GCSE English and GCSE English Literature Shakespeare songs:

• The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
  

•  Othello by William Shakespeare
  

•   Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
  

•   Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  

Our Shakespeare songs have been developed to help GCSE students but they can also be used to engage younger pupils in Shakespeare and to provide adults with an overview of Shakespeare’s finest work.

Please visit the shop section of this site to listen to demos of all our Shakespeare songs. 

This article focuses on how to write about Shakespeare’s plays, as part of our series of articles on learning techniques, revision and preparation for GCSE English Literature and GCSE English examinations.

How to write about Shakespeare’s plays

Let the teacher/examiner assessing your written (or spoken) work see that you know that a play is drama. It happens in performance in a theater (or, today, in a feature film or TV or radio broadcast). It is not a book and there are no readers. You may have used a book containing the characters’ lines, some basic stage directions and lots of notes to help you study the play. But this is not what Shakespeare intended for his audience.

Show that you understand the difference between (fictional) characters in the play, and the (real) actors who play the parts. And don’t call the play a “film” or a “book”.

Extract from Teachkit.

We hope this article helps with your GCSE English Literature revision. Be sure to check out the LearnThruMusic Shakespeare learning songs.

GCSE English LearnThruMusic covers the following work by Shakespeare:

Othello
Romeo & Juliet
Merchant of Venice
Macbeth

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

•    Othello: The main character of the play. Othello is General of the Venetian Army and is a Christian Moor. Although a strong character Othello is prey to the jealousy insinuated by Iago and this leads to his downfall.

•    Desdemona: Wife of Othello and Daughter of Venitian Senator Brabanzio. Desdemona and Othello were recently married in secret. As on might expect from a senator’s daughter she is meek but also capable of defending herself.

•    Brabanzio: Father of Desdemona and friend of Othello. A Venetian Senator.

•    Iago: The plays villain and Ensign to Othello. Iago is bitter because Othello did not promote him to lieutenant and so schemes against him through manipulating the other characters.

•    Michael Cassio: Given the position of lieutenant despite his inexperience and youth, much to the chagrin of Iago. Cassio’s youth and good looks are used by Iago to make Otello jealous and insecure. Iago tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.

•    Bianca: A prostitute in Cyprus who is very fond of Cassio.

•    Emilia: Iago’s wife and Maid to Desdemona. Emilia really loves Desdemona and distrusts her husband.

•    Roderigo: A rich but foolish young man who is smitten with Desdemona. Easily convinced by Iago to part with his money     and take part in his schemes. It seems Roderigo would do anything to win the affection of Desdemona even agreeing to help kill Cassio.

•    Duke of Venice: The man in charge of Venice. The Duke sends Othello to Cyprus to defend it against the Turks and defends Othello’s secret marriage.

•    Lodovico: Works for Brabanzio. As a messenger between Venice and Cyprus he breaks the news that Othello will be replaced as governor by Cassio.

•    Montano: Othello’s predecessor as governor of Cyprus.

•    Graziano: Works for Brabanzio and accompanies Lodovico to Cypress. Graziano breaks the news of Brabanzio’s death.

•    Clown: Othello’s servant.

Be sure check out our GCSE English Literature learning song, Othello “Throw the Pearl Away”…

Texts we will be covering include:

1.    Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
2.    An Inspector Calls by JB Priestly
3.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4.    A view From the Bridge by Arthur Miller
5.    Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
6.    The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
7.    Othello by William Shakespeare
8.    Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
9.    Macbeth by William Shakespeare
10.  Lord of the Flies by William Golding
11.  Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austin
12.  Stone Cold by Robert Swindells