Shakespeare “The Bard of Avon”

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHY  Born April at Stratford-upon-Avon  Lived and went to school there until the age of thirteen (no evidence that he went to university)  1581 At 18, he married Anne Hathaway.  1582 Their daughter, Susanna is born.  1585 Twins, Judith and Hamnet are born.  Born April at Stratford-upon-Avon  Lived and went to school there until the age of thirteen (no evidence that he went to university)  1581 At 18, he married Anne Hathaway.  1582 Their daughter, Susanna is born.  1585 Twins, Judith and Hamnet are born.

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHY  1585 Left for London with a traveling performance company.  1589 Began writing his own plays  1592 Was well-known as an actor, and his plays were sponsored by the Earl of Southampton.  1594 Formed the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (theatre company)  1585 Left for London with a traveling performance company.  1589 Began writing his own plays  1592 Was well-known as an actor, and his plays were sponsored by the Earl of Southampton.  1594 Formed the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (theatre company)

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHY  1596 Hamnet dies  1597 Buys ‘New Place’ for his family  1599 Becomes a shareholder in The Globe theatre  1603 Becomes part of “The Kings Men” theatre company under King James I  1608 Takes over and becomes a shareholder in The Blackfriars Theatre.  1596 Hamnet dies  1597 Buys ‘New Place’ for his family  1599 Becomes a shareholder in The Globe theatre  1603 Becomes part of “The Kings Men” theatre company under King James I  1608 Takes over and becomes a shareholder in The Blackfriars Theatre.

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHY  1610 Shakespeare returns home to Stratford-upon- Avon to live out his final years with his family.  1613 The Globe Theatre burns down  1614 The Globe Theatre is re-built  1616 Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday.  1623 First collected edition of plays published.  1610 Shakespeare returns home to Stratford-upon- Avon to live out his final years with his family.  1613 The Globe Theatre burns down  1614 The Globe Theatre is re-built  1616 Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday.  1623 First collected edition of plays published.

COMEDIES All’s Well That Ends WellCymbeline As You Like ItPericles The Comedy of ErrorsThe Winter’s Tale Love’s Labour’s LostThe Two Gentlemen of Verona Measure for MeasureTwelfth Night The Merry Wives of WindsorTroilus and Cressida The Merchant of VeniceThe Tempest A Midsummer Night’s DreamThe Taming of the Shrew Much Ado About Nothing

TRAGEDIES Antony and CleopatraCoriolanus HamletJulius Caesar King LearMacbeth OthelloRomeo and Juliet Timon of AthensTitus Andronicus

HISTORIES Henry IV, Part IHenry VI, Part III Henry IV, Part 2Henry VIII Henry VKing John Henry VI, Part IRichard II Henry VI, Part IIRichard III

PLAY STRUCTURE  ACT ONE The conflict of the characters is established and the audience ‘takes sides’. The rationale and emotional background of the coming action is given to the audience.  ACT ONE The conflict of the characters is established and the audience ‘takes sides’. The rationale and emotional background of the coming action is given to the audience.

PLAY STRUCTURE  ACT TWO The suspense is built, usually the “good guys” and the “bad guys” make preliminary moves against each other.  ACT TWO The suspense is built, usually the “good guys” and the “bad guys” make preliminary moves against each other.

PLAY STRUCTURE  ACT THREE Things look like the “bay guys” are going to win. This gets the audience more involved - they want to know what happens!  ACT THREE Things look like the “bay guys” are going to win. This gets the audience more involved - they want to know what happens!

PLAY STRUCTURE  ACT FOUR The “good guys” get better and begin to close the gap with the “bad guys”. The audience is ready for the final victory - but we do not reach it in this act.  ACT FOUR The “good guys” get better and begin to close the gap with the “bad guys”. The audience is ready for the final victory - but we do not reach it in this act.

PLAY STRUCTURE  ACT FIVE The conclusion - the final battle, the “good guys” win. There could be a twist or turn that is unexpected but generally, a win is inevitable. Usually this act is much shorter than the others. In tragedies, some (or many) of the characters are dead. In comedies, all is resolved happily.  ACT FIVE The conclusion - the final battle, the “good guys” win. There could be a twist or turn that is unexpected but generally, a win is inevitable. Usually this act is much shorter than the others. In tragedies, some (or many) of the characters are dead. In comedies, all is resolved happily.

‘THEE’ and ‘THOU’  The language is at least 400 years old.  It is written for an audience for whom this language was normal.  The language is at least 400 years old.  It is written for an audience for whom this language was normal.