高中英语人教新课标必修5教案：Unit 2　The United Kingdom Period 3

Period3　ReadingandWritingTheGeneralIdeaofThisPeriodThisperiodlaysemphasisonextensivereadingandwriting.Atfirsttheteacherwillcheckthestudents’homework,byaskingsomeindividualstudentstoreadouttheirsummariesofthereadingpassage“PuzzlesinGeography”.Thentheteacherwillaskthestudentssomedetailedquestionsbasedonthereadingpassage.Thisstephastwogoals.Oneistohelpthestudentstoconsolidatewhattheyhavelearntduringthelastperiod.Theothergoalistoleadthetopicto“SightseeinginLondon”.InthenextstepthestudentsareaskedtoreadthepassagefastandwritedowntheplacesthatZhangPingyuvisited.Afterreadingthepassageagain,thestudentswillwritedownthecommentsontheseplaces.Thiswillbedonebyfillinginachart.Sinceitisanextensivereadingpassage,thereisnoneedtounderstanditindetail.Butthestudentsshouldpayspecialattentiontohowthewriterdescribedtheseplaces,becausetheywillundertakeasimilartasknext.Asiswellknown,languagecanonlybemasteredbybeingused.So,thestudentswillnextundertakearatherchallengingtask,thatis,tointroduceoneofthefamousbuildingsorattractionsintheirhometownorhomevillagetoatourist.Theyshouldpracticeinpairsbyaskingandansweringquestions.Thenthestudentswillorganizetheinformationfromthedialogueintoanintroductiontotheattractionsintheirlocalguidebook.Whiledoingthis,thestudentsshouldpayspecialattentiontowording,especiallyverbsandadjectives.TeachingImportantPointsTheimportantwords,phrasesandsentencepatternsinthisperiod.Improvethestudents’extensivereadingability.Trainthestudents’abilitytocooperatewithothers.TeachingDifficultiesTrainthestudents’speakingability,especiallytheabilitytodealwithsomeproblemsinunderstandingeachother.Trainthestudents’writingability.TeachingAidsataperecorderaprojectortheblackboardThreeDimensionalTeachingAimsKnowledgeAimssightseeing,available,tower,uniform,royal,splendid,statue,communism,thrill,pot,smart,site,delight,occasion,longitude,navigation,original,unfair,suggestionbeworriedabout,makealistof,toone’sgreatsurprise,onspecialoccasions,inmemoryof,ringoutthehour,setthetime,haveaphototaken,standoneithersideoftheline,onshow,beproudof,leavesp.forsp.,fallasleepWorriedaboutthetimeavailable,ZhangPingyuhadmakealistofthesitesshewantedtoseeinLondon.ItseemedstrangethatthemanwhohaddevelopedcommunismshouldhavelivedanddiedinLondon.AbilityAims,LearnsomeroughinformationabouttheattractionsinLondon.Improvethestudents’extensivereadingability.Trainthestudents’speakingability,especiallytheabilitytodealwithsomeproblemsinunderstandingeachother.Trainthestudents’writingability.EmotionalAimsTrainthestudents’abilitytocooperatewithothers.Stimulatethestudents’loveoftheirhometownKnowthatLondonisaplacegreatlyinfluencebyinvaders.TeachingProcedureStep1GreetingsTeachergreetsthestudentsasusual.Step2RevisionT:Inthelastperiod,welearnedsomebasicinformationabouttheUnitedKingdom,especiallythehistoricalinfluenceonthegeographyanditshistoricalattractions.First,who’dliketoreadyoursummaryofthepassage?S:TheUnitedKingdomconsistsoffourcountries,whichjoinedtogetherlittlebylittleinhistory,andthiscanbeseenfromtheUnionJack.Butthefourcountriesdon’tworktogetherineveryarea.Englandisthelargestofallanditcanbedividedintothreezones.BothLondonandEnglandweregreatlyinfluencedbydifferentinvaders.T:Excellent.T:IwillaskyousomegeneralquestionsabouttheUK.Whileansweringthem,youcan’trefertoyourtextbooks.　