1. SHAKESPEARE 101: Everything you wanted to know about Shakespeare, but you were afraid to ask !

2. The Man That Would Be Shakespeare
WILLIAM
The Man That Would Be Shakespeare
- Born April 23, 1564
- Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”
- Gave him a chance to write a play
- Henry IV, Pt. 1- It was not good but they gave him another shot

3. Shakespearean English
You’re lucky – the vocabulary is more similar to French than Modern English! No set rules for spelling. Words were pronounced differently, so what may have rhymed in his day no longer rhymes. Word order is not the same as today.

4. YODA KNOWS BESt Damn Straight, Say I.
Inverted Syntax: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
► “Agree with you, the council does. Your apprentice, Skywalker will be.”
Regular Syntax: ► The council does agree with you. Skywalker will be your apprentice.
Damn Straight, Say I.
Inverted Syntax was given to Yoda to make appear to be both very ancient and very wise. It is the same inverted syntax present in shakespearian play.

5. HOW SHAKESPEARE CONNECTED TO HIS AUDIENCE
To broaden his audience and connect to them: 1) He used characters and language that would appeal to both the noble and the lower classes ) He mixed both bawdy and sophisticated humour ) He wrote about the human experience with universal themes of: love, ambition and envy.

6. THREE TYPES OF PLAYS
TRAGEDIES: sympathetic protagonists who were doomed by their flaws. Ex. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth COMEDIES: more upbeat, with happy endings that often led to a marriage. Ex. Much Ado About Nothing HISTORIES: were frequently politically motivated to appeal to the Elizabethan court and featured British and Scottish kings. Ex. Henry IV

7. The Great Chain of Being
Christian idea that mapped out God's natural hierarchy of the world and all its living creatures.
God, of course, was at the top.
The king, who was God-chosen, and clergy were the most important human beings.
Since this holy chain was established by almighty and powerful God, it was considered sinful to disturb it and doing so would ultimately result in chaos.
Doing so would result in the wrath of God. “God will smite you.”

8. What is the Order of the Chain?
God Angels Kings/Queens Archbishops Dukes/Duchesses Bishops Marquises/Marchionesses Earls/Countesses Viscounts/Viscountesses Barons/Baronesses Abbots/Deacons Knights/Local Officials Ladies-in-Waiting Priests/Monks Squires Pages Messengers Merchants/Shopkeepers Tradesmen Yeomen Farmers Soldiers/Town Watch Household Servants Tennant Farmers Shepherds/Herders Beggars Actors Thieves/Pirates Gypsies Animals Birds Worms Plants Rocks
What is the Order of the Chain?

10. Shakespeare and the Supernatural
Belief in ghosts, malevolent spirits, witches and other elements of the supernatural was typical in Shakespeare’s time. Witches were considered a physical manifestation of evil and a threat to society and religion.

11. Witches Come in Threes Karma`s a Witch !
Wiccan Law of 3: It states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times. Basically…Karma.

12. HOCUS POCUS `93 CHARMED `98 - `06
THREE IN THE MEDIA
HOCUS POCUS `93
CHARMED `98 - `06

13. Act 1: witches`prophecies
Three witches present themselves. They cast a spell and predetermine a prophecy.
They agree to meet again with Macbeth.
Look at these THREE different versions. What are the differences?

14. MACBETH: THE TRAGEDY Set in Scotland
Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland, now England)
Queen of Denmark (James’s sister) was visiting
Shakespeare researched The Chronicles - Banquo is an ancestor of King James I

15. ASK YOURSELF Do you believe in prophecies?
Have you ever given in to temptation?
How do you personally decide: What is GOOD and what is EVIL ?
What is the difference between GREED and AMBITION ?
Do you believe “you reap what you sow”?
Do you believe our lives are destined or based on our actions alone?

16. SETTING : five THINGS
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 1) King Duncan is the King of Scotland.
2) Edward the Confessor is the King of England.
3) The time period is the eleventh century ( ).
4) When the play begins, there are TWO wars in progress:
Civil War - King Duncan vs. Macdonwald’s rebels
National War - Scotland, led by King Duncan, against invading Norway, led by King Sweno
5) In this play, there will be witches, blood, knives and cunning wives …………………………………………………..(well one in particular).

17. THE CHARACTERS 1) King Duncan of Scotland 2) Malcolm & Donalbain
Honest and good
2) Malcolm & Donalbain
Sons of the King
Malcolm is the eldest son
3) Macbeth
Duncan’s most courageous general
Murders Duncan to become King
Regicide: killing of a monarch

18. THE CHARACTERS 4) Banquo 5) Lady Macbeth 6) Macduff
General and Macbeth’s best friend
Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder
An actual ancestor of King James I
5) Lady Macbeth
As ambitious as her husband
A dark force behind his evil deeds
6) Macduff
Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of murdering the king

19. THE TRAGIC HERO
The concept that the emotion of pity stems not from a person becoming better but when a person receives undeserved misfortune and fear comes when the misfortune befalls a man like us (Aristotle)

20. ARISTOTLE AND THE TRAGIC HERO
Def. “Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” – Aristotle
Macbeth is one of the most famous examples of the tragic hero.
Great Debate – What was his flaw? For you to decide…

21. THE LEGEND OF MACBETH Badluck to say Macbeth
When referring to the work one instead uses circumlocutions, such as “the Scottish play” or “Mackers” or “the Scottish business”. If someone does happen to utter the unutterable they are to: 1) Leave the room, Close the door, 2) Turn around three times, 3) Say a dirty word (or spit, some say), 4) Knock on the door and ask to be let back in. 5) If you can’t do all that, you simply quote from Hamlet, act 1, scene 4: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”

22. The legend continues 2) Bad Fortune MACBETH ! MACBETH ! MACBETH !
They say that the play itself brings bad luck to cast and crew, and many productions of Macbeth have, in fact, encountered unfortunate circumstances.
The supposed origin story for this is that Shakespeare used “REAL” witches’ chants in the play; as punishment, real witches cast a curse on the play, condemning it for all time.
MACBETH !
MACBETH !
MACBETH !

23. Macbeth was actually a King of Scotland during the 11th century.
The Reality of Macbeth
Macbeth was actually a King of Scotland during the 11th century.
He ruled for a long time and was generally considered a good king.
The previous king, Duncan, was not a brave and successful king as portrayed in the play.
Duncan was killed by Macbeth’s men, but only after attacking Macbeth’s land.
Upon Duncan’s death, his wife fled to England with their two sons, Malcolm and Donalbane.
Macbeth was killed during an English invasion led by Siward, Earl of Northumbria.
There is no historical proof that Banquo ever really existed.
However, since Kind James staunchly believed he was descended from Banquo, Shakespeare brought him into the play and portrayed him very positively.