Shakespeare's sonnets session
Ben Spiller of the 1623 Theatre Company came into give our students a better understanding of sonnets, and the effect the language, words and even punctuation has on the reader. The practical session started with some fun exercises such as greeting each other in a Shakespearian way, then looking at a Shakespearian sonnet, with everyone analysing how tone and mood can change even from line to line.
Ben explained Iambic Pentameter in detail, and everyone clapped the beats of the sonnet out while repeating the lines. This was useful as the group got to hear the beats of the lines, which sounds a lot different to just reading a sonnet to yourself. The group then marched around the room repeating the sonnet out loud, and discussed which words stood out the most.
Groups were formed to analyse a sonnet, thinking about everything in it from the rhythm to the language and lines they didn't understand. Each group then presented, and Ben gave his feedback.
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