creative+assignment

**The creative assignment guidelines are as follows:**
As a culminating creative activity for this unit, you get to choose one of the following options.

Ø	Craft a “2-Minute” Shakespeare wherein you summarize the play in a creative and concise manner. You will need to incorporate some prop(s) and a costume. Ø	Read a monologue or scene as a podcast. You can go to www.mypodcast.com or other sites to do this. You should then upload your podcast to the wiki under “student projects.” Ø	Create a comic version of an Act. Please see the examples I have. Ø	Apply the universal themes of Shakespeare [conflict, change/metamorphosis, appearance and reality, and order and disorder] to the three levels of existence [self, society, the natural world]. You should provide an explanation for each theme in the context of each level, using a quote for each level. Then draw a picture that illustrates each theme at work in this play. So, you'll have four illustrations total (one for each theme) and twelve explanatory statements with quotes (one for each theme and level). Ø	Design a stage plan (either a shoe box set or an illustration) and cast the play with modern actors. Please include a statement of your approach to this play – your overarching, guiding idea. Ø	Write a poem (minimum 25-lines) that summarizes the play and one of its themes. Ø	Write an extension of the ending of the play. What happens after Malcom comes to power? How does Fleance assume control? Ø	With a group of your own choosing, you may act out a critical scene in the play. The scene needs to be approved by me before you proceed. You need to incorporate costuming, blocking, and rehearsal so your delivery is polished and practiced. You do not need to memorize lines, though you can. Ø	Create a front-page of a newspaper that summarizes the events at the close of the play. Have images, headlines, and at least three stories that highlight the events of the concluding act. Ø	Anything else you can come up with… but please check with me.

This assignment is due on Tuesday, March 4th.

**More on the option re: the Universal Themes of Shakespeare**
=**The Four Common Themes**= at work in each of Shakespeare's play are: 1. __The Conflict__ "Conflict is the essence of all drama, and in Shakespeare's plays it takes many different forms. It can be strife of rivals in love or war. It can be quarrels within families or between families. In the history plays the conflict expresses dynastic or international struggles. In the comedies it is quickly obvious that love will be the source of conflict." 2. __Appearance and Reality__ "In every play, things and people are not what they seem... Women disguise themselves as men; evil intentions are hidden behind masks of friendship; characters pretend to be mad; identities are mistaken; illusions abound." 3. __Order and Disorder__ "In every play, stability gives way to confusion. The disruptions occur in persons, in society, and in nature. The disruptions have many causes, varying from play to play: love, hatred, jealousy, ambition, the lust for political power, self-centeredness, and so on." 4. __Change/Metamorphosis__ "In every play, characters change in some way. For some, the change is from life to death; for others, the development of new insights and increased compassion. Kings and tyrants fall from power, villains are unmasked."

=**The Levels**= These themes can be seen in three different levels in the plays. They are: 1. __The individual; psychological or personal__ "An individual might experience personal conflict, or mental and spiritual disorder; he or she might disguise his or her true feelings or identity; there might be changes in personality." 2. __The social; family, society and nation__ "The families of the Montagues have been fighting for many years. Macbeth's Scotland is torn by tyranny and warfare." 3. __The natural level; cosmic, supernatural, or nature__ "Storms, stars, witches, ghosts or nature itself express each theme. Disruptions and conflict in persons and society are mirrored by disruptions in nature."


 * My thanks to The Cambridge School Shakespeare's //Teaching Shakespeare//, by Rex Gibson, for these examples and explanations.