1. Biography, Drama, and Macbeth
William Shakespeare
Biography, Drama, and Macbeth

2. William Shakespeare – Early Life
Born 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.
He was the third child of a city official.
Little is known about his education.
Married Anne Hathaway at 18.

3. William Shakespeare – Middle Years
He moved to London in the late 1580’s.
By the early 1590’s, Shakespeare worked as a playwright and an actor.
Existed on the patronage of nobility until he gained notoriety for his plays.
Was a manager of a theatre troupe named “Lord Chamberlain’s Men.”
The troupe was later renamed to the “King’s Men” to honor King James I.

4. William Shakespeare – Final Years
He mastered all forms of Drama but in the 1590’s he focused primarily on comedies.
Shakespeare focused on tragedies in the last 10 years of his life.
He stopped writing plays after 1613.
William Shakespeare died on his 52nd birthday on April 23, 1616.

5. Shakespearean Drama
Can be divided into three categories: histories, comedies, and tragedies.
Histories are plays written about England’s earlier leaders.
Comedies are plays that have a happy ending.
They do not have to be funny.
Tragedies are plays in which the hero meets an unhappy end.

6. Shakespearean Drama cont.
Blank Verse
Unrhymed iambic pentameter
An unstressed syllable that is followed by a stressed syllable.
“What light through yonder window breaks.”
Soliloquy
A speech given by a character which is alone on stage.
Meant to give the audience insight into the thoughts or actions of the character.
Aside
A comment that a character makes to the audience but is unknown to the other members on stage

7. Shakespearean Drama cont.
Dramatic Irony
Irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.
Foreshadowing
Hints as to what will happen later in the play.

8. Shakespearean Drama - Tragedy
Examples: Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet.
The Tragic Hero
The main character who comes to an unhappy end.
The Plot
Conflict between hero and an antagonist/force.
Built on casually related events that climax at the hero’s demise.
Hero meets their demise with courage and grace.
A tragedy contains themes concerning fate, courage, loss, defeat, loyalty, or desire.

9. Macbeth - History Written in 1606.
First performed at Hampton Court Palace before the king and his guests.
King James I was descended from Banquo, a character in the play.
The historical figure Macbeth reigned over Scotland from 1040 – 1057.
Saying the name of the play in a theater is considered to be bad luck.

10. Macbeth cont. One of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.
Believed to have been written to please King James I.
Takes place in Scotland, the land from which King James I hailed.
Themes: fate, ambition, loss, betrayal, loyalty, and death.

11. Macbeth cont.
Shakespeare changed some of the historical elements of the play to maximize dramatic impact.
The play is usually performed in a dark setting to match the mood.
Shakespeare played King Duncan in the first production of the play.