Homeschooling Poetry and Shakespeare

This year, we started off with poetry and continue to move headlong into it.  From King Arthur and the Idylls of the King (depicting 5th/6th centuries) to Shakespeare's (16th century), A Midsummer Night's Dream, we are working our way through the complexities of old English. We are using the following resources and teaching sources:
History/Backround Life in 17th Century (mature)
Teaching Unit
Writing Style

Once again, I find it interesting how a collage of learning will come together when homeschooling.  For example, we started on the path of poetry studies for ELA and found detours opening up like investigating history when looking at King Arthur's legendary existence in the 5th and 6th centuries.  From there, questions came up asking, What is a century?  What does BC,AD,BCE, CE mean?  Questions like these take us briefly off the path which can feel frustrating until you realize, these are very valid points of interest and represent things we need to know.  We, as adults, take much of our acquired knowledge for granted but as teachers, we need to step back and allow for these detours and know that it counts.  But weren't we studying ELA? Yes, but then history and life present.  

Another example of 'homeschool magic' occurred when someone in our FB support group posted an opportunity for 7-12th grades to attend a 10 week Shakespearian actors workshop where students will study and perform, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  How perfect!  I quickly claimed a space for Niah and promptly made adjustments to our ELA path so that we could start understanding this play.  We weren't finished with Idylls of the King, but for the greater good, we put it on the back burner for now.  Niah is happy about that as she really doesn't like it.  I don't think she cares for Shakespeare at this moment either but hopefully, this course will open her mind.  After all, a very experienced USC Professor is teaching and is sure to light Niah up.  

Shakespeare at The Mermaid Tavern

  

Fairies were very popular in this time period.    

"Elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves;

And ye, that on the sands with printless foot,
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
When he comes back; you demy-puppets that
By moonshine do the green-sour ringlets make
Whereof the ewe not bites," &c.,

Edwin Landseer 1802-1873

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.”