1. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature
William Shakespeare
Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

2. Shakespeare 1563-1616 in Stratford-on-Avon, England
Father was a prosperous merchant and mother was the daughter of a landlord
Married Anne Hathaway in 1582 – Shakespeare was 18 and Hathaway was 26
Couple had three children
Wrote 37 plays and approximately 154 sonnets
Started out as an actor

3. Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London Theater Co.)
principal playwright for them
1599—Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of his play’s were performed

4. Shakespeare wrote:
Comedies
Histories
Tragedies
Tragicomedies

5. Romeo and Juliet Written @ 1595 Considered a tragedy
Inspired many modern day love stories (books and movie)

6. Romeo and Juliet
Based on Arthur Brooke’s poem called The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet (1562)
Shakespeare changed his play to fit the stage by developing the characters and adding certain scenes
Juliet was 16 in the poem and 13 in the play
Play is condensed to five days instead of months
Changed the language to fit his style
Wrote the play primarily in blank verse with the prologues being written as sonnets in iambic pentameter

7. The Globe Theater
Built outside London in 1599 and housed most of Shakespeare’s plays
Round or octagonal in shape, contained no roof, and held 2,000-3,000 people
Destroyed by a fire in 1613
Theater was replicated and re-opened in 1997

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

11. Spectators Wealthy sat on benches
“Groundlings”(poorer people) stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”); cost 1¢
All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate
Much more interaction than today

12. 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 doors

13. 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

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

15. Elizabethan Words An,and: If Anon: Soon Hence: Away, from her Aye: Yes
But: Except for
E’en: Even
E’er: Ever
Haply: Perhaps
Happy: Fortunate
Hence: Away, from her
Hie: Hurry
Marry: Indeed
Whence: Where
Wilt: Will, will you
Withal: In addition to
Would: Wish

16. Blank Verse Credited as 1st person to use it
Much of R & J is written in it:
unrhymed verse
iambic (unstressed, stressed)
pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line)
ends up being 10 syllable lines

17. Prose Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song
Only characters in the lower social classes speak this way in Shakespeare’s plays
Why do you suppose that is?

18. Exposition The plot usually begins with this: Introduces: setting
characters
basic conflict

19. Inciting Moment Often called “initial incident”
the first bit of action that occurs which begins the plot
Romeo and Juliet “lock eyes” at the party

20. Conflict The struggle that develops man vs. man man vs. himself
man vs. society
man vs. nature

21. Crisis
The point where the protagonist’s situation will either get better or worse
Protagonist (good guy)
Antagonist (bad guy)

22. Climax
The turning point of the story—everything begins to unravel from here
Thus begins the falling action

23. Resolution Denouement The end of the central conflict
The final explanation or outcome of the plot
If this is included in literature, it will occur after the resolution.

24. Tragedy (Shakespearean)
Drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune
In many tragedies, downfall results from:
Fate
Character flaw/Fatal flaw
Combination of the two

25. Dramatic Foil
A character whose purpose is to show off/antagonize another character
In Romeo and Juliet—Benvolio for Tybalt

26. Round characters
Characters who have many personality traits, like real people.

27. Flat Characters One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait
Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

28. Static Characters
Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

29. Dynamic Character
Characters who change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.

30. Monologue One person speaking on stage
there may be other characters on stage too
ex . the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

31. Soliloquy
Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage.
In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

32. Aside
Words spoken, usually in an undertone; not intended to be heard by all characters
Intended for audience

33. Pun Shakespeare loved to use them!!!
Humorous use of a word with two meanings—sometimes missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language and sexual innuendo
“Speaking ill of the dead is a grave mistake.”
“I used to look for gold, but it didn’t pan out.”

34. Direct Address Words that tell the reader who is being addressed:
“A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.”
“Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?”

35. Irony Situational Irony Dramatic Irony Verbal Irony
An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience
Dramatic Irony
A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true
Verbal Irony
Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

36. Comic Relief
Use of comedy within literature to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness.
In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation

37. Simile A comparison that uses the words “like” or “as”
The light was as bright as the sun.
She was like a fish gliding in the water.

38. Metaphor A comparison that does NOT use “like” or “as”
As he lifted the final stone, he was Hercules.

39. Allusion
A reference to a famous, often mythological, person, place, or event
“She’ll not be hit with Cupid’s arrow.”
“From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels.”

40. Oxymoron A phrase that contains conflicting paired words
Used to show emphasis and exaggeration
“honorable villain”
“damned saint”