William Shakespeare A Man for All Times

Why Study Shakespeare? Read and understand ANYTHING! Broader view of the world Greater understanding of human nature Allusions are EVERYWHERE!!!

Shakespearean Allusions Commercials Pizza Hut Lexus Movies Renaissance Man Clueless Much Ado About Nothing Romeo and Juliet TV Star Trek The Simpsons Home Improvement

Background Information The facts are scarce… Born April 23, 1564; Stratford-on-Avon, England Died April 23, 1616 (Driver’s license; driver’s license) Married Anne Hathaway (he 18; she 26) Three kids: one son, two daughters (son and one daughter twins)

His Works 37 plays Comedies-funny Taming of the Shrew As You Like It Tragedies-everyone dies Julius Caesar Romeo and Juliet Histories-based on true events King Henry VIII Richard II 154 sonnets

Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVIII SHALL I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimm’d; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st, Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st; So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. Quatrain Couplet

Sonnet Formula Fourteen lines Every-other line rhymes Quatrains: groups of four rhyming lines Last two lines rhyme Couplet: group of two rhyming lines 10 syllables per line Iambic pentameter: Pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables

The Globe Theatre Built and designed by James Burbage 1599 Made of wood; shaped like an “O” “The Wooden ‘O’” Burned to ground in 1613 Spark from cannon No one hurt Poor seats—free; on the ground Rich seats—one penny; in the balconies Sold out crowd=2000+ Actors were “slimy” characters All parts played by men

The Globe Theatre

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Tragedy Based on true history: Roman military hero: Julius Caesar Written 1599 Set in Rome, 44 B.C. Themes—betrayal, jealousy

Terms Archaic – words that are out of use today; no longer used. Plebian-lower class citizen of Rome; commoner Tribune-officer of Rome; upper-class Triumvirate-three person government Ides of March-March 15 Soliloquy—speech on stage where actor is alone; like talking to oneself

Main Characters Julius Caesar: Emperor of Rome Ruler of most of known world Assassinated halfway through the play Spirit later returns to haunt Brutus Calpurnia Caesar’s wife Dreams of his assassination

Main Characters Continued Marc Antony: Caesar’s faithful follower Reputation for fooling around and enjoying life Powerful orator (speaker) Famous "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech

Main Characters Continued Marcus Brutus: Friend of Caesar Betrays him for the good of Rome Stays “good” until play’s end “This was the noblest Roman of them all.”--Mark Antony Commits suicide Portia Brutus’ wife Commits suicide because of Brutus’ trouble

Main Characters Continued Cassius Conspires to assassinate Caesar Jealous of Caesar Commits suicide because Brutus is defeated The Soothsayer Latin for “truth sayer” Fortune teller Famous quote: “Beware the Ides of March!”

Plot Caesar comes home from battle to a parade Cassius plots to kill Caesar Jealous!! Soothsayer warns, “Beware the Ides of March!” Translates: March 15 is dangerous! Caesar ignores warning Cassius convinces Brutus to kill Caesar for the good of Rome

Plot Continued Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay home on March 15 Caesar says, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” Casca stabs first Brutus stabs last “Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar!” Caesar’s last words.

Plot Continued Mark Antony pretends to be on conspirators’ sides Provokes the plebians to civil war “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him!” Fighting… Conspirators think they’re doomed and commit suicide one by one Brutus dies last Convinces servant, Strato, to hold sword Runs onto sword to kill self

Plot’s Conclusion Mark Antony ends play over Brutus’ body “This was the noblest Roman of them all.”

Famous Quotes from Julius Caesar “It was Greek to me.” (Casca, Act 1, Scene 2) “Beware the Ides of March!” (Soothsayer, Act 1, Scene II) “Et tu, Brute, then fall, Caesar!” (Julius Caesar, Act 2, Scene 2) “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!” (Mark Antony, Act 3, Scene 2)

Create a Dagger Dagger that belongs to a tribune Original quote on blade Why did you help to kill Caesar? Worth 2 daily grades