Shakespeare! English I PreAP 5 th Six Weeks 2011

The Drama A drama (often called a play) is a story told in a specific way and intended to be performed for an audience. A drama (often called a play) is a story told in a specific way and intended to be performed for an audience.

History of Drama The root word “drama” comes from the Greek word “dran” which means “to act, or do” The root word “drama” comes from the Greek word “dran” which means “to act, or do” In the beginning, literature was purely spoken or performed. In the beginning, literature was purely spoken or performed. Example: The Odyssey As time passed, the oral stories or performances were recorded (written down) so that they could be repeated As time passed, the oral stories or performances were recorded (written down) so that they could be repeated

Comedy = always ends in happiness Comedy = always ends in happiness Tragedy = always ends in catastrophe - most often death - for the main characters. Tragedy = always ends in catastrophe - most often death - for the main characters. Two Main Types of Plays

1. Imitates life experiences 2. Focused within a certain real- life length of time 3. Depends on dialogue completely for its meaning Three Traits of a Drama

Literary Terms

Aside A character’s remark, either to the audience or to another character, that others on stage do not hear A character’s remark, either to the audience or to another character, that others on stage do not hear

Foil A character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character A character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character Highlights both characters traits Highlights both characters traits For example… a shy and quiet character can make a talkative one seem even louder and chattier.

Oxymoron Terms used together that seem to contradict one another Terms used together that seem to contradict one anotherExamples… wise fool feather of lead jumbo shrimp brawling love loving hate

Pun A play on words A play on words Shakespeare used them to add a comedic element to the play… Shakespeare used them to add a comedic element to the play… but a lot of the puns we will not understand or find funny because our humor is different today but a lot of the puns we will not understand or find funny because our humor is different today

Soliloquy A speech given by a character alone on stage A speech given by a character alone on stage Lets the audience know what the character is thinking or feeling Lets the audience know what the character is thinking or feeling

Monologue A lengthy speech addressed to other characters, not to the audience. A lengthy speech addressed to other characters, not to the audience.

Romeo and Juliet… What’s their deal?

They’re…Star-Crossed Lovers pair of lovers whose relationship is often thwarted by outside forces; the pair is often but not always said to be doomed from the start. pair of lovers whose relationship is often thwarted by outside forces; the pair is often but not always said to be doomed from the start. The phrase is astrological in origin, stemming from the belief that the positions of the stars ruled over people’s fates The phrase is astrological in origin, stemming from the belief that the positions of the stars ruled over people’s fates It became part of common speech after Shakespeare wrote and popularized the phrase in his play, Romeo and Juliet. It became part of common speech after Shakespeare wrote and popularized the phrase in his play, Romeo and Juliet.

Are there other “star-crossed lovers”? Think of modern examples of “Start-crossed lovers” from movies that you’ve seen that relate to the themes from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet listed below: 1. Two people who care immensely for each other but, due to their circumstances, can not be together. 2. Different cultures or social status keeps two lovers from being together. 3. Family feuds keep lovers apart. 4. The lovers relationship is thwarted by outside forces. 5. A love story that ends tragically.

Let’s read “Pryamus & Thisbe”… pg An ancient Roman myth about two teenagers who fall madly in love, but their parents forbid them to see each other. Defying their families, they plan to run away together, but a series of misunderstandings lead to a disastrous demise. SOUND FAMILIAR???

How to Read Shakespeare Sometimes, the way Shakespeare uses language can be overwhelming to read and discern meaning. Sometimes, the way Shakespeare uses language can be overwhelming to read and discern meaning. Breaking it down into segments and interpreting the parts can make it more manageable and less daunting. Breaking it down into segments and interpreting the parts can make it more manageable and less daunting.

The Prologue In Shakespeare’s day, the prologue was the introduction. A guy would come out on stage in funny tights and say the part you are about to read. In Shakespeare’s day, the prologue was the introduction. A guy would come out on stage in funny tights and say the part you are about to read. Think of it as a movie preview. The prologue fills the audience in on what they’re about to watch. Think of it as a movie preview. The prologue fills the audience in on what they’re about to watch.

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their deaths bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their death mark’d love, And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Prologue Structure Label the rhyme scheme of the prologue Label the rhyme scheme of the prologue How are the 14 lines organized? How are the 14 lines organized? What is this structure called? What is this structure called?

It’s a Sonnet! A Shakespearian sonnet not only has a specific rhyme scheme but also a specific rhythmic pattern A Shakespearian sonnet not only has a specific rhyme scheme but also a specific rhythmic pattern The rhythmical pattern of a poem is called the meter The rhythmical pattern of a poem is called the meter It is determined by the number and types of stresses, or beats, in each line It is determined by the number and types of stresses, or beats, in each line

Iambic Pentameter The specific rhythmic pattern Shakespeare uses is called iambic pentameter The specific rhythmic pattern Shakespeare uses is called iambic pentameter An iamb consists of one unstressed and one stressed syllable. If you read music, it is similar to a measure. It is also called a foot. Feet are divided by a vertical line according to syllable. An iamb consists of one unstressed and one stressed syllable. If you read music, it is similar to a measure. It is also called a foot. Feet are divided by a vertical line according to syllable. Pentameter refers to the number of iambic feet in a line. There are ten syllables, making up five iambic feet per line. Pentameter refers to the number of iambic feet in a line. There are ten syllables, making up five iambic feet per line.

Scanning a Poem for Meter Scanning is to mark the stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem Scanning is to mark the stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem We mark a ﬞ for unstressed syllables and ′ for stressed syllables We mark a ﬞ for unstressed syllables and ′ for stressed syllables ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ Two house|holds, both| alike| in dig|nity, ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ In fair| Vero|na, where| we lay| our scene,

Modified Iamvic Pentameter Remember that Shakespeare used the words the way we say them. Remember that Shakespeare used the words the way we say them. We don’t say houseHOLD. It’s HOUSEhold. We don’t say houseHOLD. It’s HOUSEhold. When the meter doesn’t quite match the formula, we call it modified. When the meter doesn’t quite match the formula, we call it modified.

Modified Example ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ Whose mis|adven|tured pi|teous o|verthrows ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ′ ﬞ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ ′ ﬞ ﬞ ′ ﬞ ′ Do with|their death|bury|their par|ents' strife. Notice that the symbols are reversed on bury because we pronounce the word with the stress on the first syllable. Notice that the symbols are reversed on bury because we pronounce the word with the stress on the first syllable.

Now let’s look at the rest of the prologue… and begin our reading of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet