RENAISSANCE REVISION – FAMOUS PEOPLE

RENAISSANCE ARTIST FROM ITALY

RENAISSANCE WRITER One of the most famous writers in the world One of the most famous writers in the world Epitome of the Renaissance man Epitome of the Renaissance man Writes about ordinary humans and great historical figures Writes about ordinary humans and great historical figures Wrote in the vernacular Wrote in the vernacular

Born in Stratford on Avon in 1564 Born in Stratford on Avon in 1564 Married Anne Hathaway when he was 18 Married Anne Hathaway when he was 18 Moved to London to become an actor Moved to London to become an actor Started writing plays Started writing plays

Joined a theater group called the King’s men Joined a theater group called the King’s men Become their leading playwright Become their leading playwright Wrote in the vernacular - v renaissance thing Wrote in the vernacular - v renaissance thing Before the Renaissance, all writers had to write in Latin Before the Renaissance, all writers had to write in Latin Shakespeare made people proud of their own language Shakespeare made people proud of their own language So famous that his men performed his plays in front of Queen Elizabeth So famous that his men performed his plays in front of Queen Elizabeth

TYPICAL RENAISSANCE MAN Like many people in the Renaissance,... Like many people in the Renaissance,... He was Influenced by the ideas of the past, including ancient times He was Influenced by the ideas of the past, including ancient times Like great Renaissance people he was influenced by the Enlightenment Like great Renaissance people he was influenced by the Enlightenment Believed in questioning old ideas Believed in questioning old ideas Introduced almost 5,000 new words into the English language Introduced almost 5,000 new words into the English language

Wrote three main types of plays - tragedies, comedies and histories Wrote three main types of plays - tragedies, comedies and histories Famous tragedies are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and MacBeth Famous tragedies are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and MacBeth Comedies are plays with a happy ending and are about love Comedies are plays with a happy ending and are about love Famous ones by Shakespeare = Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Famous ones by Shakespeare = Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Historical plays are about important people from the past Historical plays are about important people from the past Famous ones by Shakespeare = Julius Caesar, Henry V Famous ones by Shakespeare = Julius Caesar, Henry V

TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN His plays are famous because they contain all the diff aspects of humanity His plays are famous because they contain all the diff aspects of humanity He could mix serious drama with side-splitting comedy He could mix serious drama with side-splitting comedy He could write in many different styles He could write in many different styles Some of characters speak in the coarse language of peasants Some of characters speak in the coarse language of peasants Some of his others, speak in an elegant, lofty courtly language Some of his others, speak in an elegant, lofty courtly language His plays deal with important themes such as the meaning of life, and love His plays deal with important themes such as the meaning of life, and love

TRUE GENIUS Like Da Vinci, he was a polymath Like Da Vinci, he was a polymath Also wrote sonnets Also wrote sonnets Sonnet = 14-line love poem Sonnet = 14-line love poem Considered the most beautiful sonnets in english Considered the most beautiful sonnets in english many addressed to a ‘dark lady’ many addressed to a ‘dark lady’

LATER LIFE Returned to Stratford to live with his wife Returned to Stratford to live with his wife Died in 1613 at the age of 52 Died in 1613 at the age of 52 Lives on through his 38 plays and his sonnets Lives on through his 38 plays and his sonnets Still Influences people today Still Influences people today