T:No.1WhatarethefourcountriesintheUnitedKingdom?S:TheyareEngland,Wales,ScotlandandNorthernIreland.T:No.2WhendidGreatBritaincomeintobeing?S:Itcameintobeingin1603,whenKingJamesofScotlandbecameKingofEnglandandWalesaswell.T:No.3WhatarethethreezonesinEngland?S:TheyaretheSouth,theMidlandsandtheNorth.T:No.4DothefourcountriesintheUKworktogetherineveryarea?S:No.Theyworktogetherinsomeareas,buttheyhavedevelopeddifferenteducationalandlegalsystemsaswellasdifferentfootballteamsforcompetitionsliketheWorldCup!T:No.5WhichgroupofinvadersdidnotinfluenceLondon?S:TheVikings.T:WhatdidtheinvadersleftinLondon?S:TheRomansbuilttheoldestportinthe1stcenturyAD,theAnglo-Saxonsbuilttheoldestbuildinginthe1060sandtheNormansconstructedtheoldestcastlein1066.T:SotheremustbeverybeautifulsceneriestoseeifwegotoLondononeday.Step3ExtensiveReadingT:DoyoustillrememberthepicturesofsomebeautifulbuildingsintheUnitedKingdomshownatthebeginningofthisunit?Haveyoudreamedofgoingthereonedayandseeingallthescenerieswithyourowneyes?Ss:Yes.,T:Sotodaywewilllearnapassagewiththetitle“SIGHTSEEINGINLONDON”.T:FirstreadthepassagesilentlyandwritedownalltheplacesthatZhangPingyuvisitedduringhertrip.(Teachergivesthestudentsseveralminutestoreadthepassageandfinishthetask.)S:ShevisitedtheTower,StPaul’sCathedral,WestminsterAbbey,BuckinghamPalace,Greenwich,HighgateCemeteryandtheLibraryoftheBritishMuseum.T:DoyouknowthefullnameoftheTower?S:IsitcalledtheTowerofLondon?T:Youareright.ThenwhatdidZhangPingyuhearwhenshecameoutoftheWestminsterAbbey?S:Sheheardthesoundoftheclock,BigBen,ringingoutthehour.T:NowreadthepassageagainandfindoutZhangPingyu’scommentoneachplaceshevisited.(Teachergivesthestudentsseveralminutestofinishthechartbelow.)Day1CommentsDay2andcommentDay3andcomment11223344T:Whowouldliketocometotheblackboardtofillinthechart?S:Letmehaveatry.Day1CommentsDay2andcommentDay3andcomment1TheTower1fancyGreenwich:interestingHighgateCemetery:strange2StPaul’sCathedral2splendid3WestminsterAbbey3interestingTheLibraryoftheBritishMuseum:thrilling,proud4BuckinghamPalace4/T:Youdidaverygoodjob.T:WhatdoyouknowaboutGreenwichfromthispassage?S:InGreenwichthereisalongitudeline.Itisanimaginarylinedividingtheeasternandwesternhalvesoftheworldandisveryusefulfornavigation.T:IstheoriginalLibraryoftheBritishMuseumusedasalibrarytoday?S:No.Itisusedtodisplaywonderfultreasuresfromdifferentcultures,includingsomebeautifuloldChinesepots.Step4SpeakingandWritingT:Inourhometown,therearealsosomeinterestingbuildingsorattractions.Workinpairsandchooseoneofthem.Oneofyouisthetouristandtheotheristhetourguide.Thetouristmayhaveafewproblemsunderstandingtheguide.Ifso,youmayusesomeexpressionsonPage15tohelpyou.Nowworkinpairsandfiveminuteslater,Iwillaskpairsofyoutocometothefronttodemonstrateyourdialogues.