As a child, I grew up with a book in hand. I adored how words in a book could allow me to imagine the story in my mind, like a rolling film. I thought it was magical. When I first went to school, I couldn’t believe that other children didn’t feel the same way about reading as I did. They seemed insistent upon receiving all of their entertainment from bright and almost too cheery cartoon television shows, but I had no interest and began known as the strange little kid with her nose always in a book.
Even into my young adult years, my love for reading became more sophisticated, but it never faded away. I began to read the works of Shakespeare in grade five, starting off with the infamous Romeo and Juliet.I fell in love with his work, however not as quickly as the characters, Romeo and Juliet, fell in love with each other. I embraced the old language and traditions, doing my best to understand what I could, however, my peers did not, and still do not, feel the same.
I understand the reading of Shakespeare is quite tough for the majority of the students. However, I believe it is important to preserver through the difficulty, accepting that you may not understand every word written, so that you can uncover the deeper meaning behind Shakespeare’s work, applicable to most individuals’ lives.
My multiple exposure assignment depicts the journey a student goes through when they do preserver through Shakespeare’s works. Like many students initially, Shakespeare can be a bore and overwhelming. This is shown through my subject laying down on the desks at the back of the English classroom. The second stage is a sudden spark of interest. Perhaps it is a phrase that they have heard before, a newfound understanding of the plot, or the recognition of a theme present in their own life. Whatever it is, the student begins to enjoy what they are reading. The third stage, depicted through the subject’s body language, as she sits straight up with her hand raised, is a boost in confidence and excitement of the work before them. Finally, my last phase is a complete passion. As we know, only the most passionate of English teachers are the best in teaching Shakespeare. They bring a certain energy to the class and enjoy talking about William Shakespeare’s life and work alike. My last exposure is of my subject taking her newfound passion, and making it her livelihood by teaching.
I believe most students are on the brink of discovery of a new passion for the works of Shakespeare, they just have to pursue the path my subject has taken in this multiple exposure photograph.
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