Titus Andronicus: Disability Informed Reading Guide

Titus Andronicus: Disability Informed Reading Guide PDF

Many commonly taught books and stories that feature disabled characters and/or themes related to disability include portrayals that can be confusing, stereotyped, or unintentionally harmful. Our disability informed reading guides help educators navigate these texts with care. These resources are not endorsements of the books themselves, but tools to support thoughtful conversations, offer important context, and encourage more inclusive, accurate discussions about disability. Like all of our resources, they’re designed to help classrooms be places where all students feel respected and represented.

Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus is known to be one of the goriest plays, with both on- and off- stage depictions of murder, assault, amputation, cannibalism, and more. While both the title character and his daughter, Lavinia, lose limbs over the course of the story, other characters experience similar disabling or metaphorically disabling events. What role does disability play in this story? What agency are disabled and non-disabled characters given in telling their stories? The resource includes guiding questions and discussion prompts to expand student and educator thinking.

Although this guide explores the entire play, it is important to note that many curricula will only explore parts of Titus Andronicus as they compare to other Shakespearean or Renaissance plays. To provide adequate context for the disability-related content of Titus, educators are encouraged to explore the entire guide to understand how to discuss this play or excerpts thereof with their students.