Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 Born in Stratford upon AvonBorn in Stratford upon Avon Died on April 23, 1616Died on April 23, 1616

Parents were John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. William was the third child of eight, but the first to survive. William was the third child of eight, but the first to survive.

Attended school in StratfordAttended school in Stratford May have taught there as well.May have taught there as well.

Married Anne Hathaway in 1582Married Anne Hathaway in 1582 He was 18. She was 26 and pregnantHe was 18. She was 26 and pregnant They had 3 children: Susanna, Judith, and HamnetThey had 3 children: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet

Nothing known about him for eight years.Nothing known about him for eight years. Turned up in London in 1592Turned up in London in 1592 Belonged to “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”Belonged to “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”

Puritans disapproved of theater Puritans disapproved of theater Queen Elizabeth was a patroness of the theater Queen Elizabeth was a patroness of the theater Theaters closed because of an outbreak of plague Theaters closed because of an outbreak of plague

Shakespeare joined The King’s Men King James I was the patron of the acting troupe

Shakespeare built the Globe Theater to perform his plays Shakespeare built the Globe Theater to perform his plays.

Groundlings in the yard.

The Balcony

The Heavens

The Galleries

The Gentlemen’s Room

The Stage

No scenery No curtain No curtain Few propsFew props Elaborate costumesElaborate costumes

Wrote in poetic form called iambic pentameter Often used sentence inversions Often combined words Sometimes used rhyme Sometimes used prose

Aside A dramatic convention by which an actor directly addresses the audience but is not suppose to be heard by other actors on the stage.

Example from the Play ACT II Scene II – Romeo says, “ Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?” Explanation – Romeo is asking a rhetorical question to the audience. He is not actually speaking to any of the actors or actresses on the stage and only the audience is suppose to hear his question.

Character Foil Sets off or illuminates the major character – usually to create a contrast that is favorable to the major character.

Example from Play Act I Scene III – The nurse serves as a foil for Lady Capulet Explanation – The nurse rambles using bawdy, common language. She is frank and unrefined. Lady Capulet speaks like a noble woman. Her lines are in blank verse or rhymed couplets. Lady Capulet’s language is indirect and refined.

Chorus A characteristic device in ancient Greek drama, wherein a group of actors speaking or chanting in unison – often while dancing – convey information about the play, particularly an emotion about the action or characters.

Example from Play The Prologue at the beginning of the play is sung or chanted by a chorus. Explanation – The chorus lines are in the form of a sonnet. See the paraphrased version in your handout. You will complete a paraphrased version of the chorus in ACT II of the play.

Foreshadowing The author uses hints and suggestions to foretell the end of the story.

Example from Play The opening Prologue foreshadows the fate of Romeo and Juliet by stating, “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

Monologue A long, uninterrupted speech that a character speaks in front of other characters An example would be Mercuito’s Queen Mab speech.

Oxymoron Two concepts that do not go together but are used together. For example, “loving hate” and “heavy lightness” from Romeo’s dialogue with Benvolio in Act I scene I.

Paradox A statement that contradicts itself. There are more words in a Paradox than an Oxymoron. An Oxymoron is only two words, and a Paradox is similar but has other words separating the Oxymoron. For example, Juliet is upset after she hears that Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt. She describes Romeo as a, “Book containing such vile matter so fairly bound.”

Pun A play on words based on the similarity of sound between the two words with different meanings (“son” and “sun” or “I” and “eye”)

Soliloquy A speech in which a character, alone on the stage, addresses himself or herself to let the audience know his/her inner thoughts/feelings. ACT II Scene III Friar Lawrence is on stage alone and speaks his thoughts so only the audience can hear them.

The Prince of Verona

Lord and Lady Capulet

Lord and Lady Montague

Tybalt

Romeo and Mercutio

Mercutio

Friar Lawrence

Count Paris

Benvolio