Introduction to Shakespeare. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Romeo & Juliet.

Introduction to Introduction to ShakespeareShakespeare

WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREWILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

An Introduction to the Playwright and his An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Play, Romeo & JulietRomeo & Juliet

Biographical InformationBiographical Information Born: Stratford-Upon Avon, England April 23, Born: Stratford-Upon Avon, England April 23,

15641564 Parents, John and Mary (Arden) Married Anne Hathaway, November, 1582 Three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616Wrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnetsActor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright

The BardThe Bard

Sometime in the 1580's William Shakespeare left his family to pursue a career as a playwright, poet, and actor in London.

His success was immense. Shakespeare is known to have written 154 sonnets and 37 plays.

In fact, so prolific was Shakespeare as a writer of sonnets, that a sonnet form has been named for him. The Shakespearean sonnet is 14 lines long with a rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef,gg.

Playwright, Poet, Playwright, Poet, ActorActor

Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:

Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending

Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings

Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

Performing a Shakespearean Performing a Shakespearean PlayPlay

Protestant Church, City officials opposed Protestant Church, City officials opposed theaters due to crime, bawdy subject theaters due to crime, bawdy subject matter, fighting, drinking, and up to 3,000 matter, fighting, drinking, and up to 3,000 people in one place to spread Bubonic Plague people in one place to spread Bubonic Plague

Theaters also used for bear-baiting and gamblingTheaters also used for bear-baiting and gambling 1596 Plague caused London to ban all public plays and 1596 Plague caused London to ban all public plays and

Theatres within the City limits Theatres within the City limits All actors were men because theaters too disreputable for All actors were men because theaters too disreputable for

womenwomen Little emphasis on scenery, more attention on costumes, Little emphasis on scenery, more attention on costumes,

though most were contemporary due to costthough most were contemporary due to cost Much of the audience watched from the Much of the audience watched from the ‘‘pitpit’’ as as

groundlings - poor workers who went for the entertainment groundlings - poor workers who went for the entertainment of alcohol, fights, prostitution, and lewd subject matter of of alcohol, fights, prostitution, and lewd subject matter of the plays. Often threw food at the actors onstage.the plays. Often threw food at the actors onstage.

Shakespeare’s TheatreShakespeare’s Theatre

• “The Globe Theatre, also known as the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, was not only one of most famous playhouses of all time, but the play house where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays. Built from oak, deal, and stolen playhouse frames, the 3 story, 3000 capacity Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare has become almost as famous as the playwright himself.” ( Absolute Shakespeare)

• The Globe Theatre:The Globe Theatre:

• Open ceilingOpen ceiling

• Three stories highThree stories high

• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting• Plays were shown Plays were shown

during daylight hours during daylight hours onlyonly

The TheatreThe Theatre

The Stage The Stage In Shakespeare’s TimeIn Shakespeare’s Time

A show lasted about 2 ½ hours, usually in open air theatres during the afternoon.

There were no acts, but frequent intermissions.

There was no scenery, but elaborate props and costumes to give reality.

Devices such as trap doors and scaffolds were used to make gods, witches, etc. disappear.

The Stage The Stage In Shakespeare’s Time (continued)In Shakespeare’s Time (continued)

There were no actresses. All parts were played by men or boys.

There were no programs.The closeness of stage to the

audience led to use of "asides" and "soliloquies“.

In front of stage was a big open area where the "penny-public" stood to watch as they could not afford seats.

SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people

got to sit on got to sit on benchesbenches

The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) had “groundlings”) had to stand and watch to stand and watch from the courtyardfrom the courtyard

There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday

ActorsActors

Only men and boysOnly men and boys

Young boys whose Young boys whose voices had not voices had not changed played changed played the women’s rolesthe women’s roles

It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage

Importance to EnglishImportance to English Over 12,000 words entered English Over 12,000 words entered English

between 1500 - 1650between 1500 - 1650 Shakespeare’s plays show the first Shakespeare’s plays show the first

recorded use of 2,035 new English wordsrecorded use of 2,035 new English words MacbethMacbeth, , HamletHamlet, and , and King LearKing Lear have have

one ‘new’ word every 2.5 linesone ‘new’ word every 2.5 lines He created: “antipathy, critical, frugal, He created: “antipathy, critical, frugal,

dwindle, extract, horrid, vast, hereditary, dwindle, extract, horrid, vast, hereditary, critical, excellent, eventful, critical, excellent, eventful, assassination, lonely, leapfrog, assassination, lonely, leapfrog, indistinguishable, well-read, and indistinguishable, well-read, and countless others (including countless)” countless others (including countless)” (Bryson loc. 1396-1406).(Bryson loc. 1396-1406).

