The World of Shakespeare Honors English I 2011-2012.

The World of The World of ShakespeareShakespeare

Honors English IHonors English I

2011-20122011-2012

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Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s Life

William Shakespeare was an English William Shakespeare was an English playwright from the 16playwright from the 16thth Century. Century.

He was born 1564 in Stratford-upon-He was born 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.Avon.

He died on April 23, 1616.He died on April 23, 1616.

At the age of 18, he At the age of 18, he married an older married an older woman, Anne woman, Anne Hathaway.Hathaway.

He had 3 children- He had 3 children- Susanna and twins, Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith.Hamnet and Judith.

He left them in Stratford He left them in Stratford to go be an actor and to go be an actor and playwright in Londonplaywright in London

Shakespeare’s wife probably didn’t look like this.

Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan Theatre When Shakespeare was in When Shakespeare was in

London, Elizabeth I was the London, Elizabeth I was the queen (1558-1603). This queen (1558-1603). This was called the was called the Elizabethan Elizabethan EraEra..

There was an explosion of There was an explosion of literature and theater during literature and theater during this era. It is also called the this era. It is also called the English RenaissanceEnglish Renaissance because so much great art because so much great art and culture developed and culture developed during this time. during this time.

Shakespeare first entered the Shakespeare first entered the theater as an actor traveling with theater as an actor traveling with different acting companies. different acting companies.

At the age of 27, he decided to try At the age of 27, he decided to try writing plays.writing plays.

His plays were popular when he was His plays were popular when he was alive but nowhere close to how alive but nowhere close to how popular they are today. popular they are today.

He wrote 38 plays in totalHe wrote 38 plays in total

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Shakespeare looked for pre-existing Shakespeare looked for pre-existing stories for inspiration. He changed many stories for inspiration. He changed many details, but he never started from scratch details, but he never started from scratch when writing plays. He was a famous when writing plays. He was a famous “borrower” of other people’s ideas.“borrower” of other people’s ideas.

His works can be traced back to various His works can be traced back to various literary sources and incidents in his life literary sources and incidents in his life and the world around him. His writing was and the world around him. His writing was influenced by Roman and Italian authors.influenced by Roman and Italian authors.

Shakespeare wrote 4 types of plays:Shakespeare wrote 4 types of plays:ComediesComedies

Humorous—usually end in marriageHumorous—usually end in marriageTragediesTragedies

Always end in deathAlways end in deathHistoriesHistories

Chronicle the lives of royaltyChronicle the lives of royaltyRomances (also called problem plays)Romances (also called problem plays)

Weird hybrid plays (not exactly Weird hybrid plays (not exactly comedy or tragedy)comedy or tragedy)

He also wrote: 154 sonnets, 3 long He also wrote: 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems, Several other narrative poems, Several other poemspoems

Theater in the Elizabethan Theater in the Elizabethan AgeAge

Elizabethans wanted Elizabethans wanted plays with lots of plays with lots of excitement, romance, excitement, romance, dirty jokes, ghosts, dirty jokes, ghosts, stabbings and sword stabbings and sword fights.fights.

If they were not If they were not pleased, the audience pleased, the audience would throw rotten eggs would throw rotten eggs and vegetables at the and vegetables at the actors.actors.

Women were not allowed to act, so Women were not allowed to act, so men had to play all parts. Young men had to play all parts. Young boys would often play the parts of boys would often play the parts of women.women.

The Original The Original Globe TheaterGlobe TheaterThe original theater was built in 1599 by The original theater was built in 1599 by

the acting company, Lord Chamberlain’s the acting company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Most of Shakespeare’s plays were Men. Most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed here.performed here.

The Globe was 3 stories The Globe was 3 stories high, octagon-shaped and high, octagon-shaped and had an open air court in had an open air court in the middle. The stage the middle. The stage reached into the middle reached into the middle area and was surrounded area and was surrounded by tiers of seats that had by tiers of seats that had a roof over them.a roof over them.

The upper- and middle- The upper- and middle- class sat in the seats.class sat in the seats.

The poor people (called The poor people (called “groundlings”) paid a “groundlings”) paid a penny to stand in the penny to stand in the center.center.

Acting in The GlobeActing in The Globe

There were no electric lights, sound effects, or big sets in The Globe. All performances took place during the day when there was light for the audience to see.

Because all the plays took place on a Because all the plays took place on a bare stage in the daytime, bare stage in the daytime, Shakespeare had to use language to Shakespeare had to use language to convey time of day, weather, and convey time of day, weather, and mood. Characters who talk about mood. Characters who talk about how dark it is are setting the stage how dark it is are setting the stage for the audience.for the audience.

Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietShakespeare's tragic tale of two star-Shakespeare's tragic tale of two star-

crossed lovers whose families get in crossed lovers whose families get in the way of their happiness.the way of their happiness.

The story came from a poem by Arthur The story came from a poem by Arthur Brooke titled “The Tragicall Historye of Brooke titled “The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet.” Romeus and Juliet.”

The EndThe End

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