Shakespearean & English Renaissance History

Exploration & Colonisation The reign of Elizabeth was a great age of English exploration and expansion led eventually to the foundation of the British Empire in the C17th & C18th but brought England into conflict with Spain. The later years of Elizabeth's reign also saw a long and expensive war in Ireland.

English Renaissance History Dates: approximately Renaissance literally means “rebirth.” This term was chosen because the Renaissance was a time when classic literature, art, music, and philosophy were being “reborn.”

History of the Printing Press During the 15th century, books were relatively scarce and had to be copied by hand Between , Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press Within 20 years, the printing press had revolutionized information dissemination, fueling the start of the English Renaissance

Religion As a result of growing intellectual curiosity, humans began to question the rules and tenets of the Catholic Church On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church, sparking the Protestant Reformation Soon after, the Catholic Church launched a Counter-Reformation, filled with heavy propaganda Elizabeth I promoted tolerance to all religions, although the Anglican Church was the official Church of England

Humanism The central tenet of humanism was that learning would make humans more just Humanism emphasized the power of the individual to influence both himself and those around him Famous humanists: Sir Thomas More, Erasmus

Shakespeare: His Life and Times Adapted from

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English.” Old English is the language of Beowulf: Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunon Hu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon! (Hey! We have heard of the glory of the Spear- Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!)

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did not write in “Middle English.” Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour; When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower;

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.” EME was not very different from “Modern English,”

Shakespeare’s Language A mix of old and very new Rural and urban words/images Understandable by the lowest peasant and the highest noble

Early Life Born 1564—died 1616 Stratford-upon-Avon Parents: John and Mary Arden Shakespeare Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner John—glovemaker, local politician

From: Location of Stratford-upon-Avon

As reproduced in William Rolfe, Shakespeare the Boy (1896). Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time

From Stratford’s web site: Stratford-upon-Avon Today

From: Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Probably attended King’s New School in Stratford Educated in: Rhetoric Logic History Latin Education

From: King’s New School

Married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant at the time with their first daughter Had twins in 1585 Sometime between , he moved to London and began working in theatre. Married Life

From: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later called the King’s Men Globe Theater built in 1599 by L.C.M. with Shakespeare as primary investor Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeare’s plays Theatre Career

The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London

The Globe Theater

The Globe

The Plays 38 plays firmly attributed to Shakespeare 14 comedies 10 histories 10 tragedies 4 romances Possibly wrote three others Collaborated on several others

154 Sonnets Numerous other poems The Poetry

Elizabethan Theatrical Conventions

A theatrical convention is a suspension of reality.  No electricity  Women forbidden to act on stage  Minimal, contemporary costumes  Minimal scenery These control the dialogue. Audience members must have a willing suspension of disbelief.

Audience loves to be scared.  Soliloquy  Aside Types of speech  Blood  Use of supernatural

 Use of disguises/ mistaken identity  Multiple marriages (in comedies)  Multiple murders (in tragedies)  Last speaker—highest in rank (in tragedies)

Background to Elizabethan Drama Links back to medieval ‘miracle’ and ‘morality’ plays – linked to church Early 16 th century the relationship between state and church changed – different sects had varying views, theatre was supported by the court Contemporaries included Thomas Kyd, Thomas Nashe and Christopher Marlowe – importance of Dr Faustus

Aristotle and his Principles of Tragedy – The Poetics Tragedy is a representation of an action, which is serious, complete in itself and of a certain length Acted and not narrated Excites pity or fear and allows catharsis - a healthy release for such emotions Tragic heroes are virtuous and good men whose misfortune is a tragic flaw in character and not a vice Tragic plot is from happiness to misery – fall from a great height

Chaucer on tragedy Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn stories, As olde bookes maken us memorie, Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee, And is yfallen out of heigh degree Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly GEOFFREY CHAUCER, The Monk's Tale (late 14th century)

Tragedy Injustice of life – trials and death of a hero who was an important person (courtly). Their death leads to the downfall of others Hero falls due to weakness in character – fatal flaw Revenge Tragedy  Melancholy hero is called upon to punish an evildoer for a crime that has been committed  Ghost cannot rest until avenged (traditional figure)  Private revenge for family honour  Ends with death

Elizabethan Theatre Drama became secularised First theatre was built in 1576 – similar in design to an Elizabethan courtyard Audience consisted of a range of social classes – defined by positioning in theatre No curtain or scenery – indication of where scene occurred was built into the words of the play Women did not perform on the stage Shakespeare’s plays were not original – plots borrowed from contemporaries and histories

Staging Awning above stage was called the heavens – painted with zodiac symbols and stars Area below the stage was hell Middle area was the world of the living Created a metaphorical universe – good characters enter from or into heaven, bad characters enter from or exit into hell Scenery was symbolic and not realistic Performances were in daylight – always!

Sketch of the Swan Theatre c. 1596

The Globe

Vocabulary Review: Create a Crossword Puzzle RULES Use all 10 words Provide hints (but NOT definitions) Provide a blank puzzle AND an answer key

Hamlet

The Story A revenge tragedy Hamlet is the story of a Danish prince whose uncle murders the prince's father, marries his mother, and claims the throne. The prince pretends to be feeble-minded to throw his uncle off guard, then manages to kill his uncle in revenge.

Traditionally, Shakespeare himself is said to have played the Ghost in the original production!

Who’s Who Hamlet - Prince of Denmark. A student at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet returns to Denmark on his father's death. He is unhappy because his mother has remarried quickly – to his uncle, Claudius Ghost - The ghost of the old king Hamlet. He returns from Purgatory to tell his son he has been murdered and asks him to revenge his death.

Claudius - King of Denmark, the late king's brother and Hamlet's uncle. Soon after the old king's death, Claudius marries his sister- in-law Queen Gertrude. Gertrude - Hamlet's mother, the old king's widow, now married to Claudius. Who’s Who

Polonius The Lord Chamberlain, Claudius's chief counsellor. He is the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Ophelia - Polonius's daughter, in love with Hamlet. Laertes - Polonius's son who goes to France with permission from Claudius and his father

Voltimand -A courtier, sent as ambassador to Norway. Osric - A courtier. Francisco, Barnardo & Marcellus officers of the watch Who’s Who

Horatio -A scholar and friend of Hamlet’s from the University of Wittenberg. Rosencrantz and Guildernstern - Old friends of Hamlet paid by the new king, Claudius, to spy on the prince. Who’s Who

Player King, queen & other actors in the company - Who agrees to perform a play Hamlet calls The Mousetrap Player Queen First gravedigger - The man who digs Ophelia's grave Second gravedigger The gravedigger's assistant Priest The priest at Ophelia's funeral Who’s Who

Fortinbras - Prince of Norway, whose father was killed in single combat by old King Hamlet. Fortinbras wants to regain the lands Norway lost to Denmark when his father died. Norwegian Soldiers Who’s Who

“All the world 's a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” So….. Let’s dramatize Shakespeare!!!