Introduction to William Introduction to William Shakespeare and His PlaysShakespeare and His Plays

William Shakespeare: Interesting William Shakespeare: Interesting FactsFacts

• The third of eight children born to John and Mary The third of eight children born to John and Mary Shakespeare. John was a wealthy shopkeeper.Shakespeare. John was a wealthy shopkeeper.

• His birthday is celebrated on April 23, 1564 and he died His birthday is celebrated on April 23, 1564 and he died April 23, 1616. April 23, 1616.

• Lived in Stratford upon Avon – would have known English, Lived in Stratford upon Avon – would have known English, Greek, and Latin.Greek, and Latin.

• Wrote 37 plays and 157 sonnets.Wrote 37 plays and 157 sonnets.

• He attended the King’s New School where classes began at He attended the King’s New School where classes began at 6 AM (summer) and 7 AM (winter) and lasted till 5 PM.6 AM (summer) and 7 AM (winter) and lasted till 5 PM.

• Married Anne Hathaway – 1582 & Had 3 children (Susanna, Married Anne Hathaway – 1582 & Had 3 children (Susanna, Judith, and Hammet).Judith, and Hammet).

• In 1964, William Shakespeare became the first person In 1964, William Shakespeare became the first person other than royalty to appear on a United Kingdom stamp.other than royalty to appear on a United Kingdom stamp.

• In his will, he left his wife his “second best bed” with its In his will, he left his wife his “second best bed” with its furnishings. furnishings.

Shakespeare CareerShakespeare Career

• Started as an actor – Lord Started as an actor – Lord Chamberlain’s MenChamberlain’s Men

• Also principal playwright for them.Also principal playwright for them.

• 1599 – built and became part-owner 1599 – built and became part-owner to The Globe Theater where most of to The Globe Theater where most of Shakespeare’s plays were Shakespeare’s plays were performed.performed.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater

• Plays produced for general Plays produced for general

Public – held 3,000 people.Public – held 3,000 people.

• Built in 1598-99 – Built in 1598-99 –

burned to the ground in 1613.burned to the ground in 1613.

• Open air, round theaterOpen air, round theater

• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting

• 3 levels3 levels

Spectators at the Spectators at the GlobeGlobe

• Wealthy got benchesWealthy got benches

• Poorer people watched from “the pit”Poorer people watched from “the pit”

• All but the wealthy were illiterateAll but the wealthy were illiterate

• Performances were interactivePerformances were interactive

Staging at Staging at The GlobeThe Globe

• Stage platform that extended into the pitStage platform that extended into the pit

• Dressing & storage rooms in galleries Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stagebehind & above stage

• second-level gallery provided the upper second-level gallery provided the upper stage - for famous balcony scene in R & Jstage - for famous balcony scene in R & J

• Trap door in floor let ghosts appear.Trap door in floor let ghosts appear.

• Elaborate CostumesElaborate Costumes

• Lots of props – even a flaming arrow!Lots of props – even a flaming arrow!

Actors at The Actors at The GlobeGlobe

• Old men and boysOld men and boys

• Young boy’s whose voices hadn’t Young boy’s whose voices hadn’t changed played the parts of the women.changed played the parts of the women.

• Would have been considered indecent Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage.for a woman to appear on stage.

• Monologues – are long speeches done Monologues – are long speeches done with other actors on stage.with other actors on stage.

• Soliloquy – A long speech representing Soliloquy – A long speech representing the thoughts of the actor, usually done the thoughts of the actor, usually done alone on stagealone on stage

The Products of The Products of ShakespeareShakespeareOut of his 37 plays Out of his 37 plays

the top 6 most the top 6 most popular are:popular are:

• HamletHamlet• OthelloOthello• MacbethMacbeth• Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet• The TempestThe Tempest• Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Shakespeare’s Writing StyleShakespeare’s Writing Style

• Blank Verse – unrhymed lines of iambic Blank Verse – unrhymed lines of iambic pentameterpentameter

• Iambic pentameter – common meter of Iambic pentameter – common meter of poetry. A line 10 syllables long in which poetry. A line 10 syllables long in which every other syllable is stressed.every other syllable is stressed.

