Rookie Reflections

I'm working up some lessons for this upcoming year, and this is one I'm testing out for 12th grade. By the time they complete my class, they will have read all these plays during high school and should have at least a working understanding of each. If you get a minute, let me know what you think.



CHALLENGE: Although many of Shakespeare's plays focus primarily on men, consider his portrayal of women. The Bard frequently uses love/lust between his leading men and a unique woman to drive the action of the plays. Can you match each influential lady with her spoken words? (HINTS: Consider all of the plays we discussed. What was the premise of each? What character traits does each woman possess? Would the quotation fit her character?) (NOTE: These are NOT the main quotations we discussed in class.)


a. Ophelia (Hamlet)
b. Desdemona (Othello)
c. Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
d. Lady Macbeth (Macbeth)
e. Beatrice (Much ado about Nothing)
f. Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)


1. __________

A dear happiness to women. They would else have
been troubled with a pernicious suitor.
I thank God and my cold blood I am of your humor for that.
I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loved me.


2. __________

Come, gentle night, — come, loving black brow'd night,
Give me my [name removed]; and when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of Heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.


3. __________

And even for that do I love you the more.
I am your spaniel. And, [name removed],
The more you beat me, I will fawn on you.
Use me but as your spaniel—spurn me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me. Only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
What worser place can I beg in your love—
And yet a place of high respect with me—
Than to be used as you use your dog?


4. __________

My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.
To you I am bound for life and education.
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you. You are the lord of my duty,
I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband,
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.


5. __________

Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-ful
Of direst cruelty!


6. __________

I...now see that noble and most sovereign reason,
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;
That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth
Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me,
To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!




How did you do? Is this too hard/too easy? Should I modify it to be more recognizable quotations from them?