Shakespeare and Elizabethan England

William Shakespeare? A member of the Cobbes family was stunned to find this portrait in his home might be the only portrait of Shakespeare –MSNBC.com 3/9/09

His Early Life Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon –Died there in 1616 Married Anne Hathaway when he was 18 (she was around 26) –Susanna –Hamnet and Judith Hamnet died around the age of 11 – unknown causes

Career Life and the “Lost Years” –It is not known what he did during these years –Traveled, wrote, worked as an actor? He was in London by 1592 Already a known actor and playwright Partially owned the Globe Theatre –Became a very successful playwright in his time

Sonnets Not just a playwright, Shakespeare is famous for his poems sonetto is Italian for “little song” 14 line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme –Shakespearean Sonnet: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Early and Late Sonnets SONNET XVIII Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? A Thou art more lovely and more temperate: B Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, A And summer's lease hath all too short a date: B Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, C And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; D And every fair from fair sometime declines, C By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; D But thy eternal summer shall not fade E Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; F Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, E When in eternal lines to time thou growest: F So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, G So long lives this and this gives life to thee. G SONNET CXXX My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

Shakespeare and Homer Because little is known about Shakespeare’s life, there is some doubt that he was not the actual writer the works –Homeric Problem Did Shakespeare write it all, or did someone else? Or was it a group of writers? Hmmmmm…

Theatres Richard and James Burbage –The Theatre and The Curtain The Globe Philip Henslowe –The Swan and The Rose Plague and Politics

Theatre Life Theatres did not stay open long Theatres were immensely popular Plays referenced other plays –Important to keep up on the shows All classes (including women) attended the theatre –Cheap seats cost a penny – “Groundlings”

More Theatre Life Actors were called “players” –Though very famous, the players were considered to be beggars – not a legitimate job Women could not be players –Young boys played the female parts

Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth I reigned from (45 years) –Strong patron of the theatre –William Shakespeare was born in 1564 she ruled during his whole career

Elizabethan England Fun Facts People usually bathed once-a-year, in May. –It was believed baths caused illness. –Men first, then women, then the kids – in the same water. –Most weddings were in June, when couple and the guests were still relatively body odor-free. Not a very clean time… remember this was the time of the PLAGUE

Elizabethan Entertainment Public executions Bear baiting Rooster fights Theatre seemed like a better option…?