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Years 7 – 8 English Shakespeare’s Speeches

Learning Objectives

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To learn about the importance of the use of voice when portraying a character.

To understand the style and effect of Shakespeare’s language.

To learn about a range of performance styles for speeches.

Voice

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Staging Shakespeare can be a challenge. There are many things to consider, including how to interpret the language he uses, and how to stage his key speeches.

Voice is very important when it comes to conveying the emotions, objectives and intentions of your character. You should think about why those particular words are being spoken and what effect they have on the other characters and the audience.

Make notes on your lines. Write down what your character is feeling, what they want and why they say what they do. Then decide how you can use your voice to convey these things.

The rhythm of speech

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Each line has ten syllables, grouped as five pairs or feet. The stress falls on the second syllable of each foot.

As a rule, the important characters talk in verse, while the servants and other minor players talk in prose.

Shakespeare often uses blank verse – verse which has a rhythm or meter, but no rhymes. The meter most often used for blank verse is iambic pentameter.

‗ _ _ ‗ ‗ They have / their ex/its and/ their ent/rances, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Here’s an example from As You like It. Press play to hear the line spoken.

Key words

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From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsDoth with their death bury their parents' strife.The fearful passage of their death-marked loveAnd the continuance of their parents' rage –

Key words are a helpful way to understand the meaning of a speech.

Speak the key words aloud individually using as much expression as possible. What atmosphere or mood do they create? Now divide into eight groups and each group create a still image for each word.

Choosing a performance style

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