WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. The exact date of Shakespeare’s birth is unknown. Father: John Shakespeare...
If you can't read please download the document
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. The exact date of Shakespeare’s birth is unknown. Father: John Shakespeare – a craftsman (grain / gloves) working his way up Stratford’s
The exact date of Shakespeares birth is unknown. Father: John
Shakespeare a craftsman (grain / gloves) working his way up
Stratfords social ladder. Mother: Mary Arden daughter of Richard
Arden (a respectable gentleman) has inherited money and land. Mary
had given birth to two girls before William but both had died very
young. William was baptised on 26 April 1564 at the Holy Trinity
Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon. (Babies were usually 3 days old when
baptised so we can assume that he was born on 23 April). Siblings:
Gilbert, Richard, Joan and Edmund.
Slide 3
Slide 4
Stratford-Upon-Avon was a quiet market town during Shakespeares
time with a population of less than 2,000 people. People sold
animals and goods at the markets and the town was known for its
fairs and malting (beer). 1 in 3 children survived to adulthood
during Shakespeares time and 40 was considered old. Stratford was
hit with the bubonic plague when Shakespeare was just a few months
old and it killed 300 people in the town.
Slide 5
John Shakespeare was elected one of the towns 14 alderman
(their job was to ensure laws were upheld). In 1568, he became the
towns bailiff (a modern day mayor). He applied for a Coat of Arms
which were essential to ones social status. Unfortunately, he had
lent money which was against the law. The authorities were informed
he stopped attending council meetings. He had to sell some of his
land and was slowly going into debt.
Slide 6
School wasnt compulsory during Shakespeares time. Girls werent
allowed to attend and the poorer families never went. At 5 years
old, Shakespeare attended the local petty school. It is here that
he learnt to read and write English and complete simple
mathematical problems. At 7 years old he went to the grammar school
Kings New School. Shakespeare would have had lessons on Latin,
Religious Studies, Grammar, Maths, Greek and Classical History and
Rhetoric (Public Speaking an idea left by the Romans). He didnt
attend university he was 15 when he left school and he helped with
his fathers glove-making business.
Slide 7
Shakespeare was married at age 18. By law, he was still a minor
and had to seek permission from his father. His bride, Anne
Hathaway aged 26, was already three months pregnant. *NB: 26 was
quite old for a lady to still be single. On 27 November 1582
Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married by the Bishop of
Worcester. Anne gave birth to their daughter, Susanna, six months
after their marriage. She was baptised on 26 May 1583. Two years
after Susannas birth, Anne gave birth to twins Judith and Hamnet
who were baptised on 2 February 1585.
Slide 8
The Lost Years 1585 1592. In 1592, Shakespeare is recorded as
being in London. The population had risen to 200,000 people it was
cramped, dirty, smelly and dangerous and yet it was popular with
the tourists. The River Thames was vital to the city a source for
trade, drinking water and the citys sewer! Popular entertainment in
London included: Football, Bear-baiting, Cockfighting, Laughing at
loonies, Executions, Theatre.
Slide 9
Theatres in Britain were first built by the Romans, although
they collapsed with the Roman Empire. In the medieval period,
theatre was performed at fairgrounds, churches, inns and market
squares. Mimes and miracle (religious) plays were popular. During
the 1500s companies of actors put on plays and travelled across the
country. They could tour as they liked until the new Acte for the
punishment of Vacabondes was introduced which insisted that
travelling actors be under the patronage of a nobleman. James
Burbage received patronage from the Earl of Leicester (the Queens
cousin) and then two years later, in 1574, by the Queen herself
(Elizabeth II)
Slide 10
James Burbage established the first purpose -built theatre in
London since Roman times. It was aptly named The Theatre. It was an
immediate success when it opened in 1576. Its popularity was
followed by other theatres the Curtain in 1577 and ten years later
the Rose which opened on Bankside (the time in which Shakespeare
arrived in London). In London, plays were performed every day. A
silk flag was flown on the theatres roof informing people of the
upcoming performance. A trumpet would sound, just before 2oclock to
remind people to hurry to their seats. Prices different depending
on where you were seated. One penny was charged to be a groundling
(standing in the court) and tuppence for a seat in the gallery.
