William “The Bard” Shakespeare Life and Times. Shakespeare the Man Born (approximately) April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. AND WHAT’S TODAYS DATE?!

William “The Bard” William “The Bard” ShakespeareShakespeare

Life and TimesLife and Times

Shakespeare the ManShakespeare the Man Born (approximately) April 23, Born (approximately) April 23,

1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. AND WHAT’S TODAYS DATE?! AND WHAT’S TODAYS DATE?! AWESOME!AWESOME!

Son of John Shakespeare, a glove-Son of John Shakespeare, a glove-maker and leading townsman, and maker and leading townsman, and Mary Arden, a farmer’s daughter.Mary Arden, a farmer’s daughter.

Studied Latin and Classical culture Studied Latin and Classical culture (evident in his writings).(evident in his writings).

Married Anne Hathaway at age 18; Married Anne Hathaway at age 18; gave birth to 8 children.gave birth to 8 children.

Left for London around 1586; Left for London around 1586; acted and wrote there for most of acted and wrote there for most of his life.his life.

Fun Fact: Anne Hathaway was Fun Fact: Anne Hathaway was eight years older than eight years older than Shakespeare and three months Shakespeare and three months pregnant when they got married…pregnant when they got married…an Elizabethan taboo.an Elizabethan taboo.

Shakespeare’s birthplace in

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare the Shakespeare the Actor, Playwright, Actor, Playwright,

and Poetand Poet Wrote and acted for the Wrote and acted for the

Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later called the King’s later called the King’s Men under James I.Men under James I.

Produced 37 plays Produced 37 plays (tragedies, histories, and (tragedies, histories, and comedies) and 154 comedies) and 154 sonnets.sonnets.

Performed Performed predominantly in the predominantly in the Globe Theatre in London.Globe Theatre in London.

Retired in 1610 and Retired in 1610 and returned to Stratford.returned to Stratford.

The First FolioThe First Folio Published in 1623, this Published in 1623, this

contains 36 of Shakespeare’s contains 36 of Shakespeare’s plays. It is the first, and plays. It is the first, and generally most definitive, generally most definitive, collection of Shakespeare’s collection of Shakespeare’s plays.plays.

Compiling the Folio required Compiling the Folio required collecting and reviewing collecting and reviewing earlier editions of plays, earlier editions of plays, actors’ prompts and notes, actors’ prompts and notes, and drafts—Shakespeare and drafts—Shakespeare was not present to verify the was not present to verify the result.result.

228 (of approx. 1000) First 228 (of approx. 1000) First Folios are still in existence. Folios are still in existence. The largest collection, 79 The largest collection, 79 volumes, is housed in the volumes, is housed in the Folger Library in Washington, Folger Library in Washington, D.C.D.C.

Shakespeare’s LondonShakespeare’s London During Elizabeth’s reign, During Elizabeth’s reign,

London’s population would London’s population would reach 200,000. It was a reach 200,000. It was a growing, economically and growing, economically and culturally rich city.culturally rich city.

Challenges: the plague, Challenges: the plague, religious conflict, strict religious conflict, strict social hierarchy.social hierarchy.

Theatre-going society. All Theatre-going society. All social classes attended—social classes attended—from the aristocracy to the from the aristocracy to the working-class and often working-class and often vulgar “groundlings.”vulgar “groundlings.”

The Theatre,The Theatre, Julius Caesar Julius Caesar First printed edition: 1597 First printed edition: 1597

(pirated). Written during the (pirated). Written during the period when Shakespeare was period when Shakespeare was writing his sonnets.writing his sonnets.

Evidence suggests that the Evidence suggests that the play was often performed by play was often performed by Shakespeare’s company Shakespeare’s company during his lifetime.during his lifetime.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men The Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed a different play performed a different play every day—theatre was thus every day—theatre was thus very different from the way very different from the way we know it today.we know it today.

Major differences: all-male Major differences: all-male companies, minimal props. companies, minimal props.

SourcesSources

““Othello” playbook. Shakespeare’s Othello” playbook. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. 2007. 4-6.Globe Theatre. 2007. 4-6.

http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/ http://www.rsc.org.uk/http://www.rsc.org.uk/ http://www.folger.edu/http://www.folger.edu/ ““Google” image search, Google” image search,

http://images.google.comhttp://images.google.com

Break-Out Session!Break-Out Session!

Quick! Get in groups of 3!Quick! Get in groups of 3! Raise your hand once your group is Raise your hand once your group is

together. I will give you 1 artifact together. I will give you 1 artifact and “Investigative Report.”and “Investigative Report.”

Spend Spend 10 minutes10 minutes analyzing your analyzing your artifact and writing artifact and writing 1 group report1 group report. .

Be prepared to present your findings.Be prepared to present your findings.