Lesson Plan
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1)Exposing students to different cultures.
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2)Discussions of “Self-Esteem.
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a.Learning to accept yourself.
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b.Learning to accept others for what they are.
After reading Shakespeare’s sonnet #CXXVII aloud we would explore the questions of different cultures and self-esteem as laid out in the Lesson Plan. The next step would be for the teacher to divide the class into two groups. Lets call them group A and group B. The group A students would each select a culture of their individual interest, research it’s history, fashion and social morals. The group B students would all be assigned, by the teacher, a culture to research;it’s history, fashion and social morals. The final part of this exercise would be for the two groups to get together and discuss their findings. The group A students will be very diverse compared to the group B students.
This lesson would not only expose students to different cultures but also to the understanding and acceptance of “difference”.
An additional note about William Shakespeare’s sonnets. It is believed by some that the “dark lady” of his sonnets was his mistress, Mary Fitton.
Sonnets from the Portuguese
HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS
I LOVE THEE To THE DEPTH AND BREADTH AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH, WHEN FEELING Our OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING AND IDEAL GRACE.
I LOVE THEE TO THE LEVEL OF EVERY DAY’S
MOST QUIET NEED, BY SUN AND CANDLELIGHT
.I LOVE THEE FREELY, AS MEN STRIVE FOR RIGHT;
I LOVE THEE PURELY, AS THEY TURN FROM PRAISE.
I LOVE THEE WITH THE PASSION PUT TO US
IN MY OLD GRIEFS, AND WITH MY CHILDHOOD’S FAITH.
I LOVE THEE WITH A LOVE I SEEMED TO LOSE
WITH MY LOST SAINTS,-I LOVE THEE WITH THE BREATH,
SMILES, REARS, OF ALL MY LIFE!-AND, IF GOD CHOOSE,
I SHALL BUT LOVE THEE BETTER AFTER DEATH.
The first line of this poem is familiar to almost everyone, from children to adults. I have even heard cartoon characters saying the first line, “How do I love thee, let me count the ways.” However, if you should ask how the rest of the poem goes you will be met with a blank stare.
The actor assumes the poet is speaking to a lover or someone he or she is in love with. It is not clear whether the person the poet is talking about knows of their feelings. We do not know the character’s age and there is no specific place given or implied in the sonnet.
