2. Who is this Bard Guy Anyway? Old Gaelic term meaning poet Shakespeare is the considered the best poet of ALL time

3. Well-known Facts about Will Great writer of England Plays translated into all languages, musicals, ballets Born Stratford-upon-Avon Well-to-do, affluent while alive Most quoted, other than the Bible

4. Lesser-known Facts Teen father: married pregnant 26 year old Anne Hathaway when he was 18 Deadbeat dad: Left wife and children for London stage career Father of twins Elizabethan rapper: uses rhythm and rhyme “Plagiarism” ?

5. The Renaissance 1500-1650 “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science Discovery of “New World” Copernicus: Sun-centered Universe (1543) King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) Reformation of Catholic Church

6. Conditions in London-BAD! Thames River polluted with raw sewage Trees used up for fuel Poverty

7. Personal hygiene/health Bathing considered dangerous Body odor strong Childhood diseases Children often died before 5 years Small Pox Bubonic Plague

8. Living Conditions No running water Chamber Pots Open Sewers Crowded

9. Clothes One set used all year long, rarely washed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Clothes handed down from rich to poor

10. Marriage 50 years old was considered a ripe old age Girls married at 12-16 yrs and boys at 13-19 yrs Marriage was a financial contract negotiated between parents. The concept of marrying for love was for the most part completely foreign. Affection was supposed to come after marriage, if it came at all; people were not generally “in love” with each other at the time of their marriage.

11. The Competition Bear-baiting Races Gambling Music Drinking/socializing Prostitution Public executions

12. Theater in London Performed in courtyards of inns The Theater-first public theater-1576 Daytime/open air Limited set design Relied on music, sound, costumes, props and great description

13. The Globe Built in 1599 Across the Thames- “Wrong side of town” King’s Players - Shakespeare’s company Penny admission

14. Actors All men Female parts played by young boys No actual kissing or hugging on stage

15. The groundling Poor audience member Stood around stage in “the pit” Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

16. “Romeo and Juliet” Tragedy w/ comedy?!? Written in 1595 Set in Verona, Italy The love story by which all other love stories are measured!