2. William Shakespeare, London, Queen Elizabeth, & Julius Caesar

3. What you need to know about Shakespeare

4. Well-known Facts about Shakespeare Born April 1564; died April 1616 (52 years old) 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

5. Lesser-known Facts about Will 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” ?

6. Shakespeare’s Career At 28, he was an actor and playwright (1592) 1594 - charter member of Lord Chamberlain's Men 1603- Changed to King’s Men Retired in 1612 at 48 years of age Wrote 37 plays Julius Caesar written in 1599

7. What you need to know about the Theatre

8. 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

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

10. Admission 1 shilling to stand 2 shillings to sit in the balcony 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income Broadway Today: –$85 Orchestra –$60 Balcony –10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

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

12. The Groundling Poor audience member; sat in the cheaper seats Stood around stage in “the pit” Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

13. The Competition: What’s there to do on a Friday Night?! Shakespeare fought to steal audiences from… –Bear-baiting –Races –Gambling –Music –Drinking/socializing –Prostitution –Public executions

14. What you need to know about Queen Elizabeth

15. Queen Elizabeth Bastard daughter of King Henry VIII And Ann Boleyn (2nd of 6 wives) Henry had Ann beheaded for “treason” Younger sister of “Bloody Mary.” “Virgin Queen”? A tease and a player

16. Her “loving” parents

17. What you need to know about London & the Time Period

18. The Renaissance 1500-1650 “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science Discovery of “New World” King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) Reformation of Catholic Church

19. Conditions in London-BAD! Thames River polluted with raw sewage Poverty

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

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

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

23. What you need to know about Elizabethan Beliefs

24. Elizabethan Beliefs Life in Elizabethan England could be cruel and hard. The poor often went hungry, disease was widespread, medical remedies often felt more like tortures, and many women died in childbirth. But through their beliefs, people found ways of making sense of their existence.

25. Elizabethan Beliefs People were, in general, much more religious than people today. Almost everyone believed in God and expected to go to heaven or hell after death.

26. Elizabethan Beliefs The Chain of Being God created everything in a strict hierarchy, or chain, that stretched from God himself down to the lowest things in existence. The monarch was the highest Nobles and churchmen below Gentlemen Commoners All women were considered to be inferior to men, with the obvious exception of Elizabeth I.

27. Elizabethan Beliefs Accepting one’s place in the chain was a duty that would be rewarded by God in heaven.

28. Elizabethan Beliefs Myths and Magic Fairies, magic, witches, spells and prophecies all formed part of their view of life. Folklore and superstition were often as important to people as the official religious beliefs taught by the Church.

29. What you need to know about Julius Caesar

30. Background of Caesar Opens in 44 BC – when Rome had made conquests that allowed it to have an empire in N. Africa, Britain, Persia, and Spain.

31. Background of Caesar City itself collapsing despite conquests Military endeavours more ambitious  generals stronger while senators weaker and factionalized Sharp class divisions Most wanted a republic

32. Background of Caesar Caesar emerged as most likely to succeed Remarkable general Popular among lower classes at home

33. Background of Caesar Caesar was believed to have and proved he had Ability Charisma Ambition Good luck

34. Differing views – Assassination as act of heroism, expediency, or villainy – celebrate, excuse, or denounce its perpetrators?

35. Shakespeare saw Caesar and Roman civilization not just as one that precedes the future, but as one that sets the pattern for future civilizations. Shakespeare's England faced concerns of a country about to change leadership and centuries.

36. What Kind of Play is Julius Caesar? Julius Caesar is both a History and a Tragedy Ends in the death of one or more of the main characters. Involved historical individuals and events

37. Tragic Hero Often a man of high rank, such as a king or prince Creates, or is put into, a difficult situation which he must try to resolve. A combination of bad luck and bad decisions lead to his death. Has a tragic flaw (most commonly hubris) Often a relatively sympathetic figure. His soliloquies show his feelings and motives, and show the audience how easy it would be to make similar mistakes.

38. Doom and Destiny Many people believed in fate, or destiny, and in the power of the stars to foretell the future. Shakespeare uses the idea of fate or destiny to add excitement and anticipation to the tragedies Uses a prophecy as a way of holding the audience’s interest, because everyone wants to see if it will be fulfilled.

39. The Roman Tragedies Two Themes Politics and Power – shows how hard it is to be a political leader. The hero has power, but has a weakness which makes him vulnerable to being attacked or overthrown Love and Duty – people often have to make difficult choices between their emotions and their responsibilities

40. Key Themes HonorAmbition Envy Power

41. Look for Rhetoric “The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively” Make sure to look for persuasion and the use of language throughout the play (note the characters techniques to win public and political support)

42. Language of Shakespeare Early Modern English (NOT Middle English, like Chaucer) Lack of standardized spelling Puns and references to current events of his time make it difficult You know more than you think you do! Poetry of the sonnets and plays: Iambic Pentameter (lines of five metrical feet, each one an iamb) Not perfect, or it would be sing-songy Blank Verse (unrhymed Iambic Pentameter) Lower Classes’ speech, or that of characters in emotional extremis, is in prose