Teaching Shakespeare on Screen. Exploring Modern Classroom Dynamics through Film Adaptations of 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Macbeth' (PDF)

Examination Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,0, LMU Munich (English Studies), language: English, abstract: A concise overview of the theoretical context of Shakespeare in film, genre theory, drama and film analysis sets the stage for this paper on the use of Shakespeare adaptations in the modern classroom. Central to this work is the analysis of "Much Ado About Nothing" together with Branagh's 1993 film version of the play, and "Macbeth" and its latest adaptation by Joel Coen, as well as methodical and didactic considerations for the use of both, play and film, in the classroom. This tripartite structure is reflected in the main chapters: First, a short introduction to the play and its characters will lay the groundwork for a closer analysis in regard to the play's themes. Second, an in-depth look at the film adaptation will provide an insight into the various possibilities for re-imagining Shakespeare's plays in modern popular culture, how the themes are reflected in the film, and how the specifics of each play come together on the screen. Finally, each chapter will end on methodological and pedagogical implications of using these works for learning and teaching purposes. The didactic perspective will be further discussed in the last chapter "Teaching Shakespeare", which offers an overview of important principles of teaching the bard and his work, discusses different approaches and includes an exemplary lesson plan for a teaching unit to demonstrate how the theoretical and didactic considerations can play together in the practical application.