WILLIAM

SHAKESPEARE
rd
3 December

INTERACTIVE

SESSION

An Interactive Session for all Class IX students was held to celebrate 400
years of the greatest dramatist and playwright of all time, William
Shakespeare. And while it has been more than four centuries since The
Bard first wrote his works, they still resonate today. The program
combined Shakespeares works with modern day topics. It was a brilliant
opportunity for students to not only engage with the words of the Bard,
but also work together in the spirit of creative endeavour.
Students were assigned the task of finding newspaper articles on a few
modern day topics. They then had to link these modern day topics with
Shakespeares works. In a series of discussions, students actively debated
and deliberated on the topics. It was interesting to see how each topic
portrayed an issue or theme that the students could be dealing with in
their everyday life such as passion or jealousy. They also discussed
and compared larger and broader issues such as Corruption, Power
and the Goodness of the Heart with Shakespeares works.
When the topic Passion was being discussed, students spoke about how
Henrik Stenson, a zealous golfer, continues to give hope to ageing golfers.
His passion for golf remains the same even after so many years and defies
all age related barriers. Stenson inspires golfers to not let go off their
passion just because of age. Students also discussed how passion
corresponds to Shakespeares era by discussing scenes from Hamlet. In
Hamlet, which is a tragic play written by Shakespeare, characters are
overwhelmed by different forms of passion.
Next the students discussed topics like Power and Jealousy. While
talking about recent times, students brought up the topic of the US
presidential elections, a perfect example of the battle for power and how
it was driven by a mutual feeling of jealousy. They then related this with
the plays written by Shakespeare, like Richard II, Henry V and Henry VII,
which revolve completely around the battle for power.
While on the topic of Corruption, students enthusiastically discussed the
current issue of demonetization, a recent move taken by the government
to fight corruption. They discussed how Shakespeares depiction of human
nature through all his plays reveals the corruption that infects human
beings. They spoke with enthusiasm about plays like Hamlet and Measure
for Measure where Shakespeare has explored the ways in which kings and
other powerful figures have often abused their position to gain power,
usually the throne, by illegitimate means.
While on the topic of Goodness of heart, the students compared an
article featuring the tennis legend Andre Agassi who spoke about how he

funded 70 schools to encourage education for children with Shakespeares

play As you like it.
The activity was an interactive experience where the students could
realize Shakespeares relevance in this day and age. The audience
participation and reaction was high from giggles to excited and fervent
discussions. This was also interspersed with questions from the teachers.
On the whole, it was a thought provoking, informative and enjoyable
session.