Homeschooling the Teen Years - Shakespeare for Marvel Lovers

Drawing by E (age 14)

Looking ahead into the summer, I noticed the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks troupe has "Henry IV, Part I" coming up.  I like to prep for a mini-lesson ahead of their plays.  We usually end up reading a paraphrase or cheat notes version of whatever play is coming up, and then watching a couple of movie adaptations, together, before opening night.

In preparation, I skim through the Amazon and Netflix listings, before checking YouTube and the local library.  This year I hit pay dirt, almost immediately, on Amazon with the British television series, "The Hollow Crown".  It  covers all the Henry plays and stars none other than Tom Hiddleston (a family favorite thanks to the Marvel movies, right now).

The younger girls (ages 12 and 14) caught a glimpse of my screen as I was previewing it (you never know with Shakespeare) and immediately asked, "Is that Loki playing Shakespeare? Can we watch, too?"

Here I thought Henry IV was going to be a hard one to interest them in.  Though I do have to say, this newer version (I think it was filmed sometime around 2013), does make my old Branagh favorite from the '80s look a little dated, and corny even. "Wait, is that Gilderoy Lockhart playing Henry V?"

Now I can't wait until they make it to the second season of "The Hollow Crown" to spot Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III!

It almost makes up for Robert Downy Jr's less than riveting Rivers from the 90's.

It's great to be a homeschooler.