What EVERYONE should know about The Bard of Avon William Shakespeare What EVERYONE should know about The Bard of Avon

“He was not of an age, but for all time” Ben Jonson Understanding of people Skill with words Sense of drama

Personal Life Born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford-Upon-Avon Born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon Father was shopkeeper and “mayor” of town Attended free grammar school until 15 Read mythology and classics (it was the Renaissance you know). Married to Ann Hathaway (8 years older) 3 children (Susanna, Hamnet & Judith) Lived most of his life in London

Writer and Actor Successful actor in London Leading poet Member of a repertory group – The Chamberlain’s Men Wrote 36-37 plays, 154 poems Retired to Stratford Died on his birthday, 1616

Shakespeare the Poet. Written to be applauded and remembered Shakespeare the Poet Written to be applauded and remembered as a writer. Credited with: 154 Sonnets 4 long poems 124 songs Always worked within established modes He treated the usual themes: The beauty of his lady & his love for her His assurance of immortality for her through his verses.

Shakespeare’s Poetry The excellence of his poems lies not in what is said, but in how it is said. Some of his sonnets are direct at and dedicated to a young man called W.H. Others are direct to the "Dark Lady" Songs were written for plays.

Shakespeare the Playwright Written to make money…and he made lots of it! Was Shakespeare a Thief? Most plays based on historical events or OTHER plays. No COPYRIGHT laws in those days Took ordinary stories and made them EXTRAORDINARY

Shakespeare's Contribution to the English Language Common sayings: Words: catching a cold disgraceful conduct elbow room fair play assassination barefaced bumps countless critical dwindle exposure gloomy monumental suspicious

First Words? A-Z No way to tell for sure, but the following are first seen in Shakespeare’s works. He most likely contributed around 1,500! A – advertising B – bandit C – critic D – dickens E – epileptic F – film G – gossip H – hush I – investment J – jig K – kissing L – luggage M - manager N – numb O – obscene P – puke Q – quarrelsome R – rant S – shooting star T – torture U – undress V – varied W – wild-goose chase X – Xantippe Y – yelping Z - zany

Common Expressions Romeo and Juliet A fool’s paradise I am a fortune’s fool Parting is such sweet sorrow Star-crossed lovers What’s in a name? Macbeth Come what may Crack of doom Fair is foul, and foul is fair Sorry sight Fatal vision Full of sound and fury The be-all and the end-all Knock Knock. Who’s there? What’s done is done

Actors need the following… Hamlet sees his father’s ghost Fencing Tumbling Dancing Elocution (speaking) Acting (duh!) Music Shakespeare probably made more money as an ACTOR and PRODUCER than as a PLAYWRIGHT.

Acting Companies Before the theaters were built, performances were put on by traveling troupes They had the reputation of being vagabonds The typical Elizabethan acting company comprised of: shareholders, salaried actors, and apprentices

Reparatory Theatre Actor Jon Finch as Macbeth A theatre that puts on a variety of different shows rather than one show continuously Prevents the audience from getting bored and keeps them coming to YOUR theatre Helped stifle MEMORIZERS who would come to performances and steal your show.

Structure Public theaters were either round, square, or octagonal wooden structures which consisted of: unroofed courtyard roofed galleries platform stage tiring-house curtained discovery space hut trapdoor

Outside View Not allowed to advertise Used flags above building to tell of impending play Black=Tragedy White=Comedy Red=History This is a recreation of the Globe Theatre located in Odessa, Texas.

Front of Theatre

London’s Globe Theatre – near the location of the original.

Groundlings’ Area- Standing room only Groundlings’ Area- Standing room only! The commoners would gather on the floor of the theatre for performances.

The Balconies Royalty and the rich would have a seated view above the commoners. Notice that the theatre is in open air, exposing the actors and the groundlings to the elements.

A performance lasted about 2 ½ hours Always in the afternoon No “acts” but frequent intermissions No scenery Lots of effects (trap doors, winches, etc.) No actresses No “programs”