Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast

Teaching 'Tales From Shakespeare'

Feb 13, 2025

In a captivating discussion, Benedict Whalen, an associate professor of English at Hillsdale College, shares insights on teaching 'Tales From Shakespeare' to children. He emphasizes the importance of children's literature in developing virtue and moral character. Whalen explores the complexities of popular adaptations and the need to engage young readers with Shakespeare's works through imaginative storytelling. He also highlights the Lamb siblings' significant contributions to romantic literature and the evolution of moral themes in children's narratives.

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ANECDOTE

Stoner's Transformation

William Stoner, a farm boy, attends university to study agriculture and struggles with a required literature course.
After hearing Shakespeare's Sonnet 73, Stoner experiences an awakening, changing his perspective on the world and leading him to pursue literature.

INSIGHT

Planting Seeds of Shakespeare

Introducing students to Shakespeare is like planting seeds that may bloom later.
Focus on sparking wonder and love for literature, rather than demanding mastery.

ADVICE

Using Lamb's Tales

Treat Tales from Shakespeare as a stepping stone to actual Shakespeare, not an end in itself.
Emphasize imaginative engagement and discussion, not just plot summaries.

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Tales from Shakespeare

Karin S. Coddon

Charles Lamb

Mary Lamb

Written by Charles and Mary Lamb in 1807, 'Tales from Shakespeare' is a collection of prose retellings of twenty Shakespeare plays. The book is designed to make Shakespeare's works more accessible to young readers while retaining the original language and essence of the plays. Mary Lamb retold the comedies and romances, while Charles Lamb handled the tragedies. The book has been illustrated by various artists over the years, including Arthur Rackham and Louis Monziès, and has never been out of print since its initial publication.

Shakespeare's sonnet

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William Shakespeare

The Woketopus

The dark money cabal manipulating the federal government

Tyler O'Neill

Stoner

John Williams

The novel follows William Stoner, born on a small farm in Missouri in 1891, who is sent to the University of Missouri to study agriculture. However, he discovers a passion for literature and decides to pursue a career in English. The book delves into Stoner's undistinguished career, his marriage to Edith, his affair with Katherine Driscoll, and his complex relationships with his daughter Grace and his colleagues. It explores themes of work, passion, love, and the social and sexual reawakening of the protagonist, all set against the backdrop of his quiet yet rich and vibrant life as an academic[2][4][5].

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe

The novel follows Robinson Crusoe, a young and impulsive Englishman, who ignores his parents' advice and sets out to sea. After a series of misadventures, including being captured by pirates and sold into slavery, he is eventually shipwrecked on a deserted island near the coast of Venezuela. There, he spends 28 years surviving against incredible odds, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers. The story is influenced by real-life castaways such as Alexander Selkirk and blends elements of Puritan spiritual autobiography, travel literature, and adventure stories. It is considered one of the first modern novels in the English language and explores themes of ambition, self-reliance, civilization, and power.