What is the best way for me to memorize my lines?

Question

For Shakespeare play Hamlet.

Answer 1

I used 5 x 7" flash cards. Put the preceding line(s) on one side and your line(s) (upside down) on the opposite side. (You'll understand why upside down...keep reading.) Use one card to label each section by Act/Scene. Punch a hole in all the cards in the upper left, put a key-ring through the holes to hold them all together and make it easier to flip the cards. As you flip the card, you'll readily see your line(s) on the opposite side without having to fumble with the whole pack. It's important to memorize your lead-in lines, a) because you need to know when to come in, and b) in case your fellow actor(s) forget a line; you'll know the scene dialogue and can help him/her out.

Then just carve out time in each day and devote it strictly to memorization. This is a discipline that must not be sherked. Start immediately...before your first rehearsal. Don't wait til later. You'll only irritate your director and fellow actors. By memorizing early on, you'll be freer to explore the depths of each line from a character/emotional standpoint.

Also, when you memorize, read the lines in your head first, then repeat them out loud. Once you've memorized one sentence, move on to the next. It also helps to read the whole play so you get a sense of what it's about, and what the scene objectives are. It's often easier to memorize lines in context of the whole scene, or bits of it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You didn't mention which role you were trying to memorize, but, in my experience, the best way for actors to memorize lines is to keep reading the entire play over and over. The more familiar you become with the sequence of actions and the way that scenes follow one another, the more LOGICAL your character's lines will seem, and, at that point, memorization is a LOT easier.

And, by the way, Shakespeare is generally EASIER to memorize that other texts -- not harder. Because it's written to a very specific poetic rhythm, you'll find that it's like learning the lyrics to a song.

Answer 3

Its hard cuz its Shakespeare I had to do this so i can tell u what works best for me other than acting I love music so i put his lines to a beat a rhythm u know so that they flow easily next step is to take it and read the lines in parts

take one line and stair step it
read the first three letters place the page down and say them over pick the page back up and read more words put the page down and recite those once you get a whole sentence say it in its rhythm you made up earlier soon u will be doing it by lines instead of words TRUST ME IT WORKS now its best to do this b4 bed then it really will sink in

also one more trick, now i didn't try this with Shakespeare but this is wat i do wat my other scripts as soon as i get them i record me acting out my part... i listen then recite (in parts) also play it while u sleep while u sleep u take in a lot of information so it usually works.... Hope I have helped U!!!!

Answer 4

I have a tough time memorizing too. What I've always done is to tape my lines and listen to it as I drive around, work, etc. You might also want to get another person or two to say the other lines.

www.johnevers.net

Answer 5

Oh, man, I had to do that!! It's so hard cause you can't even tell what they mean sometimes!! It makes it easier if you can figure out what is meant by the line, then you can picture it in your head.
And then practice X10 with another person!!!

I had to do the "To be, or not to be" monologue for a test! Fun but very hard!!!


Much Love!!

Answer 6

keep repeating your lines several times . Each day try to memorize 10 lines.

Answer 7

Repeat your lines over and over to yourself - out loud. Get someone to say the other person's lines to you, so you can learn your cues, but first learn as much as you can by yourself.

Also, try to learn your lines completely without emotion - if you tie any emotion or feeling to certain lines, you may not remember them correctly if you have to do them with any other emotion [ie if your director tells you to try something new or whatever].

Answer 8

Try to picture yourself as Hamlet and feel his words. You can also use mnemonics.

Answer 9

memorize it with a friend. or a fellow actor. that way you can memorize your dialogues, and at the same time practice your facial expressions. :D

Answer 10

the best way is to internalize the lines.

and say it with someone or practise it like you're on the stage.

you'll get used to it.