William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature Most quoted, other than the Bible

Is it really that hard? Read the following: 'Fæder ure þuþe eart on heofonum si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.‘ This is Old English…Too hard?

Try this one: 'Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name; þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is dounin heuene. yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred. And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us. And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.‘ This is Middle English…Still confusing?

Now try this one: 'Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.‘ Much better, huh? This is Early Modern English, the same language that Shakespeare wrote in!

Clothes During His Time One set used all year long, rarely washed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Clothes handed down from rich to poor

Personal Hygiene/Health Bathing considered dangerous Body odor strong Childhood diseases Children often died before 5 yrs Small Pox Bubonic Plague

His Early Years Born in 1564 Stratford-on-Avon, England Parents: John and Mary Arden Shakespeare Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner John—glovemaker, local politician

Probably attended King’s New Grammar School Only males from wealthy families attended school 9 hours/day Barely any vacation Educated in: Language Logic History Latin Education

Married when he was 18 to Anne Hathaway Children: Susanna Judith and Hamnet (twins) Hamnet died at age 11 Sometime between , he moved to London and began working in theatre. Married Life

Shakespeare left his wife and children to begin his career in writing/theater Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theater company He was also one of their main playwrights Stage Celebrity

Shakespeare wrote: -37 Plays -154 Sonnets –Comedies –Histories –Tragedies

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

The Theater No scenery Settings “shown” by references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Roofless- open air No artificial lighting

The Globe Theater Built in Shakespeare was primary investor Could hold more than 1,500 people Plays occurred in the afternoon The cost of attending a play was anywhere from $.01-$.03 –This money was dropped in a box by the entryway; this is where the term “box office” comes from! Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeare’s plays when a misfired cannon ball set it on fire

Audience Wealthy got benches Poorer people, “Groundlings,” stood and watched from the ground in front of the stage Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Much more interaction than today Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

The Globe

Language in Plays Monologue- One person speaking to another person on stage Soliloquy- Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage.Soliloquy Aside- words spoken in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters Pun- Humorous use of a word with two meanings; a play on words

The end… Shakespeare died in 1616 (he was 52) He was buried in Stratford-on-Avon His tombstone is inscribed with the following words, which are believed to have written by Shakespeare: Good friend for Jesus sake forbear To dig the dust enclosed here! Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones

Shakespeare is also known for “inventing” many words and phrases still used today! What's done is done (Macbeth) Wear my heart upon my sleeve (Othello) To thine own self be true (Hamlet) Too much of a good thing (As You Like It) The short and the long of it (The Merry Wives of Windsor) Send packing (I Henry IV) Though this be madness, yet there is method in it ("There's a method to my madness") (Hamlet)

Love is blind (Merchant of Venice) Knock knock! Who's there? (Macbeth) Laughing stock (The Merry Wives of Windsor) In a pickle (The Tempest) Heart of gold (Henry V) Full circle (King Lear) Forever and a day (As You Like It) For goodness' sake (Henry VIII) Eaten me out of house and home (2 Henry IV) Break the ice (The Taming of the Shrew)