A Treasure Chest Resource
Shakespeare's works can intimidate many students and in an attempt to justify why they dislike studying Early Modern drama or poetry, in my experience, students will often claim that since the language is antiquated we shouldn't be studying it now in 2025. As if in response to this sentiment, Gaze retorts that if Shakespeare's language is so difficult, why do we use it everyday? And he's right. Students will have undoubtedly heard and used many of these daily idioms, but more than that, Gaze theatrically showcases the power of Shakespeare's language in a way that, I hope, would move students and demonstrate why we still study Shakespeare's works in English classes today.
​
Personally, I love Shakespeare, but in my current role and in my teaching experience I've never had the opportunity to inspire students to learn to love Shakespeare as well. I would very much enjoy that opportunity. Part of what I imagine might be fascinating to students, and is something that Gaze touches on in this TEDTalk, is that the real Shakespeare, (the time, the politics, the culture, etc.) is all very interesting. It was my experience in secondary school to read and study the comedies and the tragedies, but the history plays, while dramatized heavily, were real! And I would like to make that come alive for students.