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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare. King Lear Background & Information. William Shakespeare . What do you know or remember about Shakespeare’s life, the time he lived in, the works he wrote?. Unit I Literary Terms. Act Aside Comic Relief Complication Conflict Couplet Dialogue Drama End Rhyme

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William Shakespeare

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  1. William Shakespeare King Lear Background & Information

  2. William Shakespeare • What do you know or remember about Shakespeare’s life, the time he lived in, the works he wrote?

  3. Unit I Literary Terms • Act • Aside • Comic Relief • Complication • Conflict • Couplet • Dialogue • Drama • End Rhyme • Expository/Exposition • Foil • Metaphor • Meter • Monologue • Protagonist/Antagonist • Soliloquy • Stage Directions • Theme • Tragedy

  4. Why Shakespeare? • His work has had more influence on modern language, literature, music, art, and theatre than any other person • Helped standardize modern English spelling and grammar and created nearly 2000 words and phrases we still use now • Nearly every English/American author has given Shakespeare credit as inspiration • 20,000 pieces of music has direct links to Shakespeare • Two major art movements and thousands of individual pieces of art • Freud and other psychologists look to Shakespeare to analyze human nature and behavior • Expanded dramatic potential of characterization, plot, language, and genre (esp. romance and revenge as major themes)

  5. Shakespeare in America • Books of Shakespeare plays and sonnets were considered essential household items for all social classes until the early 20th century • Most popular form of entertainment until the radio • Only became elitist literature during the Industrial Revolution because of a shift in values (strong workers didn’t need literary skills) • Now realizing that literary abilities are the mark of high reasoning, problem-solving, and intellect

  6. King Lear • Tragedy • 5 Acts (1, 3, 5 have highest action, 2 and 4 subplot, character development, etc.) • Iambic Pentameter (unstressed/stressed syllables) and frequent end-rhyme • Entertainment, not academic – even his most serious plays are full of double meanings, puns, jokes, bawdy humor, and action • Focuses on King Lear & his three daughters

  7. Historical Background • Written between 1604 & 1606 after King James I (aka King James VI of Scotland) took the throne in England • Power transferred from Queen Elizabeth I to him • People in England were worried about how the transition of power would go

  8. Author’s Purpose • Given those pieces of information, what can you infer Shakespeare’s purpose was in writing King Lear? • Remember author’s purpose is stated: to entertain ____, to inform ____, to persuade ____.

  9. General Interesting Information • After the English Civil War (1642-1651), the play was seen as a theatrical failure because of the excessive cruelty & suffering; deemed painful for the audience to watch • Rewritten by Nahum Tate in 1681 who changed the ending of the play & other actions in the play; the revision was performed until 1838

  10. Source Material • Volume 1, Book 2 of Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles • Story of King Leir – ancient British monarch who divided his kingdom between 3 daughters • Holinshed likely pulled his source material from Book 2, Chapter 11 of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain

  11. King Lear • Based on Leir of Briton, a legendary Celtic king • After a long and successful reign, King Lear wants to retire and leave his kingdom to his three daughters. • Rather than base the nation’s divisions and his daughters’ inheritances on age, he chooses to divide his land and wealth based on how much his children love him.

  12. Themes & Motifs • Family Drama = universal & timeless • Foolishness of aged and ingratitude of youth • Roles of parent and child • Importance of nature and the natural order • Man’s fate viewed as a wheel of fortune • Consequences of unregulated passion • Corruption of power and redemption through suffering • Good and Evil • Vision and Blindness • Reality and Appearance

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