Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

Shakespeare 1564-1616 April 23 Born in Stratford-on-Avon, England wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets started out as an actor

Stratford-On-Avon Shakespeare’s home

Stage Celebrity 1592 Shakespeare was working as an actor and playwright in London. 1597 He became a shareholder in Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.), in addition to being an actor and playwright for the company. 1603 James I, renamed the company, The Kings Men. *James I was a patron of Shakespeare.

The Globe Theatre 1599 LCM built the Globe Theater where most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed.

The Theater Plays produced for the general public Roofless open air No artificial lighting The stage jutted out into the pit Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries Groundlings could stand and watch for .01 cent, equal to a 10.00 movie now. Gallery above stage used for musicians, or as actors balcony.

Globe Interior Diagram

Spectators Wealthy got benches “Groundlings” - poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more interaction than today They would throw rotten food at the actors if it was bad.

The Globe – Interior

Roofless open air theatre Plays were performed rain or shine A canopy covered the stage

Staging Areas Stage extended into the pit Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage Second-level gallery, upper stage is famous balcony scene in R & J Trap door – witches and ghosts exit/enter “Heavens” angelic beings A flag above the hut designated comedy or tragedy

Differences from modern theatres No scenery The actors had to have good memories, nothing was written down. Settings references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful 2 hours!

Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Shakespeare wrote: Comedies Histories Tragedies His First Folio published 37 plays in 1623, after his death.

Macbeth Shakespeare found inspiration from Holinshed’s Chronicles a popular British history book at the time. The Scottish play is based loosely on an episode from history, the death of King Duncan at the hands of his kinsman Macbeth.

Elizabethan (QE1) Words An,and: If Anon: Soon Aye: Yes But: Except for E’en: Even E’er: Ever

QE1 Words (cont’d.) Haply: Perhaps Happy: Fortunate Hence: Away, from her Hie: Hurry Marry: Indeed

QE1 Words (cont’d.) Whence: Where Wilt: Will, will you Withal: In addition to Would: Wish

Prose Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song Only characters in the lower social classes spoke this way in Shakespeare’s plays

Plot Introduces the setting, characters and situation. The sequence of events in a literary work Exposition - The plot usually begins with this: Introduces the setting, characters and situation.

Conflict The struggle that develops man vs. man man vs. himself man vs. society man vs. nature

Climax The turning point of the story - everything begins to unravel from here Thus begins the falling action

Resolution The end of the central conflict

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

Theme Central idea Insight about life which explains the downfall Macbeth - Unchecked ambition can lead to corruption

Dramatic Foil A character who sets off another character by contrast. In Macbeth Banquo is a foil for Macbeth.

Soliloquy Long speech expressing the inner thoughts of a character who is alone on stage. Typically a spotlight would be on the actor during the soliloquy.

Aside Words spoken, usually in an undertone directed at the audience, not intended to be heard by the other actors on stage. Think of Ferris Bueller talking to the camera in the movie.

Dramatic Irony A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true. Verbal Irony – when a writer or speaker says one thing and means something entirely different.

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 provides “relief” from a serious or sad mood. In Macbeth it is “The knocking at the gate” scene.

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