Lesson Idea 2: "Mind Your Thees and Thous" - An examination of Renaissance English with emphasis on it's spoken form.

Artist Unknown, c 1560

Lesson Idea and Outline

Students will listen to a variety of texts i.e. Chaucer, Marlowe, Shakespeare, being read and attempt to gather their meaning from this. They will then read some of these texts identifying unknown words, differences in spelling/grammar etc.

Overview

An examination of Middle and Renaissance English, looking at the phonetic and written forms to develop student awareness of the differences between, and the development of, the language then, and modern English.

Objectives

To develop student awareness of the origins of English as a language. To inform students that English is a living language through the exploration of the similarities and differences in pronunciation and usage between the Renaissance and now. To develop students aural comprehension, oral skills, and understanding of grammar.

Time Required

4X1 hr Classes:1X listening/discussion, 2X reading/researching 1X Writing and presentation.

Materials and Equipment

Audio, preferably a skilled live reader, but, if necessary ,audio tapes of the literature being read. Copies of the texts, Vocabulary and Grammar sheets, reference books, Web access for research.

Procedures

• Introduce the concept of a living language. What does it mean? compare with Latin.
• Look at other living languages i.e. Japanese, French, what are the common elements? (growth, absorption, adaptability etc.) ·
• Discuss how languages change over time. How grammar alters as writing becomes more important. How accents and pronunciation change as people interact. ·
• Discuss the Renaissance, and Elizabethan England in general terms.
• Introduce the first audio piece. · Explain that students are to listen to it and attempt to understand the language and the meaning of the text. Get them to take notes. ·
• After listening, discuss, refer to the difficulties in understanding the spoken words, discuss any meaning gleaned from the text. ·
• Hand out a written copy and reread/replay the spoken piece with students following the reading
• Examine the text, look for unknown words and usages, look at the grammar. · Repeat with 2-3 more texts.
• Discuss whether students have improved their ability to comprehend the spoken words of that time through listening.
• Explain that in order to understand the text we will need to look at the way things were spoken at that time both the words and the grammar.
• Set research task: Students are to look up the meaning and derivation of a variety of Renaissance words. They must list the pronunciation, the meaning and/or equivalent in modern English, a sentence using the word in context, and the derivation.
• Students write their findings up, and present at least one word to the class using the correct pronunciation of the times.

Student Presentation Options

This plan has been designed to allow for a range of presentation options depending on age/skill level of students, and the resources available. Written and oral presentation are already listed. Students could also perform a segment from a play , read a Poem out loud or record the same. Presentation of information using Director, PowerPoint or Hyperstudio using audio and visual information. A Website of definitions and terms based on the data collected .

Extensions

An extended study of the development of the English language. An examination of Renaissance literature. Creative writing in the style of the times

Cross-curricular Options

Arts

• An examination of Renaissance painting, looking at the Similarities and differences of work from the Northern, Italian and Elizabethan schools. An examination of the symbolism used in their work

Health and PE

• An examination of Renaissance diet, both feasts and that of the peasantry. Food preservation techniques, Cooking and presentation of a Renaissance meal.

LOTE

• An exploration of the Renaissance through the language studied.

Maths

• An examination of the mathematics of the time, with reference to it's current usage.

Music

• Look at the instrumentation of the times, perform music from that era. P.E: Renaissance games. Look at the sports of the time draw parallels between then and now. Play some Of the Sports.

Science

• An examination of the science of the time. Their knowledge and theories. i.e. DaVinci's flying machines, which ones might work? why?

SOSE

• An examination of Renaissance history. Why Florence? Why then? An exploration of Renaissance Society, It's structure, mores, and organisation.