Private boxes could be hired by nobles for a shilling. The theatres
had no roof and were thus, exposed to the elements. Performances
went from April through to October (mainly the summer months)
Everyone went to the theatre: It is one place where the rich and
poor met on equal terms.
Slide 11
The Puritans disapproved of the theatre. (*NB: Puritans were a
part of the English Protestant Church) They particularly
disapproved because they felt it made people lazy, warped peoples
minds, spread disease (the plague), encouraged crime (robbery),
competed with church services and was the work of the Dark Lord
Beelzebub. Elizabethan audiences were loud people clapped or
cheered the hero and booed the villain! Actors that werent liked
were often pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables. Hawkers would
sell bottles of beer, wine, fruit, nuts and cakes. Pickpockets were
common. Women could watch the plays as part of the audience,
however, they could not perform on the stage!
Slide 12
In 1592, Will had left Stratford and his wife behind and was
now working as an actor in a company called the Lord Chamberlains
Men. He was also already writing plays. The plays were divided up
into three categories: Tragedy, Comedy and History. It is believed
that the first of Shakespeares plays to be performed was Henry VI,
Part 1, 2 and 3.
Slide 13
The theatres were closed in 1593 due to an outbreak of the
plague and they remained shut until 1594. Poetry was considered art
in Shakespeares day. Making their authors very successful.
Shakespeares first poem, Venus and Adonis published in 1593, was
1,125 lines long! In May 1594, Shakespeares much darker poem, The
Rape of Lucrece was published. The poem was another instant smash
hit! The two poems were dedicated to Shakespeares patron Henry
Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. Another poem, The Phoenix and
the Turtle was published in the next year but it didnt catch on
like the others.
Slide 14
Over a period of ten years starting in 1593, Shakespeare wrote
sonnets. The format and style of the poem was devised by the
Italians in the thirteenth century and were very much the fashion
in Elizabethan England in around 1590. Shakespeare ended up writing
154 of them! Sonnets had a format of 14 lines with a strict rhyming
scheme. They often changed subject after line 8 and the final two
lines were used to make a general comment to the reader. Each line
also had to be ten syllables long. Shakespeares sonnets include
descriptions of nature, plants and animals. They express the human
emotions of love, passion, jealousy and death.
Slide 15
See handouts
Slide 16
When the theatres re-opened in 1594, there were two brand new
companies: The Lord Admirals Men and The Lord Chamberlains Men (the
one Shakespeare joined). There was a great rivalry between these
two companies. The Lord Admirals Men were based at the Rose
Theatre, south of the River Thames. The Lord Chamberlains Men were
based at James Burbages The Theatre. William Shakespeare became
their chief playwright with most of his plays being staged there in
the 1590s. Shakespeare wrote two plays per year and also appeared
as an actor in small roles. THE LORD CHAMBERLAINS MEN When
Shakespeare joined the company he became a sharer, meaning he was
paid a share of the companys profits. He paid 30 to become a
sharer. Each month, half of the profits were distributed amongst
the sharers whilst the rest went back into the theatre to purchase
costumes and props. Theatre companies stopped touring as they now
had permanent homes.
Slide 17
The Theatre had to change plays regularly to maintain audience
interest. Shakespeare would have handed over his original
manuscripts to the company when complete known as foul papers as
they were often foul with crossings out and corrections. A scribe
was then hired to make fair copies for the companys actors. Actors
were only given their part to learn to save time. Scenes were
listed with the characters entrances and exits (called a platt or
plot) and displayed backstage.
Slide 18
In the 1590s, Shakespeare and the Lord Chamberlains Men
performed regularly for the Queen. However, she never went to the
theatre the theatre came to her! (Performing for the Queen was the
highest honour for an actor and of course playwright) Between 1590
and 1596, Shakespeares status had grown as the most successful
playwright in London. He organised to have a family Coat of Arms.
The motto Non Sanz Droict meant not without right. William and John
Shakespeare were now officially gentlemen. Now financially stable,
Shakespeare purchased a house in Stratford- Upon-Avon called New
Place.
Slide 19
Slide 20
13 April 1597 the lease on The Theatre where the Lord
Chamberlains Men performed ran out. The rent increased from 14 to
24. The landlord then demanded to have the building back after 5
years but Burbage refused. A new site for the Blackfriars was found
in the middle of London, but the plan fell apart and Burbage died.
