Introduction Introduction to to

ShakespeareShakespeareA Genius A Genius

from from StratfordStratford

William William ShakespeareShakespeare

1564-16161564-1616

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s childhoodchildhood

Born in Born in Stratford-Stratford-

upon-Avon upon-Avon in April of in April of

15641564 Parents, Parents,

John and John and Mary, were Mary, were

middle-middle-class. John class. John

was a was a glove glove

maker.maker.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s childhoodchildhood

Attended King Attended King Edward’s Edward’s

Grammar School Grammar School in Stratford right in Stratford right

around the around the corner from his corner from his

childhood home.childhood home. Shakespeare left Shakespeare left

school at 14.school at 14. He never had He never had

any other formal any other formal schooling.schooling.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s StratfordStratford

Will is Will is remembered remembered fondly in fondly in Stratford. (He Stratford. (He is the town’s is the town’s most most significant significant tourist tourist attraction!)attraction!)

His work is His work is commemoratecommemorated with statues d with statues in the town’s in the town’s park on the park on the River Avon.River Avon.

(above) The River Avon (right)

Statue of Hamlet; represents

knowledge (far right) Lady

Macbeth’s statue symbolizes

tragedy; Shakespeare

shown in background.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s familyfamily

Married Anne Married Anne Hathaway in Hathaway in

1582. Will 1582. Will was 18.was 18.

They had They had three three

children: children: Susanna, Susanna, and twins and twins Judith and Judith and

HamnetHamnet Sonnet 145 Sonnet 145

was written was written to Anneto Anne

William Shakespeare in William Shakespeare in LondonLondon

From 1585 to 1592, not From 1585 to 1592, not much is known about much is known about Shakespeare’s life. Shakespeare’s life.

He had established He had established himself as a writer and himself as a writer and actor by age 27.actor by age 27.

Sometime from age 18 Sometime from age 18 to 28, he traveled to to 28, he traveled to London.London.

His plays demonstrated His plays demonstrated knowledge of law, knowledge of law, politics, history, the politics, history, the Bible and Greek Bible and Greek mythology.mythology.

During the time Will lived in London, it is thought that he probably stayed in Taverns and wrote at the bar.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s supportersupporter

Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled England from 1558 to 1603, England from 1558 to 1603, was a fan of Will’s plays.was a fan of Will’s plays.

The arts flourished under The arts flourished under her reign.her reign.

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare rememberedremembered

London is full London is full of references of references to Will’s work.to Will’s work.

Westminster Westminster Abbey has a Abbey has a statue in statue in honor of honor of Shakespeare Shakespeare in a transept in a transept called “Poet’s called “Poet’s Corner.”Corner.”

Shakespeare Shakespeare was careful to was careful to show respect show respect for Queen for Queen Elizabeth – he Elizabeth – he could be hung could be hung for displeasing for displeasing her!her!

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s GlobeGlobe

Shakespeare’s actors (Chamberlain’s Men) needed a better Shakespeare’s actors (Chamberlain’s Men) needed a better playhouse when their current theatre was in disrepair. playhouse when their current theatre was in disrepair. All All actors were male.actors were male.

In 1598, The Globe Theatre was built.In 1598, The Globe Theatre was built.

William Shakespeare’s later William Shakespeare’s later yearsyears

Will left London and Will left London and returned to Stratford returned to Stratford in 1610.in 1610.

He was widely He was widely known as an known as an accomplished actor accomplished actor and playwright.and playwright.

They lived at what is They lived at what is now called “New now called “New Place” in Stratford.Place” in Stratford.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s deathdeath

Will died in Will died in Stratford on Stratford on April 23, 1616.April 23, 1616.

This date is This date is celebrated as celebrated as his birth date his birth date as well.as well.

He is buried at He is buried at Holy Trinity Holy Trinity Church in Church in Stratford.Stratford.His tombstone reads “Good friend, for

Jesus sake forebear to dig the dust enclosed here. Blest be the man who spares these stones and curst be he who moves my bones.”