(Ssworkinpairs,meanwhile,theteachergoesroundtheclassroomandhelpsthestudentstodealwithanyquestionthattheymaymeetwith.)(Afteraboutfiveminutes.)T:Arethereanyvolunteers?,Ss:Letushaveatry.T:Good.A:WelcometoXishanTown.B:Thanks.Wouldyoupleaserecommendsomefamoussceneryinyourhometown?A:IsuggestyoushouldgotoLinwuCaveinourtown.Itisintheeastofourtown.B:Whyisthecavefamous?A:Thecave,whichisalsoknownasDragonCave,isfacedtoTaihuLake.Inthecavestaglitesstandlikeaforestundersmoothceilings.B:Pardon?Whatdidyoumeanby“staglites”?A:Imean,inthecavetherearelimerocks.ItissaidthatthecaveisbelowthebottomofTaihuLake.ThecaveisacclaimedbyTaoistbelieversasNo.9CaveunderHeaven.TherearealsosomeTaoistculturalrelicsinthecave.B:Howdeepisthecave?A:Ithasadepthofmorethanhundredsofmeters.B:Ifeellikegoingthereatonce.Thenwhat’sthepriceoftheticket?A:It’sabout30yuanincludingthePlumBlossomGarden.B:Really?YoumeanIcanalsovisitthePlumBlossomGarden?A:Yes.Wishyouapleasantjourneyinourtown.B:Thanks.T:Excellent.Youhavedoneaverygoodjob.T:Nextusetheinformationyouhavecollectedaboutthisbuildingorattractionandwriteaboutitinyourlocalguidebook.Youwanttoencouragepeopletovisititsoyoushouldwriteinanexcitingway.Thinkabouttheverbsandadjectivesyoucanuse.NowIwillgiveyouseveralminutestofinishwritingtheintroduction.(Thestudentswritetheintroduction,andtheteachergoesaroundtheclassroomandhelpsthestudentstosolveanyproblemthattheymaymeetwith.)Example:WhynotvisitourLinwuCave?LinwuCave,whichisalsocalledDragonCave,islocatedintheeastofWestHill,anislandinTaihuLake.TheCavehasalonghistory.Inthecavestaglitesstandlikeaforestundersmoothceiling.TherearealsosomeTaoistculturalrelicsinit,andthecavewasacclaimedbyTaoistbelieversasNo.9CaveunderHeaven.Onthewayhere,youwillalsocrossTaihuBridge,thelongestbridgeovertheinlandlakeinChina.ItisthelakethathaslinkedtheislandwithSuzhou.Havingboughtaticketof30yuan,youcanalsoenjoythePlumBlossomGarden.Step5HomeworkIfthestudentshaven’tfinishedwritingtheintroductiontooneoftheattractionsintheirhometown,theycangoontodoitafterclass.Evenifthestudentshavefinishedwriting,they,shouldtrytobeautifythewordsandsentencestructuresthattheyhaveused.TheDesignoftheWritingontheBlackboardUnit2　TheUnitedKingdomPeriod3　ReadingandWritingⅠ.Placesvisitedandcomments:　Ⅱ.Usefulexpressions:Day1CommentsDay2andcommentDay3andcomment112233441.Excuseme...I’mafraidIcan’tfollowyou.2.Ibegyourpardon？3.Please,canyouspeakmoreslowly?4.Whatdidyoumeanby...?5.I’msorrybutcouldyourepeatthat?6.Ididn’tunderstand...ResearchandActivitiesAdvertisement-competitionAfterclass,eachpairshouldtrytofinishtheirintroductiontothechosenattractionandmakeitintoanadvertisement.TheycangotothelibraryorsurftheInternetforsomefurtherinformationorpictures.Theneachpairshouldputuptheiradvertisementonthewall.Everystudentwillactasatouristandchooseoneplacethatheorshewantstovisitmostafterreadingtheadvertisements.Andeveryoneisaskedtoputoneflagundertheadvertisementthatheorshehaschosen.Theonethatgetsthemostflagswillbethebestadvertisementandthemakerswillbesuppliedwithaprize.ReferenceforTeachingTheCityofLondonNearlyalltheoldCityofLondonwasburneddowninthefireof1666.ItstartedonaSundayeveninginabreadshop.OnTuesdayevening,aquarterofamillionpeoplehadnohomes,andthefirewasstillburning.TheoldSt.Paul’sCathedral,thereforathousandyearsbeforethat,wentinthefire.TheCathedralyouseetodaywasbuiltbySirChristopherWren.Thereisalsoamonumenttothefire,nearEastcheap,wheretherefirestarted,andyoucanclimbupitandlookdownonthecity.Or,ifyoufeellikeclimbing,youcangoupthe627stairstothetopofStPaul’sandlookatthenewcityfromthere.AfterthefireofLondon,someLondonersmadenewhomesinnewpartsofLondon.Otherswantedtocomeback,butfoundthenewhousestooexpensive.Thecitystartedtoloseitspeopleandthen,whentherailwayscame,itwaseveneasiertoworkinthecityandliveoutsideit.IntheSecondWorldWar,manyhomesinthecityweredestroyedbybombs.Sonowthecityhasveryfewshopsandhomes.Thestreetsarefullofthousandsofoffices,andonlythestreetnamesmakeyouthinkofthepeoplewhousedtolivethere,andboughttheirfoodinFishStreetandBreadStreetandMilkStreet.SomepeopledoliveinthenewbigblocksofflatsneartheBarbican(oneoftheoldRomangates),butoftentheyonlysleepthere,andgoawayforweekends.TheshopsareshutonSaturdays,,andtherestaurantsandpubsshutatsixo’clockintheevening.Ifyougointothecityateighto’clockatnight,youfeelyouareindeadcity,whileakilometeraway;thestreetsoftheWestEndarefullofpeople.Itseemsasadend.TheCockneyAlmosteveryonewhohasheardofLondonhasheardoftheterm“Cockney(伦敦佬)”.Strictlyspeaking,inordertocalloneselfaCockney,oneshouldhavebeenborn“withinthesoundofBowbells”,thatistosay,withinthesoundofthebellsofthechurchofStMary-le-Bow,whichstandsnearlyinthecentreofthecityofLondon.But,infact,allLondon’scitizenswhowerebornandbredinthecitymaycallthemselvesCockneysiftheylike.However,thetermisgenerallyreservedfortheLondonerwitha“Cockneyaccent”.TheyCockneyaccentisnotaparticularlypleasantormelodious（悦耳的）one,andtheCockney’sdistortion（扭曲,变形）oftheEnglishlanguageissuchthattheforeigneroftenfindsitimpossibletounderstandthespeakeruntilhisearhasbecomeacclimatized（适应）tothepeculiartones.TheprincipalcharacteristicsoftheCockneyaccentconsistinageneralslurringofconsonantsandadistortionofvowelsounds.ThebestknownexampleofCockneyspeechismodernEnglishliteratureisthatofElizaDoolittle,theheroineofBernardShaw’splay,“Pygmalion”andofthemusicaladaptedfrom,“MyFairLady”.ButifCockneyspeechisunpleasant,theCockneyhimselfisusuallyfarfrombeingso.TheaverageCockneyisdistinguished（区分,辨别）byhisquickwit,hisreadysenseofhumor,hisabilityto“carryon”underunusualordifficultconditionsandbyhiswillingnesstobeofhelpifhecan.TheCockney’shumorisoftensatirical（讽刺的）butitisnevervicious（邪恶的）;heisalwaysreadytolaughatotherpeople’speculiarities（怪癖）butheisequallyreadytolaughathisown.Heoftenmakesjokesunderthemostdifficultconditions,aqualitythatwasveryapparentduringWorldWarⅡ.Thisratherlugubrioustypeofhumoriswellexemplified（举例证明）bythetitleofanoldCockneymusichallsong:“Ain’tItGrandToBeBloomingWellDead.”Nowadays,asthetempooflifeinbigcitiesgrowseverfaster(althoughtheCockneyopposesthisprocesswhenhecan