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Introduction to Introduction to William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616 Wrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnets Actor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright
Lived during the Lived during the Renaissance, an era with Renaissance, an era with an interest in individual an interest in individual achievement:achievement: Scientifically, Scientifically,
geographically, geographically, commercially, commercially, philosophically, artisticallyphilosophically, artistically
Shakespeare’s Early LifeShakespeare’s Early Life
1564 He was born on April 23 in 1564 He was born on April 23 in Stratford-on-Avon.Stratford-on-Avon.
His father, John, was a prosperous His father, John, was a prosperous glove maker. He later became the glove maker. He later became the mayor of Stratford.mayor of Stratford.
Mother was Mary Arden, who was Mother was Mary Arden, who was from a socially prominent family.from a socially prominent family.
Both parents were illiterateBoth parents were illiterate
Stratford Upon AvonStratford Upon Avon
A Young ManA Young Man 1582 - He married Anne Hathaway. 1582 - He married Anne Hathaway.
(He was 18 years old…she was 26) (He was 18 years old…she was 26) They had three children; Susanna They had three children; Susanna
and twins, Hamnet and Judith.and twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, his only son, died at age 11Hamnet, his only son, died at age 11
1592, At age 28, Shakespeare left 1592, At age 28, Shakespeare left
his family and headed to London. his family and headed to London. Not much is known about the Not much is known about the
years between his marriage and years between his marriage and
when he left for Londonwhen he left for London
Gaining NotorietyGaining Notoriety
He performed as a member of Lord He performed as a member of Lord Chamberlain’s men, who mostly Chamberlain’s men, who mostly performed for royaltyperformed for royalty
First gained status when he First gained status when he performed for Queen Elizabeth I performed for Queen Elizabeth I She supported all arts: literature, She supported all arts: literature,
painting, theater, music, sculpturepainting, theater, music, sculptureBy 1594 six of his plays were written By 1594 six of his plays were written
and produced.and produced.
His DeathHis Death
1612 at age 48, 1612 at age 48, Shakespeare returned Shakespeare returned to Stratford, in partial to Stratford, in partial retirement. retirement.
1616, He died at the 1616, He died at the young age of 52. young age of 52.
He is buried inside He is buried inside Stratford’s Holy Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church. Trinity Church.
PublicationPublication
1616 Shakespeare 1616 Shakespeare died at the age of died at the age of 52 after having 52 after having written ____ playswritten ____ plays
1623 Completed 1623 Completed works were works were published 7 years published 7 years after his death. after his death. This was known a This was known a
the the First FolioFirst Folio..
14 Comedies14 Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending
12 Tragedies12 Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous –serious dramas with disastrous endings that chronicled the downfall of a tragic endings that chronicled the downfall of a tragic hero hero
11 Histories11 Histories – plays that chronicled the lives of – plays that chronicled the lives of English monarchsEnglish monarchs
Shakespeare wrote 3 types of Plays:Shakespeare wrote 3 types of Plays:
Shakespearean LanguageShakespearean Language
Coined over 1000 words, many still in use Coined over 1000 words, many still in use today.today.
Shakespeare wrote in blank verse, which is Shakespeare wrote in blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter unrhymed iambic pentameter
In order to maintain his meter, Shakespeare In order to maintain his meter, Shakespeare sometimes altered standard English in the sometimes altered standard English in the following ways:following ways:
• He sometimes changed grammar.• He sometimes changed grammar.• He sometimes inverted word order.• He sometimes inverted word order.• He sometimes omitted words or letters.• He sometimes omitted words or letters.
Elizabethan Words to Know for Elizabethan Words to Know for Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
An,and:An,and: If If Aught:Aught: Anything Anything Anon:Anon: Soon Soon Aye:Aye: Yes Yes Beseech:Beseech: BegBeg But:But: OnlyOnly Durst:Durst: DaredDared E’en:E’en: EvenEven E’er: E’er: EverEver Hie:Hie: HurryHurry Hither:Hither: HereHere
Mark:Mark: NoticeNotice Marry:Marry: A short form A short form
of of “By the Virgin “By the Virgin Mary”, a mild Mary”, a mild exclamation exclamation
PritheePrithee Pray thee, Pray thee, pleaseplease
Save:Save: ExceptExcept Soft:Soft: Wait a minuteWait a minute Thither:Thither: ThereThere Wherefore:Wherefore: WhyWhy WhitherWhither WhenWhen Withal:Withal: AlsoAlso
• Open ceilingOpen ceiling
• No artificial No artificial lightinglighting
• Plays were Plays were shown shown during during daylight daylight hours onlyhours only
• Three stories Three stories highhigh
• Could seat Could seat 3000 people3000 people
The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre
SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people
got to sit in the got to sit in the balconybalcony
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 indecent for a indecent for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage
Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
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