Warm-up Read each of the following quotes. Explain the meaning of each as best you can. Write in full sentences.  It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.  A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.  God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.  Listen to many, speak to a few.  We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare “He is the most famous writer in the world, but he left us no journals or letters—he left us only his poems and his plays.”

Renaissance 14th-16th century Started in Italy “Rebirth”—renewed interest in classical learning (ancient Greece and Rome) Humanists - Focus on human reason, not just strict faith Philosophy, history, languages, and the arts could teach us truths too. Not just the Bible! Protestant Reformation – reformed Catholic Church and instituted the Church of England King Henry VIII wants to divorce wife, daughter Mary takes over Queen Elizabeth – re-establishes English Church

Shakespeare: Childhood 1564: William Shakespeare born in Stratford Upon Avon. One of 8 siblings. Attended grammar school. Studied Latin grammar, Latin literature, and rhetoric. Actual birthdate unknown; 3 child of 8; school varied in quality, but the grammar curriculum was standardized by a royal decree; he would have spent an incredible amount of time becoming literate in language 4

Shakespeare: Early Life Married Anne Hathaway at 18 years old. Had three children. A daughter and two twins. Left family to move to London. She was 26; son Hamnet died at age 11 of uknown causes; some evidence that this marriage was done in haste; this evidence is supported by the fact that their daughter was born 6 months after the wedding; don’t know much about his life for a few years until he emerges as a well-known playwright in London in 1592 (1585-1592 Lost Years) 5

Shakespeare: Career Becomes an actor and playwright by 1592. Employed by “King’s Men.” Officially “professional” playwright. Massive plague causes theaters to close down (1592- 1594). Shakespeare turns to poetry. His plays were originally performed by a company known as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men; after Elizabeth I died; James I took a great liking to Shakespeare and gave money to his company and retitled it “The King’s Men”; 1599 a few of them built The Globe, their own theater; bought a huge house in Stratford and was doing incredibly well; plague caused theater to close, so Shakespeare turned to poetry 6

Shakespeare’s Success Romeo and Juliet one of his earlier plays. Written between 1594 and 1596. Retired in 1612. Had written 37 plays. Masterpieces include: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. 7

Shakespeare’s Success (cont.) During a Broadway season of Othello, one critic remarked that Shakespeare would be making $25,000 a week in royalties for each performance. 8

Shakespeare’s Success Today “Indeed, so absolute is Shakespeare’s achievement that he has himself come to seem like great creating nature: the common bond of humankind, the principle of hope, the symbol of the imagination’s power to transcend time-bound beliefs and assumptions, peculiar historical circumstances, and specific artistic conventions.” –Stephen Greenblatt

Shakespeare’s Theater: Origins 1576: James Burbage builds the first permanent theater in England. Plays typically performed in courtyards. 1599: Theater is torn down and rebuilt by Shakespeare and his actors. 10

The Globe Theater Large, round building three stories high. Large platform stage under an open sky. Curtained off “inner stage.” Trapdoors were placed in the floor of main stage. Very few sets. Sets established by the language.

The Globe Theater All social classes present. Plays performed by all-male casts. Not a proscenium stage. No outer stage, only the inner stage; like looking in a window.

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Shakespeare: End of Life 1616: William Shakespeare becomes ill and dies. In his will, he leaves his wife his second best bed. Strange or thoughtful? You decide! 16

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The Magic of Theatre “Playwrights have been tempted to write plays that imitate the style of movies. But this imitation rarely works. Theater and movies are different media. A theater audience does not necessarily want to be whisked form place to place… The theater is a medium of words. When we go to see a play, it is the movement of the words rather than the scenery that delight us.”