Common values in Shakespeare’s Common values in Shakespeare’s

playsplays Sin and SalvationSin and Salvation

Linked to the Garden of Eden Linked to the Garden of Eden from Christian beliefsfrom Christian beliefs

Characters have the natural Characters have the natural urge to sinurge to sin

Since man SINS, he should Since man SINS, he should seek SALVATIONseek SALVATION

Seeking salvation is Seeking salvation is important – but important – but one must one must actually BE SORRY for the actually BE SORRY for the wrongful actwrongful act

Common values in Shakespeare’s Common values in Shakespeare’s playsplays

Guest/Host Guest/Host RelationshipRelationship Hospitality Hospitality

was expectedwas expected Guests were Guests were

to respect to respect their hoststheir hosts

Idea seen as Idea seen as early as early as Homer’s Homer’s TheThe OdysseyOdyssey

Common values in Shakespeare’s Common values in Shakespeare’s playsplays

Shakespeare’s plays passed on the Shakespeare’s plays passed on the values of the values of the societysociety; they also poked fun at human nature; they also poked fun at human nature Enforced the thought that everyone had a role to play in Enforced the thought that everyone had a role to play in

societysociety Roles must be enforced for the survival of the groupRoles must be enforced for the survival of the group Any upset in the chain and bad things happen!Any upset in the chain and bad things happen!

Illusion vs. RealityIllusion vs. Reality Characters often appear to be something they are not!Characters often appear to be something they are not!

Shakespeare’s tragedies as a Shakespeare’s tragedies as a formform

TragedyTragedy: a play in : a play in which there is a which there is a violation of the violation of the ethical norm (“moral ethical norm (“moral law”)law”) Romeo & Juliet, Romeo & Juliet,

MacbethMacbeth, Othello, , Othello, King Lear, HamletKing Lear, Hamlet

Character Character violates the violates the lawlaw and becomes and becomes isolatedisolated from his/her from his/her society society

This This disrupts the disrupts the community’s ordercommunity’s order (ECB!)(ECB!)

Understanding Shakespeare’s Understanding Shakespeare’s playsplays

SoliloquySoliloquy: “to speak : “to speak alone”alone”

Must be done so Must be done so the audience can the audience can

see into a see into a character’s mindcharacter’s mind

Often used in times Often used in times of great stressof great stress

AsideAside: short, quick : short, quick comment to one’s selfcomment to one’s self

ComicComic reliefrelief: : characters low on the characters low on the ECB are used to make ECB are used to make

audience laugh after audience laugh after stressful scenesstressful scenes

Understanding Shakespeare’s Understanding Shakespeare’s playsplays

ProloguePrologue: spoken : spoken piece piece beforebefore the the playplay Actor who Actor who

speaks is called speaks is called the chorusthe chorus

Usually asks Usually asks audience to audience to forgive or accept forgive or accept the playwright’s the playwright’s “poor efforts.”“poor efforts.”

Summarizes Summarizes entire play! entire play!

EpilogueEpilogue: spoken : spoken piece piece afterafter the the playplay

That’s it!

Family Feud Prince Escalus of VeronaCapulet

JulietLord Capulet – fatherLady Capulet – motherTybalt –cousinNurse – servant/friendPeter – Nurse’s servantSampson & Gregory –

servantsParis – suitor/relative

of Prince

MontagueRomeoLord Montague – fatherLady Montague – motherBenvolio – cousin/friendMercutio – friendFriar Laurence –

counselorAbraham & Balthasar –

servants

The ChorusThe Chorus

-predicts-comments-ties together-summarizes/clarifies-makes a point

A Few ThemesA Few Themes

The destructiveness of impulsive The destructiveness of impulsive behaviorbehavior

The destructiveness of hateThe destructiveness of hate The power of fateThe power of fate The need for reason and orderThe need for reason and order The power of loveThe power of love The ironies of lifeThe ironies of life Older vs. younger generationOlder vs. younger generation

Romeo and Juliet TimelineSunday: Romeo is depressed, so his friends talk him into going to a party. Late Sunday night, early Monday morning he swears his love to Juliet & they decide to get married.

Monday: The time & place for the wedding is set & they get married. Tybalt kills Mercutio & Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is banished. Romeo & Juliet have their wedding night.

Tuesday: The Capulets tell Juliet she must marry Paris. Juliet takes the potion before bed.

Wednesday: Paris finds Juliet “dead.” Juliet’s funeral takes place. Romeo gets word she is dead and kills himself.