Introduction to Shakespeare
Feb 24, 2016
Introduction to Shakespeare
Why do we STILL read Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in English literature.
His works have influenced many other important figures.
His ideas and words are still present in today’s culture.
Many of the issues in his plays still apply to today’s world.
THE ELIZABETHAN
ERA
Queen ElizabethShakespeare
wrote in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1558-1603.
Elizabeth’s father was Henry VIII, who caused political and religious conflicts.
Queen Elizabeth, Continued
Elizabeth was a strong, determined queen who solved many of England’s problems.
She was fond of the arts and was responsible for inspiring others to donate to the arts.
The Lord Chamberlin’s Men were created during this time. This was a group that wrote and performed plays for the royalty of England.
The RenaissanceThe Renaissance
was occurring during the time Shakespeare wrote his plays.
During this time period, there was a high interest in art, science, philosophy, and freedom of choice.
Social HierarchySociety was divided
into the following classes:RoyaltyGentry (landowners)Knights (chosen by
royalty)Peasants/Commonors
Common BeliefsMembership in the Church of England
was required.Those who spoke out against the
church were fined, incarcerated, or beheaded.
Your social status was determined by God (peasant or nobleman).
Marriage was a business transaction. Fathers chose who their daughters were to marry.
Common Beliefs, Continued
Boys went to school, while girls were educated at home.
People were superstitious. They carried a “pockets full of posey” to prevent the Black Plague. It was bad luck to cross the path of a black cat, spill salt, or break a mirror.
Using leeches was a common way to remove contaminated blood.
Gardy Loo!Indoor plumbing did
not exist. People would warn others by shouting “Gardy loo!” before tossing sewage out the windows into the streets below. As a result, there were many illnesses.
LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare- Birth and Death
Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Died April 23, 1616 (predicted) at age 52
Marriage and ChildrenThird of 8 childrenMarried Anne
Hathaway at age 18- Anne was 26
Had 3 children with Anne
Shakespeare moved to London, while his family stayed in Stratford
Start of CareerBy 1592, Shakespeare was an actor
and a playwright.In 1594, he became a member of the
Lord Chamberlin’s Men (later the King’s Men). This was a group that was hired to write and perform plays for the royalty in England. Watching plays was their chosen form of entertainment.
End of CareerBy the time he returned to Stratford
to retire in 1612, Shakespeare had written 37 plays.
He had also written 154 sonnets (14-line poems).
The sonnets are addressed to several different subjects. Some speculate that the sonnets hint at Shakespeare’s romantic interest in men.
Shakespeare is also known as the “Bard” (bard = poet).
THE GLOBE THEATRE
• Located on the banks of the Thames River in London.
• Popular plays of the time (including those of Shakespeare) were performed there.
• It was destroyed by a cannon during a production of Henry the Eighth in 1613 and rebuilt in 1614.
The Theatre
• The theatre is a 3-story, open ceilinged structure with a courtyard in the middle.
• Could hold as many as 3,000 audience members.
Structure
SpectatorsWealthy people
sat on benches.The poor
(called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard.
There was much more audience participation than today.
There was no lighting and few sound effects during the plays.
A flag was flown during plays.Black= TragedyWhite= ComedyRed = History
Characters used swords, shields, brightly colored banners, and elaborate costumes.
During the Play
ActorsOnly men and
boys were allowed to be in plays.
Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles.
It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage
SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS
Comedies
These stories are light-hearted and always have a happy ending (usually a wedding).
Examples: Much Ado About Nothing, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night
Tragedies
These stories are serious dramas with disastrous endings.
Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth
Histories
These stories involve events and people from real life.
Examples: Henry VIII, Richard III, Julius Caesar
UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE’S
WRITING
AsideAn aside is a direct address by an
actor to an audience.The characters true feelings are
revealed.It is not heard by any other actors
UNLESS specified in stage directions.Example:
Juliet (aside): I can’t stand my father.Romeo (aside to Juliet): I want to
marry you.
SoliloquyA soliloquy is a long speech given
by a character who is alone on stage. No other characters can hear the speech.
The characters true feelings are revealed.
What is the difference between an aside and a soliloquy?
Monologue and Dialogue
Monologue- a long speech by one character that is usually heard by the other characters
Dialogue- conversations between characters
PunA form of
word play that occurs when characters make jokes with words that have more than one meaning.
Iambic PentameterAll of Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays
are written in iambic pentameter.Iamb = An unstressed syllable followed
by a stressed syllable (2 syllables per iamb)
Pentameter = 5 iambs per lineThere is a total of 10 syllables per line.Example:
When I do count the clock that tells the time
(ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum)
Styles of WritingRhymed verse- Iambic pentameter
that rhymesExample: Shakespearean Sonnets
Blank verse- Iambic pentameter that does not rhyme
Prose- Writing without a rhythmical structure (like natural flow of speech)Shakespearean plays combine rhymed
verse, blank verse, and prose.
VernacularSince Shakespeare’s time, the English language has evolved and changed.
Shakespeare used a dialect known as vernacular. Vernacular is the language common people use (slang).
Popular Shakespearean Words
Thee/Thou = YouThou art my friend.I give thee all my love.
Thy/Thine = YourHere is thy sword.This sword is thine.
Ye = You allYe are mighty lords.
Aye = Yes Good-den = Bye
Whither = Where Fray = FightHither = Here Shrift =
ConfessionAnon = Soon Visage = FaceCoz = Cousin Art = AreGood morrow= Good morningFortnight = Two weeksFair = BeautifulThrice = Three times
Ignore –eth (speaketh = speak)The words “do, did, and don’t” are typically absent in Shakespearean language. Instead of “Don’t be afraid,” he would write, “Be not afeard.” Translate these lines into Shakespeare’s language.Do you have a pencil?I don’t have a cell phone.He doesn’t have his homework.
INTRODUCTION TO ROMEO AND
JULIET
Romeo and Juliet
The play was written in 1595 and published in 1597.
It was one of Shakespeare’s first plays. Shakespeare did not invent this story. It his
own rendition of an ancient Italian tale.
The StoryAt the beginning of the play, two
families (the Montague’s and the Capulet’s) are in a rivalry. The reason for their hatred toward one another is unknown.
Romeo, a Montague, falls for Juliet, a Capulet. Because of the family dispute, maintaining a relationship is a difficulty for them throughout the play.
The Montague’sLord Montague – father of Romeo
Lady Montague – mother of Romeo
Romeo Montague – Lord and Lady Montague’s son
Benvolio – Romeo’s cousin and close friend
Balthasar – servant to Romeo
Abraham – Montague family servant
The Capulet’sLord Capulet – father of Juliet
Lady Capulet – mother of JulietJuliet Capulet – Lord and Lady Capulet’s
daughterTybalt – Juliet’s cousin
Nurse – takes care of JulietPeter – servant to the Nurse
Sampson- Capulet family servantGregory- Capulet family servant
Other CharactersPrince Escalus – ruler of Verona, Italy
Mercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo
Friar Lawrence – Priest; Mentor to Romeo and Juliet
Friar John – PriestCount Paris – relative to the prince and pursuer of
JulietChorus- Speaks directly to the audience about the
charactersRosaline- girl whom Romeo is enamoredApothecary- Pharmacist