• Shakespeare loved to play with Shakespeare loved to play with language – be on the look out for language – be on the look out for double meanings & puns. His humor double meanings & puns. His humor can be found in the multiple ways he can be found in the multiple ways he uses words.uses words.

Sequence of Sequence of Shakespearean DramasShakespearean Dramas

• Plot (EXPOSITION) begins with and Plot (EXPOSITION) begins with and introduces the following:introduces the following:– SettingSetting– CharactersCharacters– Basic SituationBasic Situation

• INCITING MOMENT – Often called the INCITING MOMENT – Often called the “initial moment”. First bit of action “initial moment”. First bit of action that begins the plot.that begins the plot.

Sequence ofSequence ofShakespearean DramasShakespearean Dramas

• CONFLICTCONFLICT– Man vs. ManMan vs. Man– Man vs. NatureMan vs. Nature– Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society– Man vs. HimselfMan vs. Himself

• CRISIS – The point where the CRISIS – The point where the protagonist’s situation will either get protagonist’s situation will either get better or worse.better or worse.

• CLIMAX – Turning point in the story.CLIMAX – Turning point in the story.

• RESOLUTION – How everything turns outRESOLUTION – How everything turns out

Elements of a TragedyElements of a Tragedy

• Drama where the central character/s suffer Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster/great misfortunedisaster/great misfortune– In many tragedies, downfall results from In many tragedies, downfall results from

either:either:

•FateFate

•Character flaw/Fatal flawCharacter flaw/Fatal flaw

•Combination of the twoCombination of the two

Words of Wisdom from Words of Wisdom from ShakespeareShakespeare

•“To be or not to be; that is the question.” –Hamlet

•“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” –All’s Well That Ends Well

•“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.” –Twelfth Night

•“It’s not enough to speak, but to speak true.” –Midsummer Night’s Dream

Introduction to HamletIntroduction to Hamlet• The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of

DenmarkDenmark was probably written in 1601. was probably written in 1601.

• HamletHamlet is based on the story of is based on the story of AmlethAmleth in Danish mythology. That character in Danish mythology. That character feigns madness in order to avenge his feigns madness in order to avenge his murdered father.murdered father.

• Subsequent versions of the story and Subsequent versions of the story and plays introduced additional elements plays introduced additional elements that are also found in Shakespeare.that are also found in Shakespeare.

Hamlet NotesHamlet Notes

• Shakespeare chose to make the Shakespeare chose to make the murder of the father a secret and to murder of the father a secret and to use the ghost to reveal it to the son.use the ghost to reveal it to the son.

• Hamlet is a play that looks at the Hamlet is a play that looks at the stupidity & falseness of life. He is a kid stupidity & falseness of life. He is a kid who is tired of dishonesty.who is tired of dishonesty.

• Hamlet isn’t pefect but choose not to Hamlet isn’t pefect but choose not to compromise with evil.compromise with evil.

Characters: HamletCharacters: Hamlet

• Hamlet is Prince Of Hamlet is Prince Of DenmarkDenmark

• He has recently He has recently returned to returned to Denmark from Denmark from Wittenburg, where Wittenburg, where he is a student.he is a student.

• Father died while Father died while away.away.

• His uncle,Claudius, His uncle,Claudius, has both married has both married Hamlet’s mother Hamlet’s mother and become king.and become king.

• Hamlet is upset Hamlet is upset about events & about events & doesn’t like doesn’t like anything that has anything that has happened since his happened since his father’s death. father’s death. Especially after he is Especially after he is visited by the ghost!visited by the ghost!

Characters: Characters: GhostGhost• Hamlet’s father was Hamlet’s father was

also named Hamlet.also named Hamlet.

• A ghost appears in A ghost appears in the first act and the first act and claims that it is the claims that it is the spirit of the dead spirit of the dead king.king.

