An Introduction to William Shakespeare

“That we should read Shakespeare goes without saying “That we should read Shakespeare goes without saying. And that is the reason for this lecture. It is good, on occasion, to question those things that go without saying-and, thereby, to force ourselves to articulate important though unspoken truths.” -- Michael Mack, Professor

Why Read Shakespeare? Shakespeare was one of the first authors to present relatable characters to an audience His characters had flaws, passions, and internal conflict that Shakespeare’s audience had never experienced before Shakespeare’s characters still relate to humans today because Shakespeare did something unprecedented in his time; he combined common human experiences and emotions in his dramatic characters and extreme plots

Why Read Shakespeare? 2. Many of our expectations about being human in modern age trace back to Shakespeare Marrying for love rather than pre-arranged marriages became more predominant The phrases we use that are “common” now were invented by Shakespeare: Fashionable, lackluster, softhearted, in a pickle, it’s all Greek to me, love is blind, and many, many, many more

Why Read Shakespeare? 3. Shakespeare is an important part of English (and therefore American) history Shakespeare lived during one of the most rapid changing times in English history His craft of the English language shaped the thoughts of society – ALL of society, not just the upper class

Modern Day Influences She’s the Man The Lion King West Side Story Based on Twelfth Night The Lion King West Side Story Based on Hamlet Warm Bodies Based on Romeo and Juliet 10 Things I Hate About You Based on The Taming of the Shrew

Flip your packet over (back) TUPAC OR SHAKESPEARE

T S Tupac or Shakespeare? 1. “If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day.” 2. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” 3. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” 4. "I exist in the depths of solitude pondering my true goal.” 5. “A coward dies a thousand times, a soldier dies but once.”6. "Cowards die many times before their deaths.“ 7. "Fear is stronger than love.“ 8. "Love is too young to know what conscience is.“ 9. "You cannot escape fate. Just as you rose you shall fall, by my hands.“ 10. "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff."

T S Tupac or Shakespeare? 1. “If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day.” = T 2. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” = S 3. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” = S 4. "I exist in the depths of solitude pondering my true goal.” = T 5. “A coward dies a thousand times, a soldier dies but once.”6. "Cowards die many times before their deaths.“ = T 7. "Fear is stronger than love.“ = T 8. "Love is too young to know what conscience is.“ = S 9. "You cannot escape fate. Just as you rose you shall fall, by my hands.“ = T 10. "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.“ = S

So… what do we know?

Shakespeare: The Facts Lived during the 16th and 17th century (1500s & 1600s) Born in April,1564 to John Shakespeare William Shakespeare (18 years old) married Anne Hathaway (26 years old) in November, 1582 William and Anne had three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith (twins). Hamlet died at 11 years old. William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, leaving his “second- best bed to Anne Hathaway”

Shakespeare: The Facts Shakespeare’s tombstone:

Shakespeare’s inspiration Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) Queen Mab’s Speech in Romeo and Juliet was influenced by the “Parliment of Fowles” Arthur Brooke “The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Iuliet” written in 1562; poem William Painter Palace of Pleasure was Brooke’s poem… written in prose (1567) No copyright laws!

The setting

Two Reigning Monarchs 1558-1603 1603-1625 Queen Elizabeth the I King James the I

SO?? What was so great about it? The Elizabethan era Also known as “The Golden Age”, the time period from roughly 1558-1603 SO?? What was so great about it? Population grew rapidly: from 2.8 million to 4.1 million “Poor laws” separated the “underserving poor” from the “deserving poor” and forced local churches to take care of their “deserving poor” Literacy and education grew substantially: from 1/5 of the population to 1/3 by the end of her reign Growing towns and middle class

The language People in Shakespeare’s time spoke Early Modern English, NOT Old English!

The language What’s the difference? OLD ENGLISH Hwät! we Gâr-Dena in geâr-dagum þeód-cyninga þrym gefrunon, hû þâ äðelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scêfing sceaðena þreátum.

The language What’s the difference? OLD ENGLISH Hwät! we Gâr-Dena in geâr-dagum þeód-cyninga þrym gefrunon, hû þâ äðelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scêfing sceaðena þreátum. Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle. Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers...

The language What’s the difference? MIDDLE ENGLISH Ye seken lond and see for your wynnynges, As wise folk ye knowen all th'estaat  Of regnes; ye been fadres of tydynges And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat. (The Man of Law's Tale)

The language What’s the difference? MIDDLE ENGLISH Ye seken lond and see for your wynnynges, As wise folk ye knowen all th'estaat  Of regnes; ye been fadres of tydynges And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat. (The Man of Law's Tale) (Translation) You seek land and sea for your winnings, As wise folk you know all the estate Of kingdoms; you be fathers of tidings, And tales, both of peace and of debate.

The language What’s the difference? EARLY MODERN ENGLISH To be, or not to be, that is the Question: Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,  Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles… (Hamlet)

The globe theater

On the outskirts of town to avoid authorities The Globe Theater Shakespeare’s company (not Shakespeare himself) built the Globe Theater Before the Globe, there was “Theatre” “The Rose Theatre” “The Hope Theatre” Rivalries between theaters for the production of new plays On the outskirts of town to avoid authorities

Culture and set-up of the globe Time Period and Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYfM0RFZ5cs What does it look like today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3VGa6Fp3zI

Turn to a partner First partner: Take 30 seconds to tell a partner three things you learned about the Globe Theater from the videos Second partner: Take 30 seconds and describe the culture surrounding the theater. What goes on around the theater? What was it like? When you are done, face forward

Bear-baiting, gambling, and fighting… oh my! The Globe Theatre Yard (the area surrounding the Globe Theatre) had lots of problems such as??? Gambling Fighting Drunkenness Thievery Prostitution

When the globe shut down Bubonic Plague, otherwise known as the Black Death: 1603 and 1608 The fire of 1613 Known as “The Globe Theatre Fire” Occurred during a new play where canons were fired The entire theater burned in less than two hours No known deaths or serious injuries Rebuilt in 1614 Puritans demolish the Globe Theater

Around the world

In Shakespeare’s lifetime… The world’s oldest amusement park opened (Dyrehavsbakken, Denmark) in 1583

In Shakespeare’s lifetime… Roanoke, the first English colony in the New World (later called the United States of America), was settled in 1585

In Shakespeare’s lifetime… Sir Walter Raleigh is sent on an expedition to find the City of El Dorado in South America in 1595 Yes, that is a man!

In Shakespeare’s lifetime… Sumo wrestling becomes a professional sport in Japan in 1600s

Fun facts and looking forward Top 5 Facts about Shakespeare https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZnqU0ypQ-I