The Cymbeline Problem
So I started Cymbeline with the 8th grade class today. I posted a request for suggestions yesterday, but the answer was staring right back at me from the post itself. Show the students the Taming of the Shrew video that the 11th grade students made.
We did a basic K/W/L activity on Shakespeare and the teacher was so impressed by her students’ prior knowledge that she decided to let the students choose the play. But they didn’t really know very many plays, though one student remarked that Romeo and Juliet was “so played out.”
I showed them the Shrew video, and invited them to discuss at their tables how they would do the project differently. They came up with some great ideas, and earnest critiques of the project. They also decided that they wanted to do The Taming of the Shrew. Yeah, because Romeo and Juliet is “so played out.”
We discussed some other plays, including As You Like It and Othello, which seemed to be strong contenders. One of the students asked about Cymbeline, and the teacher gave a brief description of the opening situation with Imogen, Cymbeline, Posthumous, Cloten, and the wicked Queen. I talked about how Iachimo bet Postumous that he could seduce his wife. The teacher described with some detail how Iachimo was able to “win” his bet, as it slowly dawned on me why we don’t teach this play. Still, it’s Shakespeare, and we’re totally going to get away with it. I described the beheading of Cloten, and now all the students want to do Cymbeline.
So we ended up where we started on the play, but at least the students now have ownership of the choice. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it.
UPDATE: The project has been completed.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I foresee some awkward yet humorous moments ahead for you.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Just my two cents, but I do think it’s worth noting the REASONS that that these scenarios are told. There are very important lessons in CYMBELINE about the pitfalls of jealousy, gossip, lies, ambition, greed, and ultimately forgiveness…. As much action as there is in the play, everything is put in the framework of demonstrating the damage and destruction of poor behavior. As ribald as it may appear at first glance, focusing on the cautionary tale it can be will disperse any awkwardness about the mature nature of the material….
March 6th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
That’s an excellent point, and the play as a whole does have a very clear moral center. I will teach it with head held high.