The landlord wanted to pull down the building to put the timber to
better use. The Lord Chamberlains men took down the theatre and set
it up on a new site during their landlords absence.
Slide 21
The Globe was a fitting name for a new theatre as it was an age
of discovery. Sailors were now reaching unchartered shores across
the... Globe! The logo for The Globe Theatre showed the Greek god
Hercules carrying the world on his shoulders. The Burbage family
offered leading people shares in not just the company but the
building as well and Shakespeare jumped at this opportunity. The
theatre which opened in 1599 could seat up to 3,000 people. The new
theatre had been built only 50 metres away from the Rose Theatre
and The Admirals Men were very unhappy about Shakespeares company
taking over their patch. The Globe was new while The Rose was old
and damp. The Admirals Men kept on acting for a while before making
the decision to built a theatre down the river called The Fortune.
They entertained audiences there for 20 years.
Slide 22
There were three levels of gallery seating. Fashion patrons
paid to be seen. Rich guests wanting to show off paid extra for
seats that were in a gallery behind the actors on stage. Clothes
were important as status symbols to the Elizabethans. (the poor
people werent allowed to wear ruffs around their necks) Costumes
matched the times elaborate and expensive Special effects: bloody
sword fights, sound effects The plays would often have a soundtrack
of live music.
Slide 23
The Queen died and James, her cousin, becomes king. (James VI
of Scotland / James I England). Queen Elizabeth had been on the
throne for 45 years. The new King, James I, loved the theatre 1o
days after arriving in England he adopted the Lord Chamberlains men
and the Kings Men was born. A new outbreak of the plague... again!
Chain of Being History Plays. The supernatural many people would
have believed in spells, magic and folklore. Shakespeares plays
often reflect the belief at the time. Ghosts, witches, spirits and
magic are common in his plays as science with its many theories,
was only just beginning.
Slide 24
In 1609 Shakespeares company took over the Blackfriars Theatre.
As it had no roof, The Globe was only good for summer. The company
performed at the Blackfriars in the winter, meaning they could
perform all year round. The theatre could only seat 700 people as
opposed to The Globes 3000. The company charged more money at this
venue. Shakespeare bought into the company. The Blackfriars Theatre
made double the profit of The Globe. Plague...again
Slide 25
Shakespeare retired between 1611 and 1613 nearly 50 years old.
1613 the globe burnt down during a performance of Henry VIII. A
cannon misfired and set light to the theatres roof. It was decided
that they rebuild it to open the next summer for business. This
time it had no thatched roof only tiles. The Globe Theatre survived
for another 30 years until Oliver Cromwell (a Puritan) shut it down
in 1642. The building itself was torn down in 1644
Slide 26
Shakespeares Will in 1616, Shakespeare left his wife the second
best bed. After signing the will he fell ill with a fever and on 23
April 1616 (52 nd birthday?), Shakespeare died. Shakespeare was
buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon- Avon. He wrote
the epitaph for his own tombstone : Good friend, for Jesus sake
forbear / To dig the dust enclosed here: Blest be the man that
spares these stones / And curst be he that removes my bones
Slide 27
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. John Hemings and Henry Condell
(actors with the Kings Men) had 36 of Shakespeares plays published
in one leather bound folio. (A folio being a large book).
Shakespeares plays had been printed prior to this in unofficial,
cheap editions. They were made from notes made during their
performances which were taken in secret from scripts or nicked from
the theatre. November 1623 The First Folio was printed and it sold
for 1. 200 copies still exist today. Hamlet key play in looking at
Shakespeares language.
Slide 28
After the puritans had shut Englands theatres in 1642, they
were reopened when the monarchy returned in the Restoration (women
were now allowed to perform on the stage for the first time, new
plays were written and new theatres built). Shakespeares plays were
performed on the stage again (he was still very popular) although
some writers thought his work could improve and they rewrote and
changed them i.e. William Davenant and Nahum Tate who often gave
Shakespeares tragedies a happy ending
Slide 29
1800s Nineteenth Century people returned to the original
scripts. 1900s Twentieth Century Shakespeare goes to Hollywood.
Another Globe Theatre was built on the banks of the Thames.
Traditional craftsmen and original materials were used in the new
development. Officially reopened in 1997.