Renaissance humanism in Hamlet and The Birth of Venus
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=297
A lesson plan for grade 12 English Language Arts
Students evaluate the characteristics of Humanism during the Renaissance Period by analyzing William Shakespeare’s, Hamlet and Botticelli’s painting, The Birth of Venus.
At the conclusion of this lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify and explain how the characteristics and concepts of a literary genre are reflected in a work of art and piece of literature.
- Analyze the overall significance, meaning, and theme of a work of art and literature through an explication of its individual elements.
- Examine the details in a work of art by sketching and labeling its major elements.
- Synthesize knowledge of the ways that a painting uses subject, symbolism, color and light, composition, movement, and perspective to draw conclusions about the overall tone and theme of a work of art.
- Use literary tools (diction, symbolism, characterization, tone, and elements of plot) to analyze and explain how specific elements establish the tone and theme of a work of art and a piece of literature.
- Explain in essay form how the elements establish both a work of art and a piece of literature as examples of Renaissance Humanism.
This lesson provides links to Bottechelli’s painting, a critique and explication of the painting, an explanation and online tutorial of Renaissance Humanism, a graphic organizer for evaluating the characteristics of Humanism in Hamlet, and an essay checklist and rubric.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 12
- Goal 5: The learner will deepen understanding of British literature through exploration and extended engagement.
- Objective 5.01: Explore British literature by:
- recognizing common themes that run through works, using evidence from the texts to substantiate ideas.
- relating the cultural and historical contexts to the literature and identifying perceived ambiguities, prejudices, and complexities.
- making associations between historical and current viewpoints.
-understanding how literary movements influence writers.
- Objective 5.01: Explore British literature by:
Grade 12 — Advanced Placement English Literature
- Goal 4: The learner will explore and provide critical perspectives through deliberate and thorough analysis, interpretation and evaluation of text.
- Objective 4.02: Provide organized, structured critical analyses by:
- creating an awareness and appreciation of thematic connections among works.
- conveying an understanding of historical background and social values based on different cultural perspectives.
- Objective 4.02: Provide organized, structured critical analyses by:
- Goal 5: The learner will engage in an intensive study of representative works of recognized literary merit from various genres and time periods with a strong focus on the 16th through the 21st century.
- Objective 5.01: Demonstrate an understanding of literary works by:
- analyzing textual detail.
- exploring historical context as well as social and cultural values.
- evaluating an author's style, including syntax, diction, figurative language, and literary devices.
- considering organization, subject, occasion, audience, purpose, and speaker.
- sharing thoughtful discussion in the company of his/her peers.
- Objective 5.01: Demonstrate an understanding of literary works by:
