Shakespeare: His Life and Times

Early Life Born April 23rd 1564— Died April 23rd 1616… he was the master of irony after all Stratford-upon-Avon Parents: John and Mary Arden Shakespeare Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner John—glovemaker, local politician

Location of Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time

Stratford-upon-Avon Today

Married Life Married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant at the time with their first daughter She was 26 and he was 18 Had twins in 1585 Sometime between 1585-1592, he moved to London and began working in theatre

Conditions in London-BAD! Thames River polluted with raw sewage Trees used up for fuel Poverty

Personal Hygiene/Disease Bathing considered dangerous Body odor strong Childhood diseases Children often died before 5 years Small Pox Bubonic Plague

Living Conditions No running water Chamber Pots Open Sewers Crowded                   

Theater Career Performed in courtyards of inns The Theater-first public theater-1576 Daytime/open air Limited set design Relied on music, sound, costumes, props and great description Theater Career

Theatre Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later called the King’s Men Globe Theater built in 1599 by L.C.M. with Shakespeare as primary investor Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeare’s plays

The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London

The Globe Theater

Clothes One set used all year long, rarely washed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Clothes handed down from rich to poor

Actors All men Female parts played by young boys No actual kissing or hugging on stage Actors

Groundlings Poor audience member Stood around stage in “the pit” Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

The Plays 14 comedies 10 histories 10 tragedies 4 romances 38 plays firmly attributed to Shakespeare 14 comedies 10 histories 10 tragedies 4 romances Possibly wrote three others Collaborated on several others

The Poetry Two major poems; numerous others 154 Sonnets

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English.” Old English is the language of Beowulf: Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunon Hu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon! (Hey! We have heard of the glory of the Spear-Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!)

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did not write in “Middle English.” Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory: We redeth oft and findeth y-write— And this clerkes wele it wite— Layes that ben in harping Ben y-founde of ferli thing… (Sir Orfeo)

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.” EME was not very different from “Modern English,” except that it had some old holdovers.

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare coined many words we still use today: Critical Majestic Dwindle And quite a few phrases as well: One fell swoop Flesh and blood Vanish into thin air See http://www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm

Shakespeare’s Language A mix of old and very new Rural and urban words/images Understandable by the lowest peasant and the highest noble

Elizabethan Theatrical Conventions

A theatrical convention is a Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre A theatrical convention is a suspension of reality. No electricity Women forbidden to act on stage Minimal, contemporary costumes Minimal scenery These control the dialogue.

Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre Soliloquy Aside Types of speech Audience loves to be scared. Blood and gore Use of supernatural

Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre Use of disguises/ mistaken identity Last speaker—highest in rank (in tragedies) Multiple murders (in tragedies) Multiple marriages (in comedies)