Introduction to Shakespeare

Why do we STILL read Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in English literature.

His works have influenced many other important figures.

His ideas and words are still present in today’s culture.

Many of the issues in his plays still apply to today’s world.

THE ELIZABETHAN

ERA

Queen ElizabethShakespeare

wrote in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1558-1603.

Elizabeth’s father was Henry VIII, who caused political and religious conflicts.

Queen Elizabeth, Continued

Elizabeth was a strong, determined queen who solved many of England’s problems.

She was fond of the arts and was responsible for inspiring others to donate to the arts.

The Lord Chamberlin’s Men were created during this time. This was a group that wrote and performed plays for the royalty of England.

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

was occurring during the time Shakespeare wrote his plays.

During this time period, there was a high interest in art, science, philosophy, and freedom of choice.

Social HierarchySociety was divided

into the following classes:RoyaltyGentry (landowners)Knights (chosen by

royalty)Peasants/Commonors

Common BeliefsMembership in the Church of England

was required.Those who spoke out against the

church were fined, incarcerated, or beheaded.

Your social status was determined by God (peasant or nobleman).

Marriage was a business transaction. Fathers chose who their daughters were to marry.

Common Beliefs, Continued

Boys went to school, while girls were educated at home.

People were superstitious. They carried a “pockets full of posey” to prevent the Black Plague. It was bad luck to cross the path of a black cat, spill salt, or break a mirror.

Using leeches was a common way to remove contaminated blood.

Gardy Loo!Indoor plumbing did

not exist. People would warn others by shouting “Gardy loo!” before tossing sewage out the windows into the streets below. As a result, there were many illnesses.

LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

William Shakespeare- Birth and Death

Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Died April 23, 1616 (predicted) at age 52

Marriage and ChildrenThird of 8 childrenMarried Anne

Hathaway at age 18- Anne was 26

Had 3 children with Anne

Shakespeare moved to London, while his family stayed in Stratford

Start of CareerBy 1592, Shakespeare was an actor

and a playwright.In 1594, he became a member of the

Lord Chamberlin’s Men (later the King’s Men). This was a group that was hired to write and perform plays for the royalty in England. Watching plays was their chosen form of entertainment.

End of CareerBy the time he returned to Stratford

to retire in 1612, Shakespeare had written 37 plays.

He had also written 154 sonnets (14-line poems).

The sonnets are addressed to several different subjects. Some speculate that the sonnets hint at Shakespeare’s romantic interest in men.

Shakespeare is also known as the “Bard” (bard = poet).

THE GLOBE THEATRE

• Located on the banks of the Thames River in London.

• Popular plays of the time (including those of Shakespeare) were performed there.

• It was destroyed by a cannon during a production of Henry the Eighth in 1613 and rebuilt in 1614.

The Theatre

• The theatre is a 3-story, open ceilinged structure with a courtyard in the middle.

• Could hold as many as 3,000 audience members.

Structure

SpectatorsWealthy people

sat on benches.The poor

(called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard.

There was much more audience participation than today.

There was no lighting and few sound effects during the plays.

A flag was flown during plays.Black= TragedyWhite= ComedyRed = History

Characters used swords, shields, brightly colored banners, and elaborate costumes.

During the Play

ActorsOnly men and

boys were allowed to be in plays.

Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles.

It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage

SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS

Comedies

These stories are light-hearted and always have a happy ending (usually a wedding).

Examples: Much Ado About Nothing, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night

Tragedies

These stories are serious dramas with disastrous endings.

Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth

Histories

These stories involve events and people from real life.

Examples: Henry VIII, Richard III, Julius Caesar

UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE’S

WRITING

AsideAn aside is a direct address by an

actor to an audience.The characters true feelings are

revealed.It is not heard by any other actors

UNLESS specified in stage directions.Example:

Juliet (aside): I can’t stand my father.Romeo (aside to Juliet): I want to

marry you.

SoliloquyA soliloquy is a long speech given

by a character who is alone on stage. No other characters can hear the speech.

The characters true feelings are revealed.

What is the difference between an aside and a soliloquy?

Monologue and Dialogue

Monologue- a long speech by one character that is usually heard by the other characters

Dialogue- conversations between characters

PunA form of

word play that occurs when characters make jokes with words that have more than one meaning.

Iambic PentameterAll of Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays

are written in iambic pentameter.Iamb = An unstressed syllable followed

by a stressed syllable (2 syllables per iamb)

Pentameter = 5 iambs per lineThere is a total of 10 syllables per line.Example:

When I do count the clock that tells the time

(ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum)

Styles of WritingRhymed verse- Iambic pentameter

that rhymesExample: Shakespearean Sonnets

Blank verse- Iambic pentameter that does not rhyme

Prose- Writing without a rhythmical structure (like natural flow of speech)Shakespearean plays combine rhymed

verse, blank verse, and prose.

VernacularSince Shakespeare’s time, the English language has evolved and changed.

Shakespeare used a dialect known as vernacular. Vernacular is the language common people use (slang).

Popular Shakespearean Words

Thee/Thou = YouThou art my friend.I give thee all my love.

Thy/Thine = YourHere is thy sword.This sword is thine.

Ye = You allYe are mighty lords.

Aye = Yes Good-den = Bye

Whither = Where Fray = FightHither = Here Shrift =

ConfessionAnon = Soon Visage = FaceCoz = Cousin Art = AreGood morrow= Good morningFortnight = Two weeksFair = BeautifulThrice = Three times

Ignore –eth (speaketh = speak)The words “do, did, and don’t” are typically absent in Shakespearean language. Instead of “Don’t be afraid,” he would write, “Be not afeard.” Translate these lines into Shakespeare’s language.Do you have a pencil?I don’t have a cell phone.He doesn’t have his homework.

INTRODUCTION TO ROMEO AND

JULIET

Romeo and Juliet

The play was written in 1595 and published in 1597.

It was one of Shakespeare’s first plays. Shakespeare did not invent this story. It his

own rendition of an ancient Italian tale.

The StoryAt the beginning of the play, two

families (the Montague’s and the Capulet’s) are in a rivalry. The reason for their hatred toward one another is unknown.

Romeo, a Montague, falls for Juliet, a Capulet. Because of the family dispute, maintaining a relationship is a difficulty for them throughout the play.

The Montague’sLord Montague – father of Romeo

Lady Montague – mother of Romeo

Romeo Montague – Lord and Lady Montague’s son

Benvolio – Romeo’s cousin and close friend

Balthasar – servant to Romeo

Abraham – Montague family servant

The Capulet’sLord Capulet – father of Juliet

Lady Capulet – mother of JulietJuliet Capulet – Lord and Lady Capulet’s

daughterTybalt – Juliet’s cousin

Nurse – takes care of JulietPeter – servant to the Nurse

Sampson- Capulet family servantGregory- Capulet family servant

Other CharactersPrince Escalus – ruler of Verona, Italy

Mercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo

Friar Lawrence – Priest; Mentor to Romeo and Juliet

Friar John – PriestCount Paris – relative to the prince and pursuer of

JulietChorus- Speaks directly to the audience about the

charactersRosaline- girl whom Romeo is enamoredApothecary- Pharmacist