2. An Introduction to William Shakespeare and the Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet Ms. Forsyth and Mr. Bernstein Honors English 9 Bear Creek High School

3. This presentation will… inform you about the life and work of the mysterious William Shakespeare. provide you details about Elizabethan society and theater. define basic terminology related to Shakespearean poetry and drama.

4. April 23, 1564: William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Shakespeare. There is a baptismal registration for Shakespeare, but few other written records exist. He was the 3 rd of 8 children.

5. Much of Shakespeare’s younger years remain a mystery, but there are rumors about what jobs he may have worked. Butcher Apprentice Lawyer Schoolmaster Lawyer

6. 1582: According to church records, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. At the time of their marriage, William was eighteen and Anne was twenty-six.

7. William and Anne have three children together (Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith). August 1596: young Hamnet died at the age of eleven. The cause of his death is unknown. Hamnet Judith Susanna Shakespeare left his family in 1591 to pursue writing in London.

8. In 1592, Shakespeare began developing a reputation as an actor and playwright. As theatres were beginning to grow in popularity, it is probable that Shakespeare began earning a living writing plays (adapting old ones and working with others on new ones).

9. 1594: William became involved with a company of actors named “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” This group later (1603) changed their name to “The King’s Men”.

10. In 1598, Shakespeare, in collaboration with other actors, designed and built The Globe. This circular theatre was the first of its kind, breaking away from the traditional rectangular theatres.

11. 1616: William Shakespeare died on his birthday.

12. At the time of his death, Shakespeare is said to have written around 37 plays and 154 sonnets. He is also known to have contributed over two thousand words to the English language.

13. Shakespearean Theater “The Globe”

14. Elizabethan Theatre Fun Facts The First Elizabethan Theater: “The Wooden O” Built in 1576, first permanent stage in London Built by James Burbage Shaped in form of a tavern 1599 theatre torn down, but Shakespeare’s company used it to build The Globe Theatre

15. Elizabethan Theatre Fun Facts The Globe Round/polygonal building with a roofless courtyard No artificial light Three stories high – upper levels were for the weathy The “groundlings” paid a penny a piece to stand on the floor in front of the stage (800 people) Large platform stage Back of platform was curtained off inner stage Two door entrances/exits on either side of curtain Small balcony/upper stage Elaborate costumes but no props Young boys played the parts of women; women weren’t allowed to be actors

16. Fire and Rediscovery Shakespeare’s Globe burned down, but its foundation was discovered in 1990. A replica has since been rebuilt. You can visit it and see a play today.

17. Dramatic Terminology Tragedy: A narrative about serious and important actions that end unhappily, usually with the death of the main characters. The play is broken up into acts and the acts are broken up into scenes. Monologue: A long uninterrupted speech given by one character onstage to everyone. Soliloquy: A long uninterrupted speech given by one character alone on stage, inaudible to other characters Aside: A short speech given by one character, traditionally the other characters cannot hear.

18. Dramatic Terminology Pun: A humorous play on words After that poisonous snake struck at me in the Arizona Desert I was really rattled. A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor. A carpenter must have been here. I saw dust. Energizer Bunny arrested - charged with battery. Corduroy pillows are making headlines. The executioner decided to drop out of Executioner School. It was just too cut throat for him.

19. Dramatic Terminology Dramatic Foil: A pair of characters who are opposite in many ways and highlight or exaggerate each other’s differences.

20. Shakespeare’s 5 Part Storytelling Pattern: Act I: Exposition Establishes setting, characters, conflict, and background Act II: Rising Action A series of complications Act III: Climax/Turning Point A series of complications Act IV: Falling Action Results of the turning point; characters locked into deeper disaster Act V: Resolution/Denouement Death of the main characters and then the loose parts of the plot are tied up

21. Tips for Understanding Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is based on Arthur Brooke’s long narrative poem the Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet (1562). The play has a highly moral tone: disobedience, as well as fate, leads to the deaths of two lovers.

22. MONTAGUE vs. CAPULET Romeo Lord Montague (his dad) Lady Montague (his mom) Mercutio (friend) Benvolio (cousin) Juliet Lord Capulet (her father) Lady Capulet (her mother) Tybalt (cousin) Nurse

23. A Pair of Star Crossed Lovers… “My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” ~ Juliet; Act I, Scene V