William Shakespeare (Whoever That Was)

Birth and Early Years Baptized: April 26, 1564 Born: probably a few days before baptism – Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon About 100 miles NW of London Education: – Probably attended grammar school and church at Stratford-Upon-Avon Elizabethan school: began at dawn, lasted most of the day, 6 days a week. He would have learned Latin, and the classics there. There is some indication Billy did not finish school. Elizabethan church: MANDATORY

What We Know For Sure Born c Baptized 1564 Married to Anne Hathaway Nov 28, Children: Susanna (1583), twins Hamnet and Judith (1585) Probably lived in or around Stratford until Died c There are some killer poems and plays attributed to him. ( ) Joined and became part owner Lord Chamberlin’s men (later called The Kings’ Men), a theater troupe. (c ) – Shakespeare acted and wrote plays for this group.

Elizabethan Society The English Renaissance – cultural and artistic movement in England dating from the early 16th century to the early 17th century. – More about music and literature, as opposed to Italian Rennaissance, which had notable visual arts – “The Age of Shakespeare,” or “The Elizabethan Era” Religion – There was an uneasy truce between Catholics and Protestants in 16 th century England. Historically, the Catholic Church held about as much power as the king Elizabeth recognized the Church of England (protestant) and put herself in charge of it. The Arts – In particular, the puritans, a sect of Protestantism, were very much against the theater, perceiving it as a den of vice and generally a distraction from the Lord. – Fortunately for Billy Boy, Queen Elizabeth loved the theater, despite being Protestant! And so the show went on…

Elizabethan Theater Comedy – Everyone gets married at the end. » More like what we call “romantic comedy” Tragedy – Everyone dies at the end. » The main character either “falls to ruin” or is killed » Often the protagonist’s fate is a result of a flaw in their character, or a moral weakness This is known as a tragic flaw. History – Stories about Kings. Sometimes serialized (like a soap opera) 5 Act plays and the 5 elements of plot – I: ExpositionIV: Falling Action – II: Rising ActionV: Resolution and Denoument – III: Climax

The Globe Theater

Basically a thrust stage, with audience on all three sides Very little in the way of a set; great costumes though! Creating the world of the play relied on compelling and descriptive language Thousands of attendees, representing all levels of society “Cheap Seats” in the pit Groundlings

Cost of a play – about a penny – Blue collar workers made about 5-6 pennies a day; rent was about 12 pennies (a shilling) Attendees typically not as well behaved as a modern audience Theater was considered to be somewhat unseemly; the Globe was built on the outskirts of town

More Pictures…

Romeo and Juliet Written and originally performed c – Makes it one of Billy’s earlier works R and J is a Tragedy – “Two star-cross’d lovers take their life” Setting – 15 th Century Verona (A city in Italy) – Before Italy was a unified country City-States, ruled by noblemen (Dukes) – Two feuding families Montagues (Romeo’s family) Capulets (Juliet’s family)

Why do they talk to funny? 1) Language changes – the meanings and associated meanings of words change over time. 2) Figurative Language – metaphors, puns, imagery, etc. 3) Blank Verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) 4) Allusions – things that were hip in the 16 th century are now pretty obscure!

Note Time! Make a page in your notebook for “Shakespeare Vocabulary” Take notes over pages in your textbook

Macbeth Written/performed c – At the height of Shakespeare’s and his company’s popularity “The Scottish Play” – Commissioned by then king of Scotland – Set in Scotland- 11 th century (c. 1040AD) – Costume considerations Would have been originally performed in private halls, to wealthy crowds (so NOT in the Globe)

Macbeth would have been performed in a space like this…