Shakespeare: His Life and Times Adapted from http://www.public.asu.edu/~muckerrm/English_321_S2005/Introduction.ppt

Early Life Born 1564—died 1616 Stratford-upon-Avon Parents: John and Mary Arden Shakespeare Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner John—glovemaker, local politician

Location of Stratford-upon-Avon From: http://www.where-can-i-find.com/tourist-maps.html

Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time As reproduced in William Rolfe, Shakespeare the Boy (1896).

Stratford-upon-Avon Today From Stratford’s web site: http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/index.htm

Shakespeare’s Birthplace From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/

Education Probably attended King’s New School in Stratford Educated in: Rhetoric Logic History Latin

King’s New School From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/

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

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/

Theatre Career 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

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 154 Sonnets Numerous other poems

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,”

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 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)

Monologue One person speaking on stage > may be other character on stage too ex > the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

Soliloquy Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

Aside Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

Pun Shakespeare loved to use them!!! Humorous use of a word with two meanings > sometimes missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language and sexual innuendo

Direct Address Words that tell the reader who is being addressed: “A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.” “Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?”

Dramatic Irony A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

Verbal Irony Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

Situational Irony An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

Comic Relief Use of comedy within literature that is NOT comedy to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness. In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation

Tragedy (Shakespearean) Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster/great misfortune In many tragedies, downfall results from> Fate Character flaw/Fatal flaw Combination of the two

OTHELLO Historical context

Geography Othello takes place in two countries: Venice Cyprus The Republic of Venice existed from 727-1797. It is located in present-day Italy.

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcitaly.htm

Geography (cont’d) Venice controlled the island of Cyprus from 1489-1570. The island was a place for commerce and a good location for the Venetian fleet in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus was lost to the Turks in 1571.

Cyprus is located east of Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is just south of Turkey. http://geography.about.com/library/cia/nccyprus.htm

h http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/eu.htm

Geography in the Play Othello Othello is asked to help defend Cyprus against the Ottoman Turks. Desdemona accompanies Othello to Cyprus. It is unusual that a woman would go with her husband on military business.

Types of People in Othello Venetians Most are noblemen and women (Brabantio, Desdemona, Roderigo) Also, there are the nobles’ servants (Emilia) Some are soldiers (Othello, Cassio, Iago) Others are part of Venetian government (the Duke)

Types of People (cont’d) Moors Black nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa, originally the inhabitants of Mauretania Converted to Islam in the 8th century

Moors (cont’d) Invaded Spain in 711 and dominated until the 11th century had great dynasties up until 1492, when the last of their cities was conquered by Spain virtually exterminated by Spain during the Inquisition (late 1400s-1820)

Moors (cont’d) Othello is a Moor Discriminated against because of his race (black) Othello has been accepted in some ways because he is a Christian and a military genius Yet his marriage to Desdemona reflects the prevailing view toward interracial marriage.

Themes Appearance vs. reality Race Pride Magic Order vs. chaos Good vs. evil Honesty Self-knowledge

Works Cited Chronological History of Cyprus. 2001. Ege Universitesi. 9 Feb. 2005 <http://bornova .ege.edu.tr/~ncyprus/cyp1.html>. Derhak, Dean. Muslim Spain and European Culture. 2000. Muslim Spain and European Culture. 9 Feb. 2005 <http://www.xmission.com/~dderhak/ index/moors.htm>. Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Putnam, Inc.1963. The Venetian Period in Cyprus. 2001. Ege Universitesi. 9 Feb. 2005 <http://bornova .ege.edu.tr/~ncyprus/venedik.html>.