Julian Girdham

Thinking, Writing, Reading, Teaching

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'Othello' Quizlet - Act 4

November 08, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The fourth in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.

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November 08, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello Quizlet, Othello
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

'Othello's Secret: the Cyprus Problem' by R.M. Christofides

October 21, 2021 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare

Othello’s Secret: the Cyprus Problem, by R.M. Christofides, is an unusual mixture of the academic and the personal, and a recommendation for anyone studying or teaching the play.

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October 21, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello
English Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

'Othello' Quizlet 3

October 12, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The third in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.

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October 12, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello, Othello Quizlet
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

Othello: The Duke and the Turks in Act I scene iii

October 06, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The short scene at the start of Act I scene iii, when the Duke and his advisors work out what to do about the Turkish fleet, prefigure significant issues in Othello: how to judge, how to weigh evidence, how to get to the truth.

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October 06, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

Othello: the opening scene (Knowing and Satisfaction)

October 03, 2021 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare

An analysis of the opening scene of Othello, looking at how Shakespeare presents us with ideas of how we can or can not ‘know’ truths, and how we can or can not be ‘satisfied.’

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October 03, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello
English Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

Graham Bradshaw on 'Othello'

September 30, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

Graham Bradshaw’s short commentary on Othello is provocative and thought-provoking.

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September 30, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

'Othello' Quizlet 2

September 28, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The second in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.

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September 28, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello Quizlet, Othello
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

'Othello: Language and Writing' by Laurie Maguire

September 20, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

Othello: Language and Writing by Laurie Maguire, Professor of English at Oxford University, is in the Student Skills series from Arden Shakespeare, but is also an excellent refresher for teachers.

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September 20, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

'Othello' Quizlet 1

September 10, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare

The first in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.

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September 10, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Othello, Othello Quizlet
Shakespeare
Comment

The Usborne Complete Shakespeare

July 04, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching, Books

This collection of re-tellings of 37 plays is highly recommended for children, and will also be useful for adults.

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July 04, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Shakespeare, English Teaching, Books
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'To be or not to be' in BSL

June 05, 2021 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare

Jamal Ajala performs ‘To be or not to be’ in BSL: an opportunity for an interesting exercise in class.

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June 05, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Hamlet
English Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

Macbeth 6: ten key quotations

May 19, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The final post in a series of 6 for pupils revising Macbeth. Here are 10 key quotations: think about their significance and write notes before reading the analyses.

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May 19, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
Shakespeare, English Teaching
1 Comment

Macbeth 5: the end

April 21, 2021 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare

Essay 5 in a series on Macbeth looks at the end, particularly the key speech ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.’

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April 21, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
English Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

Macbeth 4: the supernatural

April 16, 2021 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare

The fourth in a series of essays on Macbeth looks at the impact of the supernatural.

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April 16, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
English Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

Macbeth 3: Malcolm the hero?

April 13, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

The third in a series of essays on Macbeth looks at a possible ‘hero’ of the play, Duncan’s son Malcolm.

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April 13, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
Shakespeare, English Teaching
Comment

Macbeth 2: the real Lady Macbeth

April 07, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching

Lady Macbeth is not a one-dimensional ‘fiend’ but rather a complex, living human being. This essay examines her nine appearances in the play.

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April 07, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
Shakespeare, English Teaching
1 Comment

Macbeth 1: 'If it were done'

April 05, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare

The first in a series of posts on Macbeth starts with the most important moment in the play, the soliloquy ‘If it were done…’

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April 05, 2021 /Julian Girdham
Macbeth
Shakespeare
Comment

Thinking about 'King Lear'

January 28, 2021 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, Teaching

Here are some exercises on quotations in King Lear. They are designed for pair-work 10-minute sessions in class, but work perfectly well for individuals.

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January 28, 2021 /Julian Girdham
King Lear
Shakespeare, Teaching
2 Comments

Books of the Year, 2020

December 18, 2020 by Julian Girdham in Books, Teaching, Shakespeare

An annual personal choice of books of the year.

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December 18, 2020 /Julian Girdham
James Shapiro
Books, Teaching, Shakespeare
Comment

INOTE, November 28th 2020

November 27, 2020 by Julian Girdham in Shakespeare, English Teaching, Teaching

Here are the slides from my two presentations at the (virtual) conference of the Irish National Teachers of English on November 28th.

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November 27, 2020 /Julian Girdham
King Lear
Shakespeare, English Teaching, Teaching
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