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LITERATURE REVIEW:

INTRODUCTION:

Concept-what is covered

Structure-how is it organized

Boundaries-what is outside of it’s scope

This literature review will set out to explore the relevance of Shakespeare within the English curriculum and various strategies required to engage students when studying a Shakespeare. Various research and literature will be highlighted throughout this review to support this. This review will be structured to highlight various literature which supports the relevance of Shakespeare within an English curriculum and effective teaching strategies for engaging students when studying a Shakespearean text.

Boundaries-what is outside of it’s scope

BODY

Is Shakespeare still relevant??

Cindy Bowman and Brendan Pieters (2002) highlight how

“Shakespeare is considered to be one of the world’s greatest writers. His comedies, tragedies, histories and sonnets have enjoyed continuous success throughout the years. Actors, writers, and producers recognize Shakespeare as one of the greatest playwrights of all time. His work has been performed (or rewritten) in just about every genre associated with writing of performance, and it continues still today.”

Cindy Bowman and Brendan Pieters (2002) also emphasize that

“one of the wonderful things about Shakespeare in the classroom is that his themes and subjects are so universal. This makes it easy for students throughout the centuries to relate to Shakespeare’s characters emotions and circumstances.”

Cindy Bowman and Brendan Pieters (2002) also draw attention to these themes by giving the example of the play Much Ado About Nothing, in which many of the themes “focus on issues relevant to high school seniors such as Shakespeare’s use of rumours, which makes an engaging topic for computer based activity.”

What are successful teaching strategies for engaging students when studying Shakespeare?

Cindy Bowman and Brendan Pieters (2002) highlight how most students “will experience the Bard at some point in their education, and teachers will be required to