Understanding Understanding Shakespearean EnglishShakespearean English

Read through the insults and Read through the insults and compliments and try some of your compliments and try some of your ownown

What do you think some of them What do you think some of them would have looked like? Draw a would have looked like? Draw a picture of your meanest insult or picture of your meanest insult or your nicest compliment and explain your nicest compliment and explain what it is you’ve called your friend what it is you’ve called your friend (or enemy)(or enemy)

Shakespeare’s EnglishShakespeare’s English ContinuedContinuedThe following phrases were coined by Shakespeare. What do they mean and how do we The following phrases were coined by Shakespeare. What do they mean and how do we

use them today. Choose at least four of them to use in your own creative story:use them today. Choose at least four of them to use in your own creative story:A laughing stock (A laughing stock (The Merry Wives of Windsor)The Merry Wives of Windsor)A sorry sight (A sorry sight (MacbethMacbeth))As dead as a doornail (As dead as a doornail (Henry VIHenry VI))Eaten out of house and home (Eaten out of house and home (Henry V, Part 2Henry V, Part 2))Fair play (Fair play (The TempestThe Tempest))I will wear my heart upon my sleeve (I will wear my heart upon my sleeve (OthelloOthello))In a pickle (In a pickle (The TempestThe Tempest))In stitches (In stitches (Twelfth NightTwelfth Night))In the twinkling of an eye (In the twinkling of an eye (The Merchant Of VeniceThe Merchant Of Venice))Mum's the word (Mum's the word (Henry VI, Part 2Henry VI, Part 2))Neither here nor there (Neither here nor there (OthelloOthello))Send him packing (Send him packing (Henry IVHenry IV))Set your teeth on edge (Set your teeth on edge (Henry IVHenry IV))There's method in my madness (There's method in my madness (HamletHamlet))Too much of a good thing (Too much of a good thing (As You Like ItAs You Like It))Vanish into thin air (Vanish into thin air (OthelloOthello))

Points of Shakespeare's Style:Points of Shakespeare's Style: Use of metaphors– comparing something

in terms of something else, i.e. "That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder".

Use of soliloquies– usually longer speeches given by characters when alone on stage– e.g. a person talking to himself out loud.

Use of asides– when a character says something to the audience, but the other characters on stage cannot hear it, e.g. like muttering to himself.

Points of Shakespeare’s Style:Points of Shakespeare’s Style:(continued)(continued)

Use of sonnets– a very rigid poetic style of writing. Fourteen lines consisting of three sets of four line quatrains and a two line rhyming couplet at the end. Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, e.g.

Use of puns– humourous plays on words indicating different meanings.

i.e. the Cobbler says, "A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed a mender of bad soles.” A cobbler is a mender of shoes or a bungler.

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Considered a Considered a tragedytragedy

Tells the story of two Tells the story of two teenagers who risk teenagers who risk everything for loveeverything for love

Shakespeare is Shakespeare is exploring which is exploring which is stronger: love or stronger: love or hatehate

The MontaguesThe MontaguesLord Montague – father of Romeo

Lady Montague – mother of Romeo

Romeo Montague – in love with Juliet

Benvolio – nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo

Balthasar – servant to Romeo

Abram – servant to Montague

The CapuletsThe CapuletsLord CapuletLord Capulet – father of Juliet – father of Juliet

Lady CapuletLady Capulet – mother of Juliet – mother of Juliet

Juliet CapuletJuliet Capulet – in love with Romeo – in love with Romeo

TybaltTybalt – nephew of Lady Capulet – nephew of Lady Capulet

NurseNurse – takes care of Juliet – takes care of Juliet

PeterPeter – servant to Juliet’s Nurse – servant to Juliet’s Nurse

Other CharactersOther CharactersPrince EscalusPrince Escalus – ruler of Verona – ruler of Verona

MercutioMercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeoof Romeo

Friar LaurenceFriar Laurence – a Franciscan priest – a Franciscan priest

Friar JohnFriar John – another Franciscan priest – another Franciscan priest

Count ParisCount Paris – a young nobleman – a young nobleman

Things to think about…Things to think about…

What would you do if your What would you do if your parents did not approve of parents did not approve of someone you were dating?someone you were dating?

How important is the opinion How important is the opinion of your family in decisions of your family in decisions that you make?that you make?

Does violence solve Does violence solve problems?problems?