Shakespeare - Level 3 - Advanced
Learning Outcomes
Learners should:
- demonstrate well developed performance skills
- convey the style and verse form of the pieces
- produce a range of style and emotion
- show a confident and detailed knowledge of the plays from which the pieces are taken
- reflect their depth of knowledge through their interpretation of character
- demonstrate an understanding of themes, subtext and underlying motives
- demonstrate an understanding of iambic, trochaic, anapaestic, dactylic rhythm and metre
- demonstrate a depth of technical understanding required when performing Shakespeare
- demonstrate a comprehension of the language and writing of Shakespeare
- demonstrate a depth of knowledge of Elizabethan Theatre in general
At this level no scene should exceed 5 minutes.
Grade 6 Bronze Medal (20 Minutes)
Learners should be 15 years old or over.
Marks awarded at this grade:
Stage Presence: 15 marks
Voice Production: 15 marks
Theme - Rhetoric and Oratory
Learners should:
- Perform a speech by one of the following:
- Henry - Henry V, Act III Scene 1, “Once more unto the breach …”
- Brutus - Julius Caesar, Act III Scene 2, “Romans, countrymen, lovers …”
- Prince of Verona - Romeo and Juliet, Act I Scene 1, “Rebellious subjects …”
- Queen Katherine - Henry VIII, Act II Scene 4
- Portia - The Merchant of Venice, Act IV Scene 1, “The quality of mercy …”
- Hermione - The Winter’s Tale, Act II Scene 2, “Since what I am to say …” (30 marks)
- Perform a contrasting speech of their own choice from another of Shakespeare’s plays (30 marks)
- Discuss with the Examiner:
- the events leading up to the speeches chosen
- the effect the speaker hopes to have on his/her listeners
- how he/she achieves this
- the plays from which the speeches are taken
- how Shakespeare uses metre (10 marks)
Grade 7 Silver Medal (20 Minutes)
Marks awarded at this grade:
Stage Presence: 15 marks
Voice Production: 15 marks
Theme – Heroes, Heroines and Major Characters
Learners should:
- Perform a speech by a hero, heroine or major character of their own choice (30 marks)
- Perform a contrasting speech of their own choice from another of Shakespeare’s plays (30 marks)
- Discuss with the examiner:
- the reasons for the choice of speeches
- any aspect of the characters chosen and their situations
- the plays from which the speeches are taken
- aspects of performing Shakespeare in an Elizabethan theatre(10 marks)
Grade 8 Gold Medal (25 Minutes)
Marks awarded at this grade:
Stage Presence: 15 marks
Voice Production: 15 marks
Theme - Soliloquy
Learners should:
- Perform a true soliloquy from any Shakespearean tragedy of their own choice (30 marks)
- Perform a contrasting speech of their own choice from another of Shakespeare’s plays (30 marks)
- Discuss with the examiner:
- Shakespeare’s use of the soliloquy
- the reasons for the choice of speeches
- any aspect of the characters chosen and the techniques involved to perform them
- the plays from which the speeches are taken
- aspects of the rhythm and metre used by Shakespeare
- aspects of Shakespeare’s life and the times in which he was writing (10 marks)