1. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Shakespeare!!

2. Shakespeare’s England Lived in England during the Renaissance –Renaissance: focused on individual human achievement and life here on earth Science, Geography, Commerce, Philosophy, the Arts By 1564 (the year Shakespeare was born), England embraced the spirit of the Renaissance

3. Shakespeare, the Man 1564 - Shakespeare’s birth 1582 - Shakespeare got married 1593 - Shakespeare’s first publication 1616 - Shakespeare’s death

4. Shakespeare’s Theater Shakespeare’s plays offered -Powerful speeches –Fancy sword fights –Humor –Supernatural events –Observations about human nature –Relationships with major issues!

5. Shakespeare’s Legacy Why do we still read Shakespeare’s works 400 years later? He knew what he was doing –How to get an audience interested –How to make an exciting scene –How to show what people are really like under pressure.

6. Drama… The form of literature known as plays; but drama also refers to the type of serious play that is often concerned with the leading character’s relationship to society.

7. Shakespearean Tragedy TRAGEDY : A work in which a series of actions leads to the downfall of the main character(s), or tragic hero(es).

8. Shakespearean Drama Dramatic Irony is a contrast between what the audience knows and what the characters know. We, as the audience, have a better understanding of the action than the characters do in the play.