Shakespearean Truth or Dare

To embrace Shakespeare's language, play with some of his typical situations, and, yes, be a little bit silly, student engage in some Shakespearean Truth or Dare.  During our unit reading Hamlet, students will have the opportunity to select a Truth or a Dare.  A Dare is a silly task to complete or perform.  A Truth requires students to answer a question about the play (that I usually make up on the spot depending on where we are in the reading of the play).





Here is a sample of a few of the "Dares":

Impersonate Polonious.  Give someone advice.

As Ophelia, dote in idolatry to a “Hamlet.”

Tell the class “Horatio” how much you value him/her.

It’s cold tonight at Elsinore Castle.  Show us how cold.

Give us your best ghost impression.

You are now Francisco.  Go stand guard at the door for the rest of the period.

Here is a sample of the types of questions I might use for "Truths":

Who seems to be Hamlet’s best friend so far?

Why do the guards think that the ghost leaves initially?

Who says “with an auspicious and a dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirth in marriage”?

What is a First Folio?

And, here are a few photos of my students in action (performing Dares or answering Truths):