Introduction to Shakespeare

Advanced Language Arts

Notes

Why do we read Shakespeare?

A. Considered the greatest dramatist and finest poet

B. Influence on English language1. Invented phrases/words

C. Messages for today1. Themes we learn from2. Understanding of human nature3. Entertainment

a. Every time you read, you learn more

4. Influence on culturea. Romance, what is heroic, bravery, etc.b. What is in his plays molded ideas into our heads

The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance

1400 – 1600

Caused by a re-interest in the arts and the development of new inventions

New trade routes opening

Beginning of modern science

Moveable type invented

The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance

Large class differences

Believed that you could not escape your

birth

Highest class is the Royalty

Clergy

Nobles/Merchants – lawyers, master

craftsmen, traders

Peasants

The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance

Society

Male dominated; women expected to

marry when reaching child-bearing age

Infant/Child mortality rate high

People readily believed in superstitions and magic

The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance

Queen Elizabeth I

Her reign was considered the “Golden Age

of England”

Encouraged literature/poets/playwrights by having them perform for her in court

Openly supported and admired Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564 (assumed by baptism record)

Lived in Stratford-on-Avon

Assumed to be very well educated. His father held local political offices which allowed young William to attend school.

William Shakespeare

Married Anne Hathaway who was eight years older than he was.

They had three children: Susana and twins – Hamnett and Judith

First play written was Henry IV, Part I in 1589

Wrote 37 plays total

William Shakespeare

Plays divided into comedies, tragedies, histories

Shakespeare’s plays quickly became popular. The public loved language and praised his quick wit.

Plays written in iambic pentameter and blank verse

Died in 1616 at the age of 52

The Globe Theater

Built in 1599 by Richard Burbage

Became the main theater to see Shakespeare’s plays

The Globe Theater

Shape was a circular octagon that could hold 2000 people

Audience made up of both sections of Elizabethan society

Ordinary citizens, travelers, some women watched on ground (groundlings)

Noblemen, country squires, masked women with male escorts sat in raised balconies

The Globe Theater

Had special effects with trap doors

Music a large part of theater

Women were not allowed on stage

The Plague (Black Death) forced theater closures Theater seen as evil/heretical

Rats and highly contagious virus was true cause of spread

Burned down in 1613 during a performance of “Henry VIII”. Cannons from battle scene sparked the building. Had to be rebuilt.

Vocabulary

Soliloquy – personal speech that reveals his thoughts

Irony – opposite of actual meaning Farce – light comedy; satirical in nature Pun – play on words Blank verse – unrhymed verse; it has a basic

metrical pattern Iambic pentameter – each unit, or foot,

contains an iamb; an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable which is repeated five times to make a pentameter

The Tragedies

Tragedy – a serious drama having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion

Types

Revenge tragedy – the hero discovers that a close relative has been murdered, experiences considerable trouble in identifying the murderer. After overcoming numerous obstacles, he finally succeeds in avenging the death by killing the murderer

Tragic comedy

The Tragedies

Tragic World

Consequences are irreversible

Nobility – persons of great and noble birth make a mistake in judgment and fall

Everyone is affected by the tragedy

Focus is directed on actual tragedy and tragic hero

Relationships are more intense. Lovers become frustrated, suicidal

Evil is very real and prevalent

The Tragedies

Qualities of the Tragic Hero

Noble birth – strength of characters larger

than life. Excellence makes him more susceptible to mistakes. The more perfect, the more vulnerable. High birth impels him to perform daring actions that the common man would not attempt. It is

these actions that will have drastic consequences.

The Tragedies

Qualities of the Tragic Hero

Failure – fall from great height. Often

undone by his own greatness

Tragic Flaw – makes an error in judgment

Responsible for the fate he must endure; his death is tragic, yet deserved

The Tragedies

Qualities of the Tragic Hero

There must be a point where the tragic

hero realizes he has made an irreversible mistake

After realization, hero must accept the

inevitable death

Hero must express his tragic experience with extreme perceptivity as to affect

everyone with its tensity

The Tragedies

Purpose of a Tragedy

Designed to make the common man (us!)

come to terms with reality

Asks the audience to transform human suffering into human greatness

The Tragedies

Central Aspect of Tragedy

Death – it is ironic that from awareness of

mortality comes the concept of immortality (life after death)

The tragedy of life is the persistence of

death and evil. The only consolation we have is that good survives and life goes on.

The Tragedies

Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying;

And now I’ll do ‘t. And so ‘a goes to heaven,

And so am I revenged. That would be scanned:

A villain kills my father, and for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.

The Histories

History – History plays focus on communities of men and women and the society of the nation. The hero in a history play is England.

The Histories

Themes Lessons in leadership for future rulers

Education about the monarchy for the common people

Promotes ideals of England patriotism

a love of liberty

dangers of rebellion/treason

unity within nation

The Histories

Development

Histories were developed in the

Renaissance period as multiple plays written in a continuous narrative.

History plays were used as a political

mirror of how a monarch ought to lead.

The Histories

Qualities within plays Histories set the ideal character of a

Christian ruler Elizabethans believed their monarchs were

appointed by God. God was seen as the ultimate governing force, and the King and Queen were working on His behalf.

Histories were NOT completely factual Characters were real; details exaggerated

Shakespeare used to shed light on current political situations

The Histories

Go therefore tell thy master, here I am;

My ransom is this frail and worthless turnk;

My army but a weak and sickly guard;

Yet, God before, tell him we will come on,

Though France himself and such another neighbor

Stand in our way.

The Comedies

Comedy

Shakespearean comedies revolve around a

general theme of young lovers who encounter difficulties, but who are ultimately united.

Most characters function in a world separate from the everyday troubled world. They undergo a renewal and find what they are seeking, whether it is love, wealth, or just peace.

The Comedies

Qualities found in comedies Contrasts are a constant element of the comedies

age vs. youth

city vs. country

wisdom vs. ignorance

justice vs. injustice

love vs. obedience

Comedies are romantic; they tell of the trials and the ultimate success in the love of the young, usually aristocratic people

Idea that love has the power to conquer and transform all

The Comedies

Seven Common Features of all Shakespearean Comedies

Atmosphere of optimism

Festive endings – usually a wedding or a feast or both

Practical jokes – without feelings of regret

Predominance of young lovers and of marriage; contain old elements of country

romance

The Comedies

Seven Common Features of all Shakespearean Comedies Background roles for older characters;

usually play decisive or kindly roles to get to a final resolution

In most, evil is presented in a form which may be so extravagant, so overdone, so melodramatic that we laugh at it rather than worry about it

Creation of the “green world” – a secluded and peaceful place created around each of the plots

The Comedies

Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a

dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our

own hearts and our wives’ heels.

“As You Like It”

First performed in early 1600

The plot is not an original idea. Based on a pastoral romance called “Rosalynde”, which in fact was based on a medieval poem titled “Gamelyn”. Many of the characters and

situations are directly from these works

This play is Shakespeare’s tribute to the attractions of the woodlands of England. He

often depicts man in harmony with nature.

“As You Like It”

He often depicts merriment, humor, and youth!

During this time period, pastoral romances and fantastic situations were extremely popular, such as Robin Hood

MAJOR THEMES Love – many types of love are shown throughout

this play. There are four main couples, each commenting on a different type of love

City life vs. country life – the conflicts in the city are unnatural and dangerous. It is in the country where lives and loves are sorted out