Then you will perform your sonnet for the class.

Plan and direct the scene. Have 1 person in the group take notes on a sheet of paper to hand in; answer these questions and write the script:

• Who are the characters? What are they like? What are they doing, saying, feeling, etc.?
• What is the setting? Why? How are you going to convey the setting?
• What is the mood of the poem? How can you convey it?
• How can you help convey to the audience what is happening in the scene? What props will you use? How will you use the stage?

"Act out" the lines:

• Pacing: Where will you pause? Speak slowly or quickly? 
• Mood: What emotions are most important in the scene? 
• Visualization: How will you get the audience to see and understand the sonnet scene> Through what gestures, actions, facial expressions, props, etc.?

Final reflection - after the performances, answer these questions in your notebook:

• What did you learn and discover about sonnets? About acting out a text?
• How can this activity be applied to reading and acting out Romeo and Juliet?