),theopportunitiesfortheCockneytoexercisehiswitandhumordiminish(减少,变小).Butifonekeepsone’searsopenonbuses,inrailwaystations,instreetmarketsandsimilarplaces,itwillsoonbecomeevidentthatthespiritofCockneyhumorisstillverymuchalive,althoughtheoldCockneypronunciationislesscommonuntilnow.MostpeoplewhocallthemselvesCockneysusuallydosowithsomepride.And,byandlarge,theyarejustified.FamousBuildingsinLondonHydeParkCoveringanareaof350acres(140hectares)HydeParkisoneofthebestknownRoyalparks.OriginallyownedbythemonksofWestminsterAbbey,theparkwaslaterseizedbyHenryⅧ.Sincethentheparkwashistoricallyrecognizedforduels（决斗）,huntsandpoliticaldemonstrations.TheRollingStonesandPavarottihaveperformedconcertshere,amongstmany,others.TheSerpentineisanartificiallakeusedforboatingandbathing,andSpeakersCornersituatedatthenorth-eastispackedwithsoapboxspeakersairingtheirpointsofview.WestminsterAbbeyFoundedin1065byEdwardtheConfessor,WestminsterAbbeyhasbeenthesiteofeveryRoyalCoronationsince1066(exceptthoseofEdwardⅤandEdwardⅧ)andisthefinalrestingplaceofmanysovereigns,politicians,poetsandartists.BurialintheabbeyisoneoftherarestandgreatesthonorsinBritain.Thenaveisoverahundredfeethigh,thetallestofanychurchinthecountry.BehindtheHighAltar,intheChapelofEdwardtheConfessor,themostsacredpartoftheabbey,reststheCoronationChair.Coronationsandroyalweddingshavebeenperformedhereforcenturies.BuckinghamPalaceBuckinghamPalacehasservedastheMonarch’spermanent（永久的）Londonresidence,sincetheaccession（就职）ofQueenVictoriain1837.Builtonthesiteofanotorious（声名狼藉的）brothel（妓院）,itsdaysbeganin1702,astheDukeofBuckingham’scityresidence.LateritwassoldbytheDuke’sson,toGeorgeⅢin1762.WhilsttheQueenisinresidencethepalaceisclosedtothepublic.DuringthetwomonthsthatHerMajestyisnotathome,thedoorstothePalaceareopentothegeneralpublic.Ticketsmustbepurchasedinadvanceforaguidedtour,through18ofthe661rooms.KewGardensSpringisprobablythebesttimetovisit,butallyearroundyouwillfindastunningarrayofflowers,lawns,formalgardensandbotanicalgreenhouses.Morethan50000differentspeciesofplantsarecultivatedatKew.Commissioned（代理）byGeorgeⅢ’smother,PrincessAugusta,in1759,Kewisnowoneoftheworld’smostimportantbotanicalresearchcentres.KewalsooffersmanyhistoricalbuildingsincludingPalmhouse,ametalandglasshothousebuiltaround1845andKewPalace,oncearoyalpalacedatingfromtheearly1600’s.,StPaul’sCathedralSetamongstthetowerblocksofLondon’sfinancialsector,StPaul’sCathedralhasadominatingpresence.StPaul’sCathedralisthefifthchurchtostandonthissiteandfollowedthatofOldStPaul’s,withitsamazing160mspire（尖顶）whichwasoneofthewondersofmedievalEuropeuntilitwasdestroyedbyfire.TheCathedralisopenforvisitorsonMondaytoSaturdayfrom8:30.ThelastadmissiontotheCathedralforsightseeingisat16:00.TheCathedralShopintheCryptandtheCryptCafeareopenfrom9:00to17:00onMondaytoSaturdayandfrom10:30to17:00onSundays.SpecialservicesandeventsmaycloseallorpartoftheCathedral—sometimesatshortnotice.ItisagreatprivilegetowelcomethosewhocomeherefrommanypartsoftheworldtosharetheworshipofStPaul’sCathedral.InsidetheenormousdomeliestheWhisperingGallery(回音廊).Itissaidthatifyouwhisperclosetothewallitcanbeheardoverahundredfeetawayattheothersideofthedome,althoughthegalleryisnormallytoobusytotrythisforyourself.TowerofLondonTheTowerofLondonstartedasasimplewatchtower,builtbyWilliamtheConqueror,tokeepaneyeonthecity.TheTowerofLondonhasactedasaroyalresidence,treasury,mint（造币厂）andaprison.TheCrownJewelsarefoundintheJewelHouse,andformanycatchingaglimpseofthesepreciousstonescanbethehighlightoftheirvisit.TowerBridgeDespitebeingjustoveronehundredyearsold,TowerBridgeranksasoneofLondon’smostfamousattractions.Asteelframecladingranite（花岗岩）andPortlandStone,representsanamazingengineeringachievement,allowingtheroadcrossingtoberaisedgivingtallshipsaccesstoupperreachesoftheThames.Itisanimpressivesightalthoughithappensinfrequently.Insidethenorthtoweranexhibitionexplainsthebridge’shistoryanddesign.ShakespeareinLondon,Sometimebetween1585and1592,itisbelievedthatShakespeareleftStratfordforLondonandjoinedacompanyofactorsasaperformerandaplaywright.LegendlongheldthatShakespeareleftStratfordbecausehewasbeingpursuedbythelawforpoachingdeeronprivateproperty.By1592Shakespearehadreceivedsomerecognition,thoughnotentirelypositive,asanactorandplaywright.Hewasmentionedinapamphlet(AGroats-worthofWit)writtenbyRobertGreene.GreenereferstoShakespeareasan“upstartcrow”intheLondontheaterandchargesthatShakespearewasanunschooledplayerandawriterwhousedmaterialwrittenbyhisbettereducatedcontemporaries.Alsoduringthisyear,thetheatersinLondonclosedduetotheplague.By1594ShakespearehadjoinedatheatertroupeknownastheLordChamberlain’sMen.ScholarsattributeseveralofShakespeare’splaystothistimeperiod.Althoughnoonecanbecertainofthedatesofcompositionforanyoftheplays,aconsiderableamountofscholarshiphasgoneintotheendeavorofaccuratelydetermininganapproximatetimeperiodduringwhichShakespearewroteeachplay.SomebelievethatTheComedyofErrors,afarcicalplaycenteringonthemistakenidentitiesoftwosetsoftwins,mayhavebeenShakespeare’sfirstplay.AfewcounterthatTheTwoGentlemenofVerona,whichfocusesontheconflictbetweenromanticloveandfriendship,mayhavebeenShakespeare’sfirstplay.Somescholarssuggestthattheseplaysmayhavebeenwrittenasearlyas1588or1589,whilemanyothersdatebothplaysseveralyearslater,suggestingthattheywerewrittenbetween1592and1594.Otherplayswrittenduringthisearlyperiodincludeoneofthehistorytetralogies:HenryⅥ,PartOne(1589-1590);HenryⅥ,PartTwo(1590-1591);HenryⅥ,PartThree(1590-1591);andRichardⅢ(1592-1593).ManypeoplebelievethatHenryⅥ,PartOnewasShakespeare’sfirstplay.ThistetralogytreatstheWarsoftheRoses,theconflictbetweentwofactionsofnobles.Thelastplayofthesequence,RichardⅢ,endswiththeestablishmentoftheTudordynasty,towhichbelongedQueenElizabeth,whoruledduringmuchofShakespeare’slife.ItisalsobelievedthatShakespearewroteTitusAndronicus(1592-1594),TheTamingoftheShrew(1593-1594),andLove’sLabor’sLost(1593-1595)duringthisperiodofhislife.TitusAndronicus,Shakespeare’searliesttragedy,dealswiththecycleofrevengewhichdestroysthefamiliesinvolvedintheplay’saction.TheTamingoftheShrewisalivelycomedyfeaturingthewillfulKateandher“tamer,”Petruchio.Kate’s“taming”(herapparentanduncharacteristicsubmissiontoherhusband)oftentroublesmodernaudiences.Love’sLabor’sLosthasbeendescribedasasatirizationofthecourtlyandsomewhatartificialloveofmalenobles,andoftheacademicpursuits,whichwereoftenmorefashionablethanseriousinShakespeare’stime,ofthenobility.Inadditiontothesedramaticworks,itisbelievedthatShakespearewrotethepoemVenusandAdonisandbegancomposinghissonnetsin1592or1593.Heeventuallywrote154sonnets.Between1593and1594,heprobablywrotethepoemTheRapeofLucrece.In1596thepatronoftheLordChamberlain’sMen(HenryCarey,LordHunsdon,theQueen’sChamberlain)died,leavingShakespeare’scompanyunderthepatronageofhisson,GeorgeCarey,secondLordHunsdon.Thenextyear,ShakespeareboughtaspaciousStratfordhome,knownasNewPlace.Shakespearecontinuedtobenotedasanactor;in1598heappearedinaperformanceofBenJonson’sEveryManinHisHumor,andwaslistedasaprincipalactorintheLondonperformanceofthedrama.Soonafter,in1599,ShakespeareandothermembersoftheLordChamberlain’sMenleasedlandfortheGlobeTheater,whichopenedlaterthatyear.Alsoin1599,thepoetJohnWeeverpublishedapoem(“AdGuglielmumShakespeare”)inwhichhepraisedShakespeareasapoetandplaywright.Duringthisperiodofhislife,fromabout1595through1600,Shakespearewroteanumberofplays,includingthesecondhistoricaltetralogy,(RichardⅡ[1595];HenryⅣ,PartOne[1596-97];HenryⅣ,PartTwo[1598];andHenryⅤ[1599]).ThistetralogydealswiththeeventsleadinguptotheWarsoftheRoses:RichardⅡisusurpedbyHenryBolingbrookandlaterassassinated.Thenewking,HenryⅣ,worriesoverhisroleinRichard’sdeathandabouttheabilityofhis“madcap”son,Hal,torule.AsubplotfocusesonHal’swildadventureswiththecomicalknight,SirJohnFalstaff.HalbecomesKingHenryⅤafterhisfather’sdeath;heconquersFranceandrestorespeace.KingJohn,ahistoricaldramadealingwiththereignofKingJohnandthetragedyoftheyoungArthur,isestimatedtohavebeenwrittenbetween1594and1596.AMidsummerNight’sDreamandthefamoustragedyRomeoandJulietwereprobablywrittenin1595or1596.AMidsummerNight’sDream,afantasticalcomedycompletewithfairiesandmagic,dealswithsuchtopicsaslove,imagination,andart.OneofShakespeare’smostpopularandwell-knownplays,RomeoandJulietisthestoryofill-fatedloverswhoattempttoescapethedisapprovaloftheirfeudingfamilies.ThecomediesTheMerchantofVeniceandTheMerryWivesofWindsorarebelievedtohavebeenwrittenbetween1596and1597.Identifiedbycriticsasaproblemplay(onethatraisesmoraldilemmaswhichitdoesnotresolve),TheMerchantofVeniceislikeTheTwoGentlemenofVeronainthatitdealswiththerelationshipbetweenromanticloveandmasculinefriendship;theplayalsofocusesonthethemeofmercy.TheMerryWivesofWindsorisafarcedealingwithmiddleclasslifeandvalues;itfeaturestheknightFalstaff,whowasintroducedinHenryⅣ,PartOneasHal’sdrunkenandwaywardcompanion.OtherplayswrittenduringthisperiodofShakespeare’slifeincludeMuchAdoaboutNothing(1598-1599);JuliusCaesar(1599);andAsYouLikeIt(1599-1600).MuchAdoaboutNothingisthewittycomedyfeaturingBeatriceandBenedick.Theplayissometimesconsideredflawedbycriticsduetowhattheyandmanyaudiencesseeastheinsensitivetreatmentofthefemalecharacters,particularlythefalselyaccusedHero.TheRomantragedyJuliusCaesardramatizesthedownfallofthetitlecharacterandexaminesthenatureofpoliticalrivalry,ambition,andpower.AsYouLikeItdepictsthebeautifulForestofArdenasahavenfromthetrappingsofcourtlylife.Shakespearealsowroteseveralcomediesduringtheseyears,includingAll’sWellThatEndsWell(1601-1603);TwelfthNight(1601-1602);andMeasureforMeasure(1604).All’sWellThatEndsWellandMeasureforMeasurehavebothbeentaggedasproblemplays.ThefirstcomedyendsabruptlywithBertram’ssuddenacceptanceofhiswifeHelena,whomhehadessentiallyabandonedearlierintheplay.InMeasureforMeasure,deceptionplaysacentralroleintheplay’saction;thisincludesthedeceptionperpetuatedbyacharacterdepictedasaparagonofvirtue,Isabella.TwelfthNightistypicallyseenasoneofShakespeare’smorematurecomedies.Likeothercomedies,itfeaturessomedisguiseandrole-playing,suchasthatofonethecentralfigures,Viola,whodisguisesherselfasthepageCesario.Theplayalsoconcernsgenderrolesandclassdifferences.InthisperiodShakespearealsoproducedGreekandRomandramas,includingTroilusandCressida(1601-1602);AntonyandCleopatra(1605-1607);Coriolanus(1607-1608);andTimonofAthens(1607-1608).TroilusandCressida,aGreekdrama,emphasizesthedifferencesbetweentheidealandtherealbyportrayinglegendaryGreekfiguresaspeoplewithless-than-admirablequalities.AntonyandCleopatraisthestoryoftheloveandpassionbetweenthefamousRomangeneralandthesensuous,legendaryEgyptianqueen.CoriolanusisaRomanpoliticaltragedydealingwithissuesofcharacterandpride.FeelingsofbitternessanddisillusionmentpermeatetheGreekdrama,TimonofAthens.ShakespearealsowrotePericles,,PrinceofTyreprobablybetween1607and1608.Periclesisanadventuroustaleofaprincewhosuffersthelossofhiswifeanddaughter,butis,intheend,reunitedwithhisfamily.Periclesisthoughtbysomescholarstohavebeenacollaborativeeffort.After1608Shakespeare’sdramaticproductionlessenedsomewhat.TheGlobeTheaterburneddown,butwasrebuiltayearlaterontheoppositebankoftheThamesRiver.Duringtheseyears,Shakespearewroteromantictragicomedies(thatis,romancesfeaturingelementsofbothtragedyandcomedy).TheromantictragicomediesincludeCymbeline(1609-1610);TheWinter’sTale(1610-1611);andTheTempest(1610-1611),CymbelineandTheWinter’sTalearebothstoriesoflossandpain,but,likePericles,theyendwithahappyreunion.TheTempestfeaturesthesameelementsoflossandreunion,butitalsoemphasizesthebalanceofwisdomandpowerthatProsperoachievesattheplay’send.IthasbeennotedthatTheTempestwasprobablythelastplayShakespearewroteonhisown,andthatthecharacterofProspero,asonewhomanipulatesevents,stagesmasques,anddirectstheactionsofothercharacters,representsShakespearetheplaywrightandhisfarewelltothetheater.Duringthislaterperiod,ShakespearealsowrotetwoplaysthatmostscholarsbelievewerecomposedincollaborationwiththedramatistJohnFletcher:HenryⅧ(1612-1613),ahistoricaldrama,andTheTwoNobleKinsmen(1613),thestoryofthelovetwomenhaveforthesamewoman.ItisalsobelievedthatShakespearewroteanotherplayaround1612or1613,Cardenio,butithasbeencompletelylost.