English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 30 minutes
Drama terms: soliloquy, aside, foil, hamartia, catharsis…
Reading Comprehension
CCSS RL.11-12.3CCSS RL.11-12.5England: GCSE English Literature (Shakespeare and modern drama)England: A-level English Literature
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Drama terms: soliloquy, aside, foil, hamartia, catharsis….
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Verbal, situational and dramatic irony; The effect of narrative perspective and tense
Leads to: Literary movements: Romanticism, Gothic, Realism, Modernism and more
Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Verbal, situational and dramatic irony; The effect of narrative perspective and tense). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which type of irony matches this description? Tension or humour created because we can see a character's mistake before they can. (verbal irony / dramatic irony / situational irony) → dramatic ironyPrompt: Is the contrast in what someone SAYS, in what HAPPENS, or in what the AUDIENCE knows?
- Is the proposed answer correct? An omniscient narrator reveals that a character's friend is secretly planning to betray her. What effect does this create? → dramatic irony and tension, because we know more than she does (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Who is telling the story, and when (present or looking back)?
- Which type of irony is used here? The fire station burned down. (situational irony / dramatic irony / verbal irony) → situational ironyPrompt: Does a character say something they don't mean?
Hook · 3 min
- Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
- Share the objective: Drama terms: soliloquy, aside, foil, hamartia, catharsis…. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which drama term matches this description? A brief remark to the audience that the other characters on stage supposedly cannot hear.
- Step 1: Drama has its own techniques for revealing thoughts (soliloquy, aside), shaping character (foil, tragic hero, hamartia) and affecting the audience (catharsis).
- Step 2: aside: A brief remark to the audience that the other characters on stage supposedly cannot hear.
- Step 3: So the answer is: aside
- Answer: aside
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which drama term matches this description? Instructions in a script about movement, setting, sound or how lines are spoken. (tragic hero / monologue / stage directions / aside) → stage directionsPrompt: Who is the character speaking to: themselves, the audience, or other characters?
- Which drama term best fits this moment from a play? While shaking the duke's hand, the servant turns to the audience and mutters, "If only he knew what I know." (aside / monologue / stage directions / tragic hero) → asidePrompt: Is the character alone? Speaking secretly to the audience? Addressing others at length?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Type the drama term (in English) that matches this description. A long speech by one character addressed to other characters. → monologuePrompt: Who is the character speaking to: themselves, the audience, or other characters?
- Which drama term matches this description? A long speech by one character addressed to other characters. (hamartia / monologue / soliloquy / foil) → monologuePrompt: Who is the character speaking to: themselves, the audience, or other characters?
Watch out for
- Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
- Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Verbal, situational and dramatic irony.
- Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Literary movements: Romanticism, Gothic, Realism, Modernism and more.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder