Ask students to memorize short portions of a play, such as 14 lines, from a selection of their choice. Selecting the play and speaking the words aloud will allow students to interpret the work in their own way. Reciting the lines publicly further invites creativity because students can dress up for their role or use props -- choices that require a deep understanding of the play.
Provide class time for groups to share their ideas about what confusing passages might mean, an approach that reduces "the inclination of students to behave like consumers of literary interpretations rather than producers of them," asserts Sheridan Blau, author of "The Literature Workshop: Teaching Texts and Their Readers." When teachers and students work as a team to make sense of difficult passages, unique interpretations are more likely to occur.
Attend live performances. Seeing a play performed is a powerful way for students to see interpretations in action. Have students take notes on the stage directions or sets, and critique the performances of the actors. Assign a written or oral report that evaluates the effectiveness of the choices made and offers suggestions for improvement.
View documentary films about the life of a playwright or the historical period in which the play was created. Consider the action of the play, the characters, and the sociological and psychological realities within the play to gain a better understanding of the work.