To Hell, with Shakespeare

In the teaching of Shakespearean plays to ESL students, deciphering Shakespeare's language has often been cited as the main obstacle to comprehending his work. This paper reports on how the researcher tapped on the diverse religious beliefs of the students and used Taoist, Muslim, and Hindu concepts of the afterlife as a prelude to teach and read the Porter's scene. As a result of the creative methodology used in the class, the ESL students were able to discuss and comprehend Shakespeare's treatment of Hell and grasp the concept of black comedy in the play.