1. Introducing Shakespeare

2. Born, Stratford upon Avon 1564 here Maybe on April 23 rd The eldest of 6 His youngest brother, Edmund, also became an actor!

3. Went to school………… here From 7 – 13 – just one class! 6 days a week, every week of the year From 6am to 6pm He learned Latin, mostly No girls allowed!

4. Died in 1616 In StratfordIn Stratford On April 23 rdOn April 23 rd At New Place – the second biggest house in townAt New Place – the second biggest house in town In 1759 the owner – the local vicar – had it pulled down as he was fed up with the constant stream of visitors. In 1759 the owner – the local vicar – had it pulled down as he was fed up with the constant stream of visitors.

5. The Globe Most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed hereMost of Shakespeare’s plays were performed here It was moved from the north to the south of the Thames in 1599It was moved from the north to the south of the Thames in 1599 You can visit a new Globe, built on almost the same site, in LondonYou can visit a new Globe, built on almost the same site, in London

6. The Globe London in about 1610

7. Now you know where Shakespeare was born, went to school, died and worked! 3,000 people could fit into the Globe3,000 people could fit into the Globe 1,700 of them paid 1 penny to stand in the ‘yard’ where there was no roof! They were called ‘Groundlings’1,700 of them paid 1 penny to stand in the ‘yard’ where there was no roof! They were called ‘Groundlings’ Most of the audience could neither read nor writeMost of the audience could neither read nor write So the plays had to be entertaining or the theatres would have made no money. And Shakespeare was a very rich man!So the plays had to be entertaining or the theatres would have made no money. And Shakespeare was a very rich man!

8. So the plays have dramatic openings! A hunchback – Richard III Witches – ‘Macbeth’ A fight – ‘Romeo and Juliet’ A ghost – ‘Hamlet

9. Loads of jokes! The biggest stars were the ‘clowns’ The most famous were Will Kempe – this is a picture of him - And Robert Armin Shakespeare got so cross with Kempe’s fame (and improvising) that he sacked him!

10. Shakespeare the Actor We know he played the ghost in ‘Hamlet’ and Adam in ‘As You Like It’We know he played the ghost in ‘Hamlet’ and Adam in ‘As You Like It’ We also know that he appeared in the Jonson play ‘Sejanus’We also know that he appeared in the Jonson play ‘Sejanus’ The star of the company was Richard Burbage who played all the leading partsThe star of the company was Richard Burbage who played all the leading parts Burbage’s father owned ‘The Theatre’ – the first public theatre in England.Burbage’s father owned ‘The Theatre’ – the first public theatre in England.

11. Making sense of Shakespeare Ignore the punctuationIgnore the punctuation Ignore the stage directionsIgnore the stage directions Remember that it’s iambic pentameter – the rhythm of your heartbeat – 10 beats to a line.Remember that it’s iambic pentameter – the rhythm of your heartbeat – 10 beats to a line. Now listen to this from ‘Romeo and Juliet’:Now listen to this from ‘Romeo and Juliet’:

12. Two households, both alike in dignity,Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood maks civil hands unclean.Where civil blood maks civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foesFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

13. Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrowsWhose misadventur'd piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents' strife.Doth with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage,And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of oor stage;Is now the two hours' traffic of oor stage; The which if you with patient ears attend,The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

14. Your turn……….. The quality of mercy is not strain'd,The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav ’ nIt droppeth as the gentle rain from heav ’ n Upon the pless beneath: it is twice blest;Upon the pless beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that teks:It blesseth him that gives and him that teks:

15. A task: Look at the sonnet that your teacher will give you and hi-light or underline the heavy beatsLook at the sonnet that your teacher will give you and hi-light or underline the heavy beats Remember 10 beats to a line is iambic pentameter [I’ve done the first line for you]:Remember 10 beats to a line is iambic pentameter [I’ve done the first line for you]: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s dayShall I compare thee to a summer’s day

16. This might help………. Listen………….Listen………….

17. Shakespeare doesn’t always write poetry For ‘common’/funny characters he writes in proseFor ‘common’/funny characters he writes in prose Sometimes ‘posh’ characters also speak in proseSometimes ‘posh’ characters also speak in prose In ‘Othello’ one of the main characters, Iago, uses both depending on who he’s talking to.In ‘Othello’ one of the main characters, Iago, uses both depending on who he’s talking to.

18. Now you know enough……. To look at your playTo look at your play You know a bit about the man who wrote itYou know a bit about the man who wrote it Where it was first performedWhere it was first performed And something about how to speak the linesAnd something about how to speak the lines Enjoy!Enjoy!

19. Legal stuff Copyright sue shearmanCopyright sue shearman December 2005December 2005 You may use/edit this presentation for educational purposes onlyYou may use/edit this presentation for educational purposes only You may not copy/sell it for profit or in any other way redistribute it without my express permission.You may not copy/sell it for profit or in any other way redistribute it without my express permission. gruoch@gmail.comgruoch@gmail.com