• However…the ghost However…the ghost could lie.could lie.

• It was believed during It was believed during Shakespeare’s time that Shakespeare’s time that ghosts or other spirits ghosts or other spirits could take on any shape could take on any shape they chose for their own they chose for their own evil purposes.evil purposes.

• It is important for It is important for Hamlet to confirm the Hamlet to confirm the true identity of the ghost true identity of the ghost before he acts on what before he acts on what the ghost tells him or the ghost tells him or even believe that what it even believe that what it tells him is true.tells him is true.

Characters: Characters: ClaudiusClaudius

• Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle and, as the Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle and, as the play opens, becomes his stepfather as play opens, becomes his stepfather as well.well.

• Following the death of Claudius’ Following the death of Claudius’ brother, Hamlet’s father, Claudius has brother, Hamlet’s father, Claudius has become King by election of the nobles.become King by election of the nobles.

• He has also hurriedly married Gertrude, He has also hurriedly married Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, whom he genuinely Hamlet’s mother, whom he genuinely seems to love.seems to love.

Characters: Characters: GertrudeGertrude

• Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother and the Queen.Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother and the Queen.• Hamlet is very upset that she has married his uncle Hamlet is very upset that she has married his uncle

so soon after the death of his father.so soon after the death of his father.• The crowning of Claudius seems to have taken place The crowning of Claudius seems to have taken place

before Hamlet has had time to arrive from Wittenburg before Hamlet has had time to arrive from Wittenburg or very shortly thereafter. Gertrude’s marriage to or very shortly thereafter. Gertrude’s marriage to Clausdius may have taken place just prior to the Clausdius may have taken place just prior to the entrance in Act 1, scene 2.entrance in Act 1, scene 2.

Character: Character: HoratioHoratio• Horatio is Hamlet’s friend and Horatio is Hamlet’s friend and

confidant. Hamlet suggests to Horatio confidant. Hamlet suggests to Horatio that he intends to pretend to be insane that he intends to pretend to be insane (1.5.171-172), and he relates other (1.5.171-172), and he relates other secrets to Horatio as the play develops.secrets to Horatio as the play develops.

• Horatio is ALWAYS a reliable narrator.Horatio is ALWAYS a reliable narrator.• Horatio, in essence, is present to Horatio, in essence, is present to

represent the audience on stage, to ask represent the audience on stage, to ask questions and respond to Hamlet for questions and respond to Hamlet for us.us.

Characters: OpheliaCharacters: Ophelia

• Ophelia is Hamlet’s tragic Ophelia is Hamlet’s tragic lady love.lady love.

• She is the daughter to She is the daughter to Polonius who is the pompous Polonius who is the pompous head of state to Claudius.head of state to Claudius.

• Ophelia is mentally fragile, Ophelia is mentally fragile, but her love for Hamlet is but her love for Hamlet is genuine.genuine.

Character: Character: FortinbrasFortinbras

• Side story that mirrors Hamlet’s own story.Side story that mirrors Hamlet’s own story.

• Fortinbras is the prince of Norway.Fortinbras is the prince of Norway.

• His father also recently died, & uncle took His father also recently died, & uncle took the throne in place of the dead king.the throne in place of the dead king.

• Fortinbras threatens to invade Denmark.Fortinbras threatens to invade Denmark.

• As consolation, he is allowed to attack As consolation, he is allowed to attack Poland.Poland.

Themes to Look ForThemes to Look For

• MADNESS – Who is really mad? Who is MADNESS – Who is really mad? Who is pretending to be?pretending to be?

• In Shakespeare’s time – insanity was In Shakespeare’s time – insanity was considered a punishment for one’s sins.considered a punishment for one’s sins.

• INDECISION - Hamlet seems to be a INDECISION - Hamlet seems to be a driven individual but other times driven individual but other times procrastinates to absurdity. Why?procrastinates to absurdity. Why?

• REVENGEREVENGE

• SOUL SEARCHING SOUL SEARCHING