Introduction to Shakespeare

1. Introduction to Shakespeare

2. Why do we STILL read Shakespeare? • William Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in English literature. • His works have influenced many other important figures. • His ideas and words are still present in today’s culture. • Many of the issues in his plays still apply to today’s world.

3. The Elizabethan Era

4. Queen Elizabeth • Shakespeare wrote in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1558-1603. • Elizabeth’s father was Henry VIII, who caused political and religious conflicts.

5. Queen Elizabeth, Continued • Elizabeth was a strong, determined queen who solved many of England’s problems. • She was fond of the arts and was responsible for inspiring others to donate to the arts. • The Lord Chamberlin’s Men were created during this time. This was a group that wrote and performed plays for the royalty of England.

6. The Renaissance • The Renaissance was occurring during the time Shakespeare wrote his plays. • During this time period, there was a high interest in art, science, philosophy, and freedom of choice.

7. Social Hierarchy • Society was divided into the following classes: • Royalty • Gentry (landowners) • Knights (chosen by royalty) • Peasants/Commonors

8. Common Beliefs • Membership in the Church of England was required. • Those who spoke out against the church were fined, incarcerated, or beheaded. • Your social status was determined by God (peasant or nobleman). • Marriage was a business transaction. Fathers chose who their daughters were to marry.

9. Common Beliefs, Continued • Boys went to school, while girls were educated at home. • People were superstitious. They carried a “pockets full of posey” to prevent the Black Plague. It was bad luck to cross the path of a black cat, spill salt, or break a mirror. • Using leeches was a common way to remove contaminated blood.

10. GardyLoo! • Indoor plumbing did not exist. People would warn others by shouting “Gardyloo!” before tossing sewage out the windows into the streets below. As a result, there were many illnesses.

11. Life of William Shakespeare

12. William Shakespeare- Birth and Death • Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England • Died April 23, 1616 (predicted) at age 52

13. Marriage and Children • Third of 8 children • Married Anne Hathaway at age 18- Anne was 26 • Had 3 children with Anne • Shakespeare moved to London, while his family stayed in Stratford

14. Start of Career • By 1592, Shakespeare was an actor and a playwright. • In 1594, he became a member of the Lord Chamberlin’s Men (later the King’s Men). This was a group that was hired to write and perform plays for the royalty in England. Watching plays was their chosen form of entertainment.

15. End of Career • By the time he returned to Stratford to retire in 1612, Shakespeare had written 37 plays. • He had also written 154 sonnets (14-line poems). • The sonnets are addressed to several different subjects. Some speculate that the sonnets hint at Shakespeare’s romantic interest in men. • Shakespeare is also known as the “Bard” (bard = poet).

16. The Globe Theatre

17. The Theatre • Located on the banks of the Thames River in London. • Popular plays of the time (including those of Shakespeare) were performed there. • It was destroyed by a cannon during a production of Henry the Eighth in 1613 and rebuilt in 1614.

18. Structure • The theatre is a 3-story, open ceilinged structure with a courtyard in the middle. • Could hold as many as 3,000 audience members.

19. Spectators • Wealthy people sat on benches. • The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard. • There was much more audience participation than today.

20. During the Play • There was no lighting and few sound effects during the plays. • A flag was flown during plays. • Black= Tragedy • White= Comedy • Red = History • Characters used swords, shields, brightly colored banners, and elaborate costumes.

21. Actors • Only men and boys were allowed to be in plays. • Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles. • It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage

22. Shakespearean Plays

23. Comedies • These stories are light-hearted and always have a happy ending (usually a wedding). • Examples: Much Ado About Nothing, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night

24. Tragedies • These stories are serious dramas with disastrous endings. • Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth

25. Histories • These stories involve events and people from real life. • Examples: Henry VIII, Richard III, Julius Caesar

26. Understanding Shakespeare’s Writing

27. Aside • An aside is a direct address by an actor to an audience. • The characters true feelings are revealed. • It is not heard by any other actors UNLESS specified in stage directions. • Example: • Juliet (aside): I can’t stand my father. • Romeo (aside to Juliet): I want to marry you.

28. Soliloquy • A soliloquy is a long speech given by a character who is alone on stage. No other characters can hear the speech. • The characters true feelings are revealed. • What is the difference between an aside and a soliloquy?

29. Monologue and Dialogue • Monologue- a long speech by one character that is usually heard by the other characters • Dialogue- conversations between characters

30. Pun • A form of word play that occurs when characters make jokes with words that have more than one meaning.

31. Iambic Pentameter • All of Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays are written in iambic pentameter. • Iamb = An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (2 syllables per iamb) • Pentameter = 5 iambs per line • There is a total of 10 syllables per line. • Example: • When I do count the clock that tells the time • (ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum)

32. Styles of Writing • Rhymed verse- Iambic pentameter that rhymes • Example: Shakespearean Sonnets • Blank verse- Iambic pentameter that does not rhyme • Prose- Writing without a rhythmical structure (like natural flow of speech) • Shakespearean plays combine rhymed verse, blank verse, and prose.

33. Vernacular • Since Shakespeare’s time, the English language has evolved and changed. • Shakespeare used a dialect known as vernacular. Vernacular is the language common people use (slang).

34. Popular Shakespearean Words • Thee/Thou = You • Thou art my friend. • I give thee all my love. • Thy/Thine = Your • Here is thy sword. • This sword is thine. • Ye = You all • Ye are mighty lords.

35. Aye = Yes Good-den = Bye • Whither = Where Fray = Fight • Hither = Here Shrift = Confession • Anon = Soon Visage = Face • Coz = Cousin Art = Are • Good morrow= Good morning • Fortnight = Two weeks • Fair = Beautiful • Thrice = Three times

36. Ignore –eth (speaketh = speak) • The words “do, did, and don’t” are typically absent in Shakespearean language. Instead of “Don’t be afraid,” he would write, “Be not afeard.” Translate these lines into Shakespeare’s language. • Do you have a pencil? • I don’t have a cell phone. • He doesn’t have his homework.

37. Introduction to Romeo and Juliet

38. Romeo and Juliet • The play was written in 1595 and published in 1597. • It was one of Shakespeare’s first plays. • Shakespeare did not invent this story. It his own rendition of an ancient Italian tale.

39. The Story • At the beginning of the play, two families (the Montague’s and the Capulet’s) are in a rivalry. The reason for their hatred toward one another is unknown. • Romeo, a Montague, falls for Juliet, a Capulet. Because of the family dispute, maintaining a relationship is a difficulty for them throughout the play.

40. The Montague’s Lord Montague – father of Romeo Lady Montague – mother of Romeo Romeo Montague – Lord and Lady Montague’s son Benvolio – Romeo’s cousin and close friend Balthasar – servant to Romeo Abraham– Montague family servant

41. The Capulet’s Lord Capulet – father of Juliet Lady Capulet – mother of Juliet Juliet Capulet – Lord and Lady Capulet’s daughter Tybalt – Juliet’s cousin Nurse – takes care of Juliet Peter – servant to the Nurse Sampson- Capulet family servant Gregory- Capulet family servant

42. Other Characters Prince Escalus – ruler of Verona, Italy Mercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo Friar Lawrence – Priest; Mentor to Romeo and Juliet Friar John – Priest Count Paris – relative to the prince and pursuer of Juliet Chorus- Speaks directly to the audience about the characters Rosaline- girl whom Romeo is enamored Apothecary- Pharmacist