Does the thought of teaching Shakespeare make you break out in a cold sweat? Do you have flashbacks to high school English class, trying to decipher what “wherefore art thou” actually means? You’re not alone. Many homeschooling parents feel intimidated by the Bard. But what if I told you it could be one of the most delightful parts of your homeschool journey? With the right approach, your Charlotte Mason Shakespeare lessons can be filled with laughter, drama, and wonder, creating memories that last a lifetime.
Teaching Shakespeare in a Charlotte Mason homeschool isn’t about dry analysis or memorizing sonnets (unless your kids are into that!). It’s about introducing your children to beautiful language, timeless stories, and profound human truths. It’s about treating Shakespeare as a feast for the mind and soul, not a chore to be completed. Let’s explore how you can bring the magic of Shakespeare’s plays into your home with joy and confidence.
Why Bother With Shakespeare, Anyway?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” In a world full of amazing books, why dedicate precious time to a playwright from 400 years ago? Charlotte Mason herself was a huge advocate for introducing children to Shakespeare from a young age. She believed his works offered a unique window into human nature and a mastery of the English language that was unparalleled.
Here’s why it’s a worthy endeavor for your homeschool literature studies:
- Enriches Vocabulary and Language Skills: Shakespeare’s use of language is simply brilliant. Exposing your children to his plays expands their vocabulary and deepens their understanding of literary devices like metaphors and similes in a natural, story-driven way.
- Explores Complex Human Emotions: Love, jealousy, ambition, grief, joy—it’s all there. Shakespeare’s characters are deeply human, and their struggles are surprisingly relatable. These stories provide a safe space to discuss big feelings and moral questions.
- Builds Cultural Literacy: Shakespeare’s influence is everywhere, from movies and modern phrases (“a wild goose chase,” “break the ice”) to other great works of literature. Understanding his plays gives your children a key that unlocks a deeper appreciation for Western culture.
- Develops Critical Thinking: Following the intricate plots and character developments in plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Macbeth is a great workout for the brain. It encourages kids to pay attention to detail, make connections, and predict outcomes.
Getting Started: The Charlotte Mason Approach
The Charlotte Mason method is all about gentle beginnings and short, engaging lessons. This principle is your best friend when it comes to Shakespeare. The goal is not to have your child master Hamlet by age ten. The goal is to cultivate a love for the stories and the language. It’s about familiarity, not mastery. Forget the heavy literary criticism and daunting annotated editions for now. We are simply setting a rich and wonderful table for our children to feast upon.
Think of it as introducing a new type of food. You wouldn’t serve a five-course meal of unfamiliar cuisine to a picky eater. Instead, you’d offer a small, tasty bite. The same goes for Shakespeare. We start with the stories, told in a way that children can easily grasp. This prepares their minds and piques their interest, so when they encounter the original language, it feels like meeting an old friend rather than a complete stranger.
Your Guide To Charlotte Mason Shakespeare Lessons
Ready to get practical? A typical Charlotte Mason term focuses on one play. This slow and steady approach allows your family to become deeply familiar with the characters, plot, and language without feeling rushed. You might study three or four plays over the course of a school year. This relaxed pace is key to making the experience enjoyable for everyone, including the teacher!
Here is a simple, step-by-step plan for tackling a play:
- Read a Narrative Version First: Before you even touch Shakespeare’s original words, read a well-written story version of the play. Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare is the classic choice for this and was recommended by Charlotte Mason herself. Reading the story first gives everyone a clear understanding of the plot, characters, and major events. This is the scaffolding that will support you when you move on to the real text.
- Listen to the Play: Find a good quality audio performance of the play. LibriVox and other services offer free recordings, while professional productions from companies like Arkangel Shakespeare are fantastic investments. Listen to one or two scenes at a time. The goal is simply to let the language wash over you. Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word. The actors’ tones and emotions will convey much of the meaning.
- Read the Scenes Aloud: After listening, take turns reading the scenes aloud as a family. Assign parts and have fun with it! Use silly voices, stand up, and act things out. This is where the play truly comes to life. Keep lessons short—maybe 15-20 minutes a few times a week. The point is to enjoy the process, not to race to the finish line.
- Narrate, Don’t Quiz: After reading a scene, ask your child to narrate, or “tell back,” what happened in their own words. Narration is a cornerstone of the Charlotte Mason method. It requires the child to process the information, organize their thoughts, and articulate the story. It’s a powerful tool for building comprehension and retention without the pressure of a formal quiz. Ask simple questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think that character was feeling?”
Choosing The Right Plays
Not all of Shakespeare’s plays are created equal when it comes to introducing them to children. It’s wise to start with the comedies and romances before moving on to the more complex histories and tragedies. The lighter plays are often funnier, have happier endings, and are generally more accessible for younger minds.
Great Starter Plays:
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Fairies, mistaken identities, and a man with a donkey’s head. What’s not to love? This is often the perfect first play.
- The Comedy of Errors: Two sets of identical twins separated at birth lead to hilarious chaos. It’s fast-paced and full of slapstick humor.
- Twelfth Night: A shipwreck, a girl disguised as a boy, and a fantastic cast of comical characters make this a family favorite.
- As You Like It: Another story featuring a girl in disguise, this play is set in a charming forest and explores themes of love and forgiveness.
As your children get older and more comfortable with the language, you can gradually introduce the tragedies like Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar. These plays offer incredible depth and powerful lessons about human nature, but their mature themes and tragic endings are often better suited for the middle and high school years.
Making Shakespeare A Living Study
The beauty of homeschooling is the ability to make learning a rich, multi-sensory experience. Don’t let Shakespeare stay on the page! Bring the plays to life by incorporating other activities that connect to the stories. This turns literature studies for homeschool from a simple subject into an immersive adventure.
- Watch a Performance: Once you’ve finished studying a play, watch a movie version or, even better, a live performance if possible. Seeing the story acted out on a stage or screen solidifies understanding and brings a new level of appreciation. The Globe Theatre in London has many performances available to stream online.
- Incorporate Art and Music: Study art that depicts scenes from the play you are reading. Listen to musical compositions inspired by Shakespeare’s works, like Mendelssohn’s overture for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This connects the play to the wider world of arts and culture.
- Get Crafty: Make simple puppets and put on a puppet show. Build a model of the Globe Theatre out of a shoebox. Draw or paint your favorite characters. These hands-on activities help children engage with the material on their own terms.
- Memorize Short Passages: Charlotte Mason encouraged memorization of beautiful poetry and prose. Choose a few famous or funny lines from the play for your child to learn. This shouldn’t be a chore but an enjoyable way to hide beautiful language in their hearts. Pick lines that resonate with them, not just the most famous soliloquies.
You Can Do This!
Teaching Shakespeare in your homeschool doesn’t require you to be a literary scholar. It only requires a willingness to explore these wonderful stories alongside your children. Your enthusiasm (or lack thereof) will be contagious. If you approach it with a sense of adventure and fun, your children will too. Let go of the pressure to “get it right” and embrace the journey of discovery.
You will be amazed at how much you and your children absorb just by consistently and gently engaging with the plays. One day, you’ll overhear your son jokingly call his brother a “scurvy knave,” or your daughter will recognize a Shakespearean quote in a movie, and you’ll realize the feast is working its magic. You are giving your children a gift that will enrich their minds and spirits for the rest of their lives.
Keep Exploring with DKM Homeschool Resource
Feeling more confident about bringing the Bard into your home? We hope so! Teaching literature in a way that inspires a lifelong love of reading is one of the greatest joys of homeschooling. For more practical advice, curriculum reviews, and encouragement for your homeschool journey, be sure to explore our other blog posts. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
