Objectives: - To understand background information needed to comprehend Romeo and Juliet

 Grade worksheet

 As we go over the information, take notes.

Shakespeare was born in No one knows for sure what day but scholars have guessed April

He was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England. Stratford was a small market town approximately 75 miles north of London.

During his childhood, Shakespeare studied Latin and Greek, as well as British and World History. This gave him the foundation and inspiration for his writing.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway who was 26. They quickly had children. Shortly after getting married, Shakespeare left his family in Stratford and went to London.

In London, Shakespeare pursued his career in theater. His career included writing plays and acting in them. Shakespeare rarely returned to Stratford, but he did send financial support.

Shakespeare made money not only from writing and acting, but also as a partial owner of his theater and acting company.

Shakespeare’s acting company was named the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The Lord Chamberlain’s Men built their own playhouse (theater) called the Globe.

The Globe had three levels of covered galleries. A platform stage projected into an open courtyard.

The people who stood in the courtyard to watch the play paid the lowest admission (about a penny). Admission to the gallery benches cost much more.

Shakespeare eventually retired and returned to his family. He had made enough money to purchase land and gain more respect than many actors or writers of his time did.

By the end of his career, Shakespeare had created over 2,000 words and phrases that became part of the English language.

 Some of the words and phrases Shakespeare created are: assassination bump lonely eventful done to death out of the question my own flesh and blood As... luck would have it. I have not slept one wink My own flesh and blood. Neither rhyme nor reason.One fell swoop Out of the question.

Theater in Shakespeare’s day was very different than theaters today. All theater performances took place during the day because there was no artificial lighting.

There were few props and no moveable scenery. Instead of relying on scenery, Shakespeare and other dramatists of this time used descriptive words to help audiences visualize the setting of his plays.

Shakespeare’s audience considered clothing an important indication of social rank, so they demanded extravagant costumes. The costumes also contributed to the audience’s understanding of the plot.

It was considered immoral for women to appear on stage. Therefore, adolescent males played the female parts.

Actors used costumes, language, and their voices to create the illusion that boys were women.

Social standing was very important to people at this time. They believed that everyone had a place in society and should stay in that place.

People were expected to associate and marry with people of the same social class. Doing otherwise would have serious consequences.

Marriages were not usually romantic affairs. Marriages were often arranged.

Legally, a woman could be married at 14. A man could be married at 12. It was unusual for people to get married that young, but it was possible.

A woman had very little choice in who she married. In general, women were considered inferior to men.

Before marriage, a woman was considered the property of her father. A father usually decided who his daughter married.

After she was married, a woman became the legal property of her husband. If a woman remained unmarried, it was very unusual and brought shame on the family.

Every married couple were expected to have children. All children were expected to be obedient to their parents and give parents absolute respect.