1. The World of Shakespeare
Honors Survey of Literature

2. Shakespeare’s Life
William Shakespeare was an English playwright from the 16th Century.
He was born 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
He died on April 23, 1616.

3. Shakespeare’s wife probably didn’t
At the age of 18, he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway.
He had 3 children- Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith.
He left them in Stratford to go be an actor and playwright in London
Shakespeare’s wife probably didn’t
look like this.

4. Elizabethan Theatre
When Shakespeare was in London, Elizabeth I was the queen ( ). This was called the Elizabethan Era.
There was an explosion of literature and theater during this era. It is also called the English Renaissance because so much great art and culture developed during this time.

5. Shakespeare first entered the theater as an actor traveling with different acting companies.
At the age of 27, he decided to try writing plays.
His plays were popular when he was alive but nowhere close to how popular they are today.
He wrote 38 plays in total, although his authorship is questioned (what does that mean?)

6. Shakespeare’s Plays
Shakespeare looked for pre-existing stories for inspiration. He changed many details, but he never started from scratch when writing plays. He was a famous “borrower” of other people’s ideas.
His works can be traced back to various literary sources and incidents in his life and the world around him. His writing was influenced by Roman and Italian authors.

7. Shakespeare wrote 4 types of plays:
Comedies
Humorous (Obviously)
Tragedies
Have fatal endings
Histories
Chronicle the lives of royalty
Romances
Weird hybrid plays (not exactly comedy or tragedy)
He also wrote: 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems, Several other poems

8. Theater in the Elizabethan Age
Elizabethans wanted plays with lots of excitement, romance, dirty jokes, ghosts, stabbings and sword fights.
If they were not pleased, the audience would throw rotten eggs and vegetables at the actors.

9. Women were not allowed to act, so men had to play all parts
Women were not allowed to act, so men had to play all parts. Young boys would often play the parts of women.

10. Theatrical Devices
Tragedy- the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to handle bad circumstances.
Soliloquy-
a long conversation by a person who is talking to him or herself. It is intended to tell the character’s innermost thoughts. The character is usually on stage alone.

11. Theatrical Devices
Irony- the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning, and an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected
Dramatic Irony- irony that is understood by the audience, but not grasped by the characters in the play.

12. Theatrical Devices
Aside- part of an actor’s lines supposedly not heard by other actors on stage and intended only for the audience.
Rhyme- The same sound at the end of a line. Tie, pie
Pun- the humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize the different meanings; a play on words. The science teachers fell in love because they had great chemistry.
Allusion- a brief reference to something in history, art, religion, etc.