William Shakespeare

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1564 William Shakespeare is born in April (probably the 23rd) in Stratford-On-Avon (94 miles from London) to John and Mary. 1582 Marries Anne Hathaway on November 27th. When they married, he was 18 and she was 26. They had 3 children.

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1583 Susanna Shakespeare is born. 1585 The twins, Judith and Hamnet Shakespeare, are born. 1587 Shakespeare left for London, leaving his family behind. He worked at the Globe Theatre and appeared in many small parts.

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1592 He became a member of The Chamberlain's Men. Theatrical groups relied on the support of wealthy patrons. Lord Chamberlain supported this acting troupe. 1593 He first appeared as a poet.

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1596 Hamnet dies at the age of eleven. 1599 The Globe Theater is built from the pieces of 'The Theater' in July. 1603 The Lord Chamberlain's Men became The King's Men. This group was directly supported by King James.

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1611 Shakespeare retired from writing and he returned to Stratford to live in a house which he had built for his family. 1613 The Globe Theatre burns during a performance of Henry VII when a canon fired on the roof sets fire to the straw thatch. The theatre is rebuilt, but Shakespeare retires.

Important Dates in Shakespeare’s Life 1616 Shakespeare dies on April 23, in Stratford, on his 52nd birthday. The inscription from Shakespeare’s gravestone.

Writing . . . In his time Shakespeare wrote 13 Comedies, 13 Histories, 6 Tragedies, 4 Tragicomedies, as well as many sonnets. Some of Shakespeare's universal themes are: loyalty and betrayal, love and hate, honor and dishonor.

Writing . . . Most of Shakespeare’s play were based on well-known stories – Romeo and Juliet was based on an Italian epic! Shakespeare’s style includes puns, metaphors, blank verse, soliloquies, asides, and oxymorons.

Writing . . . Shakespeare wrote in unrhymed iambic pentameter ex: “A horse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!” (Unrhymed iambic pentameter is also called blank verse.) u / u / u / u / u /

Life during Shakespeare’s time

Noteworthy Events 1592-93 Theaters were closed by the Black Plague. Elizabeth I James IV with Mary Noteworthy Events 1592-93 Theaters were closed by the Black Plague. 1599 The original Globe Theatre was built. 1603 Elizabeth I died (at the age of 70!). 1603 Another plague hit London. 1604 James IV of Scotland became James I of England. 1613 The Globe is burned to the ground.

The Globe Theatre It is important to understand the Globe Theatre because it influenced what Shakespeare wrote. Before theatres, many plays were performed in the courtyards of inns. In 1576 The Theatre was built by James Burbage. This first official theatre looked like a courtyard of an inn. In 1599 the first Globe Theatre was built.

The Globe Theatre Some important facts about Shakespeare’s chosen venue . . . Shakespeare himself gave The Globe a nickname. In Henry V, Shakespeare called his theatre a “wooden O”. The “Wooden O” was aptly named - it was round and made of wood. All plays were performed in the afternoon, lighting was provided by the daylight. The theatre announced the theme of the day by raising a flag

The Globe Theatre Groundlings were people that stood and watched the play for a penny. Since people did not bathe often, the smell was sometimes quite oppressive.

The Globe Theatre Theatrical scenery in Shakespeare's time was suggested by the language of the play. Although there were few sets, characters wore elaborate costumes. Women were not allowed to be actors, all characters (including men) were played by men. In 1642 English Parliament passes an ordinance sponsored by the Puritans that all theatre is evil. All playhouses in London are closed.

The Globe Theatre - Construction Round building Three tiers (stories) Many acting areas: 1. a large platform stage called a forestage with trapdoors and open to the sky 2. small curtained-off stage called the inner stage 3. small balcony, often called the upper stage

The Globe’s Connection to the Modern Stage The stage has undergone changes since Shakespeare’s time. . . The part of the stage that projected into the yard got narrower. The small curtained inner stage grew larger. (The modern stage that we see today is called the proscenium stage – the effect is like looking inside a window or a picture frame.)

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare’s Tragedies 5 part plot structure EXPOSITION CLIMAX AND RESOLUTION ACT I ACT II III IV CRISIS OR TURNING POINT RISING ACTION FALLING ACTION ACT V A tragedy is a narrative about serious and important actions that end unhappily. A tragedy ends with the deaths of the main characters. In some tragedies the disaster hits totally innocent characters; in other the main character are in some way responsible for their downfall.

Exposition establishes the setting introduces the main characters gives background, introducing previous events necessary to understand the story introduces the main CONFLICT or problem

Rising Action 1. this part of plot consists of a series of complications. These occur as the main character(s) take action to resolve the problem

Crisis or Turning Point 1. moment when a choice is made by the main characters determines the direction of the action (often called the “moment of choice”) if the situation improves then we have a comedy if the situation gets worse, we have a tragedy 2. peak of the play, but not necessarily emotional 3. the dramatic or tense point when the forces of conflict come together

FALLING ACTION 1. presents the incidents resulting from the decision at the turning point 2. emphasizes the tragedy's destructive forces 3. maintains suspense and relieves tension as catastrophe approaches 4. with each event we see the characters falling straight into tragedy

Climax (catastrophe) and Denouement 1. Climax - emotional peak includes the tragedy's catastrophe (the deaths of the main characters) 2. Denouement – resolution conclusion of the play, the loose parts of the play are tied up and the play is over

Romeo and Juliet