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

2. 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

3. Shakespeare wrote:
Comedies
Histories
Tragedies

4. Romeo and Juliet Written about 1595 Considered a tragedy
West Side Story (Movie) based on R&J

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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. Sonnets English Sonnets Characteristics:
14 lines (consisting of 3 quatrains and a rhyming couplet)
Rhyme scheme
a b a b c d c d e f e f g g