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

2. Shakespeare April 23,1564-April 23,1616 Stratford-on-Avon, England
wrote 37 plays
about 154 sonnets
started out as an actor

3. Why is it important to know when Shakespeare was born?
1492: precedes Shakespeare’s birth and helps the readers remember that the explorations and settlements that would ultimately lead to the foundation of the United States were only in their infancy when Shakespeare was born in 1564.

4. 1776
1776: helps provide more of an historical framework by reminding readers that Shakespeare lived a full century before our country was even established.

5. 1642
The year all England’s theatres closed by order of the Puritan-controlled Parliament.
Not only were they opposed to theatre as a frivolous activity, but they disliked the mischief and rowdiness of the crowds who attended plays.
1642 marks the end of the Renaissance Drama.

6. Shakespeare's birth place.
Stratford - on - Avon

7. Shakespeare was the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare.
Of William’s seven siblings, only Judith and four of his brothers survived to adulthood.
He grew up in Henley Street, some one hundred miles northwest of London.
Probably attended King’s New Grammar School.
There are no records of any university.
At 18 years old, he married the twenty-six and pregnant Anne Hathaway
Shakespeare had three children with Ann. His children included, Susanna, and twins, Judith and Hamnet . Hamnet died at age 11.

8. Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.)
Also > principal playwright for them.
1599> Lord Chamberlains Company built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed

9. Performing for Royalty
Queen Elizabeth: her patronage, or support of the theatre, was an important factor in its growth and popularity in London.
King James: After Elizabeth died in 1603, James came to throne and also enjoyed a good show. Besides Elizabeth, James hired Shakespeare’s company to perform at court.

10. Shakespeare’s Income
Did not make that much money from performances, even for royalty.
Did not make that much money as a playwright.
Instead, his income came from his role as a shareholder in the theatrical company and part ownership of the theatre.

11. Shakespeare wrote:
Comedies
Histories
Tragedies

12. Familiar Expressions from Shakespeare
“Eaten out of house and home,”
Henry IV Part 2, Act 2, Scene 1
“Cruel to be kind,”
Hamlet , Act 3, Scene 4
“Knock,/knock! Who’s there?”
Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3
“Too much of a good thing,”
As You Like It, Act 4, Scene 1
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be,”
Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
“Something wicked this way comes,”
Macbeth, Act 4, Scene1
“To thine own self be true,”
“ A tower of strength,”
Richard III, Act 5, Scene 3

13. Romeo and Juliet Written about 1595 Considered a tragedy
Many adaptations based on Romeo and Juliet:

14. Family Allegiance Capulet Montague Royalty Lord & Lady Prince Escalus
Juliet
Romeo
Mercutio
Tybalt
Benvolio
County Paris

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

16. Entrance of The Globe Theater Top view of Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Original Theaters
Entrance of The Globe Theater
Top view of Shakespeare's Globe Theater

17. Re built Globe Theater in Thames English. Built on September 19, 1999.
New Globe Theaters
Re built Globe Theater in Thames English. Built on September 19, 1999.

18. Shakespeare’s 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. Elizabethan (QE1) Words
An,and: If
Anon: Soon
Aye: Yes
But: Except for
E’en: Even
E’er: Ever

23. QE1 Words (contin.) Haply: Perhaps Happy: Fortunate
Hence: Away, from her
Hie: Hurry
Marry: Indeed

24. QE1 Words (contin.) Whence: Where Wilt: Will, will you
Withal: In addition to
Would: Wish

25. Blank Verse Much of R & J is written in it: unrhymed verse
iambic (unstressed, stressed)
pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line)
ends up to be 10 syllable lines

26. 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?

27. 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

28. Theme Central idea or >>
Insight about life which explain the downfall

29. Metaphorical Language
Comparison of unlike things >
Paris standing over the “lifeless body” of Juliet, “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew…”
“Thou detestable maw…”Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth…” Romeo

30. Dramatic Foil
A character whose purpose is to show off another character
Benvolio for Tybalt
look for others in R & J

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

32. Flat Characters One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait
Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy
Remember we also have Static and Dynamic characters

33. Monologue
One person speaking on stage > may be other character on stage too
ex > the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

34. 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.

35. Aside
Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

36. 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

37. 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?”

38. Dramatic Irony
A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

39. Verbal Irony
Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

40. Situational Irony
An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

41. Comic Relief
Use of comedy within literature that is NOT comedy to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness.
In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation

42. Oxymoron
combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp.’ It is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, terms, phrases or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means.
Examples
Suicide Victim
Sweet and Sour
Science Fiction
Saying Nothing
Sharp Curve

43. Paradox
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
Examples:
1. "War is peace.“ If you get this message, call me; if you don't, then don't "Freedom is slavery." worry about it. "Ignorance is strength." (George Orwell, 1984) Don't go near the water until you've learned to swim.