Introduction to Introduction to ShakespeareShakespeare

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616Wrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnetsActor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright

ChildhoodChildhood

William Shakespeare was born on William Shakespeare was born on April April 23rd, 156423rd, 1564..

Shakespeare died on Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616April 23rd, 1616..William’s father was John, a local William’s father was John, a local

business man, and his mother was business man, and his mother was Mary.Mary.

William was the third oldest child. William was the third oldest child. Shakespeare had seven brothers and Shakespeare had seven brothers and sisters.sisters.

MarriageMarriage

In 1582 Shakespeare, then 18, In 1582 Shakespeare, then 18, married 26 year old married 26 year old Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway..

The eight year age gap was unusual The eight year age gap was unusual for the time.for the time.

At the time they were married At the time they were married Hathaway was pregnant with their Hathaway was pregnant with their first child, Susanna.first child, Susanna.

Shakespeare did not like his wifeShakespeare did not like his wife

FamilyFamily

Anne and William had two other Anne and William had two other children, twins Judith and Hamnet.children, twins Judith and Hamnet.

At the age of eleven Hamnet passed At the age of eleven Hamnet passed away.away.

Shakespeare was very distraught by Shakespeare was very distraught by the death of his son and paid tribute the death of his son and paid tribute to him in the play to him in the play HamletHamlet..

FamilyFamily

Shakespeare had a very small family Shakespeare had a very small family for the time, usually people had for the time, usually people had larger families due to high child larger families due to high child mortality rates.mortality rates.

Though Shakespeare’s family resided Though Shakespeare’s family resided in Stratford Shakespeare spent the in Stratford Shakespeare spent the majority of his time in London.majority of his time in London.

Shakespeare resided in Stratford only Shakespeare resided in Stratford only during the winter.during the winter.

FamilyFamily

Shakespeare’s houseShakespeare’s house

Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:

Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending

Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings

Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

Shakespeare began his Shakespeare began his career with the comedies career with the comedies and ended with the and ended with the tragedies.tragedies.

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

Shakespeare’s ComedyShakespeare’s Comedy

Shakespeare’s comedy generally Shakespeare’s comedy generally involves some sort of romantic folly involves some sort of romantic folly where there are mismatched where there are mismatched romantic pairings.romantic pairings.

One trait of Shakespeare’s comedy One trait of Shakespeare’s comedy is that nobody will die.is that nobody will die.

Midsummer Night’s DreamMidsummer Night’s Dream

Merchant of VeniceMerchant of Venice

Shakespeare’s TragedyShakespeare’s Tragedy

Shakespeare’s tragedy involves a Shakespeare’s tragedy involves a main character who is a prominent main character who is a prominent figure in his/her society.figure in his/her society.

There is always a flaw in this There is always a flaw in this person’s character that he/she person’s character that he/she doesn’t realize.doesn’t realize.

The main character will always fall The main character will always fall from power.from power.

The main character will always die.The main character will always die.

MacbethMacbeth

HamletHamlet

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Shakespeare’s plays typically have Shakespeare’s plays typically have five acts.five acts.

Typically there is a character of lower Typically there is a character of lower class who can see through all of the class who can see through all of the confusion in the play and tells the confusion in the play and tells the audience what is really going on.audience what is really going on.

Shakespeare also relies on Shakespeare also relies on soliloquies and asides to inform the soliloquies and asides to inform the audience of plot.audience of plot.

SoliloquySoliloquy

A soliloquy is anytime where a A soliloquy is anytime where a character is alone on stage and character is alone on stage and talking to the audience.talking to the audience.

The character will break the fourth The character will break the fourth wall and tell the audience what wall and tell the audience what he/she is thinking.he/she is thinking.

Typically in tragedy this is where we Typically in tragedy this is where we learn the main characters tragic learn the main characters tragic flaw.flaw.

AsideAside

An aside is similar to a soliloquy but An aside is similar to a soliloquy but the character is not alone on the the character is not alone on the stage.stage.

Again the fourth wall is broken, but Again the fourth wall is broken, but only the audience knows what is only the audience knows what is going on.going on.

• The Globe Theatre:The Globe Theatre:

• Open ceilingOpen ceiling

• Three stories highThree stories high

• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting• Plays were shown Plays were shown

during daylight hours during daylight hours onlyonly

The TheatreThe Theatre

SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people got Wealthy people got

to sit on benchesto sit on benches

The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) had “groundlings”) had to stand and watch to stand and watch from the courtyardfrom the courtyard

There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday

ActorsActors

Only men and boysOnly men and boys

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

It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage

ActorsActors

So will you kiss the So will you kiss the Juliet when “she” is Juliet when “she” is actually a boy?actually a boy?

Shakespeare's financial success Shakespeare's financial success in the London theatre enabled in the London theatre enabled him to retire and return to his him to retire and return to his

home in Stratford around 1610. home in Stratford around 1610. He lived there comfortably until He lived there comfortably until his death on April 23, 1616. He his death on April 23, 1616. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church is buried in Holy Trinity Church

in Stratford-upon-Avon.in Stratford-upon-Avon.Shakespeare’s effigy

Resting PlaceResting Place

Questions for you!Questions for you!

1. What is 1. What is “tragedy?”“tragedy?”serious dramas with disastrous serious dramas with disastrous endingsendings

2. 1. What is 2. 1. What is “comedy?”“comedy?”light and amusing dramas, light and amusing dramas, usually with a happy endingusually with a happy ending

3. What are the four great 3. What are the four great Shakespearean tragedies?Shakespearean tragedies?

Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet, King LearKing Lear

4. Is “Romeo and Juliet” a 4. Is “Romeo and Juliet” a tragedy or a comedy?tragedy or a comedy?

5. “Romeo and Juliet” isn’t 5. “Romeo and Juliet” isn’t among the four great among the four great tragedies. Why not?tragedies. Why not?

6. Is “Merchant of Venice” a comedy 6. Is “Merchant of Venice” a comedy or a tragedy? Why?or a tragedy? Why?

7. Which is greater?7. Which is greater? A comedy or a A comedy or a tragedy?tragedy?

Why?Why?