When I teach “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, one theme that we focus on is fate vs. free will, which we explore by looking at the ways in which Macbeth’s downfall is driven by outside forces. Students hunt for evidence to …
Shakespeare has many plays involving leaders, but the story of Julius Caesar has become legendary. Very early on, the consequences of a leader who has gained too much power is shown. At this point, I would introduce students to the …
The plot of the popular Shakespeare play Twelfth Night is based entirely on deception. I would use the conversation with Elizabeth Cady Stanton on Honesty to lead a discussion with students post reading. I would have them apply the question …
In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, various family members compete for the fulfillment of their dreams. But for each, there is the vision, and then there are the uncertain “facts.” The Einstein conversation allows students to consider whether …
Arthur Miller’s historical drama The Crucible features multiple examples of conflict. I would pair this play (based on real events) with the conversation with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on conflict at multiple places in the play as different conflicts …
Hamlet is the perfect Shakespeare play with which to have interesting conversations about the theme of problem solving. At the center of this work and several of its famous soliloquies is an exploration of whether something or nothing should be …
When teaching Arthur MIller’s The Crucible I would keep the John Adams conversation regarding power in my back pocket. As Miller craftily shows how quickly power can go awry when it is in the wrong hands. I could use John …
