ELIZABETHAN THEATER AND SHAKESPEARE

“As an unperfect actor on the stage”

SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE Born in Stratford-upon-Avon (England),

baptized April 26, 1564 Married Anne Hathaway at age of 18. She

was at least five years older than he and pregnant with Susanna. Twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585 Hamnet died at age 11

Lost years 1585-1592 Well known in theatre by 1592 Didn’t return to live in Stratford until about

1613 Died April 23, 1616 (Feast of St. George)

Wrote 37 plays, 152 sonnets, and several long poems

Died around April 23, 1616

MAP OF LONDON 1600

GLOBE THEATER

THE RECONSTRUCTED GLOBE

THEATER TERMS Soliloquy Aside Objective correlatives Foils Freytag’s Pyramid

WHAT CAN YOU TELL FROM THIS CLIP? As You Like It at the Globe Audience? Best seats? Type of sets? Type of costumes? Props? Amplification? Music? Time of day for performances Vomitorium Heavens What is different from 1592?

WHAT SHAKESPEARE WROTE 37+ plays,

including a couple with co-authors

154 sonnets 2 long poems, Rape

of Lucrece and Venus and Adonis

A few other middle-length poems

WHAT IS A SONNET? Lyric (short) poem Rhymes Metered 14 lines Usually there is a turn, either between

the 8th and 9th lines (Petrarchan/ Italian) or between the 12th and 13th lines (Elizabethan/ Shakespearean)

SHAKESPEARE’S SONNET CYCLE Sonnets written 1593-1600, 2

published in 1599, rest published as we read them in 1609, dedicated to “the only begetter of these ensuing sonnets, Mr. W. H.”

Usually read as the most biographical of WS’s writings

Sonnets 1-126 to fair young man (poet’s dear friend and patron)

Sonnets 127-152 to dark lady, mistress for a time

153-54 were translations BUT mistress steals affection

of the friend Rival poet does , too

SONNET 23 As an unperfect actor on the stage,

Who with his fear is put beside his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart;So I, for fear of trust, forget to sayThe perfect ceremony of love's rite,And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharged with burthen of mine own love's might.O! let my looks be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast,Who plead for love, and look for recompense,More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.   O! learn to read what silent love hath writ:   To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.