Holistic Shakespeare

Holistic Shakespeare addresses a significant gap in Shakespeare studies by combining analytical and creative learning methodologies. Despite the abundance of scholarly works in the field, there are few texts that apply the principles of holistic education to Shakespeare, making this book accessible to both teachers and learners.

The book includes non-evaluative, theatre-based activities alongside traditional analytical exercises. It specifically applies the principles, goals, and methodologies of the holistic educational model to the study of four Shakespearean plays: "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Measure for Measure", "Othello", and "The Tempest". In alignment with the aims of holistic education, each play is examined in relation to a key social or environmental topic addressed in the work.

Each chapter of Holistic Shakespeare begins with an introductory essay and is divided into five subtopics, each focusing on a specific aspect of the play. Each subtopic concludes with an extension exercise designed to enhance student understanding.

Shakespeare's plays are staples in secondary and university classrooms. However, they often pose a formidable challenge for modern students. Too often, the plays are taught merely as antiquated works of literature with little consideration of their enduring theatrical life. Because literature teachers frequently lack a strong background in theatre, they are often limited in their ability to teach the plays as lively performance texts. This book addresses that need by detailing theatre-based activities alongside traditional analytical exercises, making the study of Shakespeare both engaging and comprehensive.