Lesson Plan One
- In this lesson we will look at our introduction to the play and its issues in Act One scene one.
- The learning objective is to develop our understanding of the ways in which the characters introduce themselves and each other and which of the play's major themes are broached. We will then go on to link these points to moments later in the scene when they flag critical moments in the drama.
- By the end we should be able to answer the question: ‘how important is the opening scene in setting the tone, mood and ideology of the play?
As part of your preparation you should have looked again and in detail at the text.
- Make sure you are familiar with the narrative and the stages by which the characters are introduced.
Starter Activity
DELIO. You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio................
........How do you like the French court?
ANTONIO. I admire it:
In seeking to reduce both state and people
To a fix'd order, their judicious king
Begins at home; quits first his royal palace
Of flattering sycophants, of dissolute
And infamous persons,—which he sweetly terms
His master's master-piece, the work of heaven;
Considering duly that a prince's court
Is like a common fountain, whence should flow
Pure silver drops in general, but if 't chance
Some curs'd example poison 't near the head,
Death and diseases through the whole land spread.
And what is 't makes this blessed government
But…
