William Shakespeare English poet and playwright

It is accepted that he was born in 1564 (April 23, 1564) Born and lived in Stratford on the Avon

Lived about 400 years ago Died on April 23, 1616

Recognized in much of the world as the greatest dramatist 1. ESTABLISHED AS A SUCCESSFUL PLAYWRIGHT AND ACTOR BY THE AGE OF HE WROTE 39 PLAYS 3. MOST OF HIS PLAYS WERE PERFORMED BY HIS THEATER COMPANY (KINGS MEN) 4. HE ACTED IN MANY OF HIS OWN PLAYS

He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 Shakespeare lived in London and she stayed in Stratford They had a daughter and twins (a boy and a girl)

ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND RULERS: QUEEN ELIZABETH I AND JAMES I ELIZABETHAN ERA = GOLDEN AGE TIME OF PROSPERITY THE ARTS FLOURISHED

ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY ENJOYED THE THEATER ELIZABETHAN ENGLISH IS CONSIDERED ‘MODERN ENGLISH’

THE THEATER MOST OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS WERE PERFORMED IN THE GLOBE THEATER THE GLOBE THEATER IS IN LONDON, ENGLAND OPEN AIR (NO LIGHTING), 8 SIDES, OPEN MIDDLE, THATCH ROOF

THE THEATER OR STAGE WAS IN TIERS 1 ST TIER IS WHERE THE MAIN ACTION TAKES PLACE AND THE STAGE EXTENDED OUT INTO THE CROWD. 2 ND TIER WAS FOR THE BALCONY SCENES OR HEAVENLY SCENES.

NO SCENERY AND VERY FEW PROPS THE LINES IN THE PLAY FILLED IN THE GAPS (AUDIENCE USED THEIR IMAGINATION) WOMEN DID NOT PERFORM (ALL FEMALE ROLES WERE PERFORMED BY YOUNG BOYS

AUDIENCE: WANTED ACTION AND COMEDY GROUNDLINGS = LOWER CLASS PAID ONE CENT TO STAND IN THE PIT AND THE WEALTHY PAID TWO CENTS FOR COURTYARD SEATING. FOODS SERVED: MEAT PIES, TOMATOES, ORANGES AND HAZELNUTS (POPCORN) GLOBE BURNS DOWN IN 1613

ROMEO & JULIET 1594 – 1596 THE PLAY IS WRITTEN PLAY IDEA WAS BORROWED FROM ARTHUR BROOKE AND EARLIER VERSIONS BY MATTEO BANDELO THE SETTING: VERONA, ITALY DURING THE 1300’S

THE PLAY IS ACTUALLY A POEM IT IS WRITTEN IN BLANK VERSE