2. English 2B Adams City High School

3. William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

4. Shakespeare 1563-1616 Stratford-on-Avon, England wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets started out as an actor

5. Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) Also > principal playwright for them 1599> Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed

6. Shakespeare wrote: Comedies Histories Tragedies

7. The Plays  Early plays, 1590’s, were mainly comedy  Comedy (and this could be extended to most of Shakespeare's history plays as well) is social-- leading to a happy resolution (usually a marriage or marriages) and social unification.  Shakespeare began to focus on tragedy/dramatic themes in the early 1600’s  Tragedy is individual, concentrating on the suffering of a single, remarkable hero--leading to individual torment, waste and death  1608 marks a change in tone from tragedy to romance, light, magic, and reconciliation

8. The Theater Plays produced for the general public Roofless>open air No artificial lighting Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

9. The Great Globe  Built in 1599  The most magnificent theater in London  Shakespeare was 1/5 owner  He earned 10% of the total profit, approximately £200-250 ($325 - $400) a year  The Bard retired to Stratford and lived on the profits he earned from the Globe  June 19, 1613 the Globe burned to the ground during a performance of Henry VIII

10. Spectators Wealthy got benches “Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more interaction than today

11. Staging Areas Stage>platform that extended into the pit Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage second-level gallery> upper stage> famous balcony scene in R & J Trap door>ghosts “Heavens”> angelic beings

12. Differences No scenery Settings > references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful>2 hours!

13. Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

14. Elizabethan Words (QE1) An,and: If Anon: Soon Aye: Yes But:Except for E’en:Even E’er: Ever O’er Over

15. QE1 Words (contin.) Haply:Perhaps Happy:Fortunate Hence:Away, from her Hie:Hurry Marry:Indeed

16. QE1 Words (contin.) Whence:Where Wilt:Will, will you Withal:In addition to Would:Wish

17. Unusual Word Order I ate the sandwich.I the sandwich ate. Ate the sandwich I.Ate I the sandwich. The sandwich I ate.The sandwich ate I. Shakespeare uses unusual word order to emphasize an action, a word, an emotion, or just to create a rhyme. Tips for deciphering unusual word orders  Find the subject of the sentence  Find the verb in the sentence  Find the object of the sentence  Rearrange the sentence to make it easier to understand

18. Did people really talk this way? Prose- language without metrical structure Verse- poetic language and style Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter. Iambic Pentameter: five beats of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables; ten syllables per line. 'So fair / and foul / a day / I have / not seen'

19. Blank Verse Much of R & J is written in it: –unrhymed verse –iambic (unstressed, stressed) –pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line) ends up to be 10 syllable lines

20. Prose Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song –Only characters in the lower social classes speak this way in Shakespeare’s plays –Why do you suppose that is?

21. Plot The sequence of events in a literary work

22. Exposition The plot usually begins with this: –introduces>>>> setting characters basic situation

23. Inciting Moment Often called “initial incident” –the first bit of action that occurs which begins the plot –Romeo and Juliet “lock eyes” at the party

24. Conflict The struggle that develops –man vs. man –man vs. himself –man vs. society –man vs. nature

25. Crisis The point where the protagonist’s situation will either get better or worse –protagonist>good guy –antagonist>bad guy

26. Climax The turning point of the story>everything begins to unravel from here –Thus begins the falling action

27. Resolution The end of the central conflict

28. Denouement The final explanation or outcome of the plot –If this is included in literature, it will occur after the resolution.

29. Tragedy (Shakespearean) Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster/great misfortune –In many tragedies, downfall results from> Fate Character flaw/Fatal flaw Combination of the two

30. Theme Central idea or >> Insight about life which explain the downfall

31. Metaphorical Language Comparison of unlike things > –Paris standing over the “lifeless body” of Juliet, “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew…” –“Thou detestable maw…”Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth…” Romeo

32. Dramatic Foil A character whose purpose is to show off another character –Benvolio for Tybalt look for others in R & J

33. Round characters Characters who have many personality traits, like real people.

34. Flat Characters One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait –Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

35. Static Characters Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

36. Dynamic Character Characters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.

37. Monologue One person speaking on stage > may be other character on stage too –ex > the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

38. Soliloquy Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

39. Aside Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

40. Pun Shakespeare loved to use them!!! –Humorous use of a word with two meanings > sometimes missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language and sexual innuendo

41. Direct Address Words that tell the reader who is being addressed: “A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.” “Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?”

42. Dramatic Irony A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

43. Verbal Irony Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

44. Situational Irony An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

45. Comic Relief Use of comedy within literature that is NOT comedy to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness. In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation

46. Shakespeare will be some of the most difficult reading you will ever attempt. BE PATIENT! Middle English vs. Modern English Reading Tips 1.Read the Introduction 2.Read everything twice 3.First time- try reading without looking at footnotes, mark any interesting or difficult items 4.Try reading aloud

47. Developing a Reading Log Follow these simple steps to create a reading log that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the play: Step 1 ~ Reading for Understanding a. Read each scene at least once. b. Record any new words or phrases you looked up during reading. Be sure to include the definitions in your reading log. c. Write a summary of the scene in a dark ink/font. d. Record any questions you may have about the scene.

48. Step 2 ~ Discussing the Scene/Play a. Discuss the scene/play with your classmates. b. Ask the questions you wrote down in your reading log. Step 3 ~ Adding Answers to Your Reading Log a. Use a different colored pen or font. Write the answers to your reading log questions in the margins.

49. Step 4 ~ Reading for Pleasure a. Use a different colored pen or font. b. Now that you have a basic understanding of the plot and unusual words or phrases, it is time to read the play again. c. Record your personal reactions to each scene. Step 5 ~ Discuss the Play a. Your rereading will probably create new questions, so go back to class or the online discussion and continue discussing the play. b. Record any new answers or insights you gain in your reading log (be sure to use a different color font or ink).