1. William Shakespeare & A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2. Life in 16th Century London, England
Living conditions were poor
No running water
Chamber pots were used and thrown out windows onto the streets
Thames River and the streets polluted with raw sewage

4. Life in 16th Century London, England
Bathing was inconvenient
Had to go get the water
Had to heat up water
Bathing was considered dangerous
Many people believed that water could carry disease into the body through the pores in the skin.

5. Life in 16th Century London, England
Inadequate understanding of disease and medicine.
Blood letting was thought to be the best cure for most diseases.
Childhood diseases caused many children to die before age 5.
Health and Hygiene in England

6. Entertainment in 16th Century London, England
Races
Gambling
Music
Public executions
Bear-baiting
A bear would be chained to a post in the ring, still able to move, but not escape, and dogs would be set on the animal. Spectators would bet on whether it would be the dogs or the bear that would survive the vicious fight that ensued.

8. William Shakespeare Shakespeare led a scandalous life!
Married a pregnant Anne Hathaway (an older woman) when he was 18
Deadbeat dad: left his wife and children for a London stage career
Lived from
William Shakespeare

9. The Globe Theater Shakespeare helped construct it in 1598-1599
No lighting
No scenery- just a curtain
Held around 2,000 people

10. The most expensive seats were directly behind the stage, called the gallery.
Though the people sitting there could only see the actors from behind, they themselves could be seen by everyone in the audience.

13. The Globe Theater

14. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Setting:
Ancient Greece

15. Three plot lines:
First world:
Athens Court
Second world:
Fairy World, events take place outside of Athens in the woods at night
Third world:
Mechanicals (actors) working class uneducated but skilled laborers, provide comic relief in the play

16. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
It was believed that on Midsummer Night (June 24), the fairies and witches held their festival.
story overview