Shakespeare Resources
Shakespeare’s plays are not only entertaining reads, but also a staple of high school literature courses. Here’s a roundup of free online resources for learning or teaching about the Bard, including websites, lesson plans, free books, and other media. I hope teachers, students, and homeschoolers alike find it useful.
Websites
Shakespeare Online
Shakespeare Online is one of the biggest and best resources for learning about the Bard. Here, you can read a detailed biography (including information on Elizabethan England), learn about Elizabethan theatres, and even browse a glossary of terms and phrases used in the plays. Make sure you also check out the analysis page for “detailed analysis of selected plays, including information on the major characters and themes, study questions, annotations, and the theatrical history of each drama.”
There is so much more to this site, as well—you could easily spend a few hours reading fascinating articles such as “Shakespeare in Print: The Perils of Publishing in Elizabethan England.” This is a fantastic resource for writing essays, and it’s also great for simply immersing yourself in the time period. I highly recommend this site.
Image by Flickr user Snowman Radio.
In Search of Shakespeare
Shakespeare has his own PBS minisite, and much like the others I’ve featured, this one is full of great resources. Check out a detailed timeline (painstakingly researched by the producers of the In Search of Shakespeare documentary) and browse the Fribbling Reports, best summed up by the site itself:
“The Fribbling Reports are an entertaining exploration of the life and times of the most famous writer in history. Set in 1584, we follow John Fribbling, an entirely fictional agent of the State, in his dogged and ineffectual pursuit of one William Shakespeare, suspected Papist, known thinker.
While John Fribbling never actually existed, and there is no evidence that William Shakespeare was actively investigated by spies of the state, Shakespeare did live in a time of suspicion and paranoia in a country that was undergoing political, religious and social upheaval. Spies were everywhere; persecution was rife.”
Do you have what it takes to be a 16th century playwright? You can test your skills with the Playwright Game. Finally, educators will also benefit from a well-stocked teacher’s section, which includes lesson plans and resources for further study.
Statue of Shakespeare in Lincoln Park, Chicago
The Royal Shakespeare Society
The Royal Shakespeare Company aims “to connect and help others connect with Shakespeare and produce bold, ambitious work with living writers, actors and artists,” and their website is another great resource for study. Learn about Shakespeare’s life and times and his plays, then check out the RSC’s amazing collection of theater props and costumes, dating from the 17th century to the present.
The Behind the Scenes section is an interesting look into the actual staging of plays, from the costumes and makeup to the actors themselves. You can also learn about the RSC itself by checking out the About Us page.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a great website to learn a bit about the geography of Shakespeare’s life. You can explore homes such as Shakespeare’s birthplace, his daughter’s home, and even a working Tudor-style farm. Blogging Shakespeare is another fun feature, along with their other blogs: Finding Shakespeare, Remembering Shakespeare, Living Shakespeare, and Mary Arden’s Farm (the previously mentioned Tudor farm).
The blogs alone should be enough to satisfy even the most diehard Shakespeare fans, but if you’re still hankering for more, take a look at the SBT’s YouTube channel. It’s stocked with over 500 videos about Shakespeare and Elizabethan times—hours of great content.
Lesson Plans
Scholastic
Scholastic has a great unit plan, “History According to Shakespeare,” as well as a pair of printables for high school students.
Lesson Plans from the Folger Shakespeare Library
This site has tons of great lesson plans, teaching resources, study guides, and more. Educators will definitely find this site useful.
The reconstructed Globe Theater. Image by Commons user ChrisO.
More Resources
More lesson plans can be found at PBS (here).
Games
Shakespeare Fun at Folger
The Folger Shakespeare Library website has a section full of Shakespeare games. There are cool facts, coloring pages, famous quotes, and more.
Books
You can find Shakespeare’s complete works at Manybooks for free, or download audio versions over at Librivox.
I hope you find this roundup useful. If you have Shakespeare resources to share, or suggestions for future roundups, please leave them in the comments. I’d love to hear them!
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