““Friends, Romans, Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me countrymen, lend me

your ears…”your ears…” Introduction to Shakespeare Introduction to Shakespeare

and and Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Who was he?Who was he?William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564 – died April 23, (baptized April 26, 1564 – died April 23,1616) was an English poet and playwright widely regarded as1616) was an English poet and playwright widely regarded asthe greatest writer of the English language, and the world'sthe greatest writer of the English language, and the world'spreeminent dramatist. He wrote approximately 38 plays and 154preeminent dramatist. He wrote approximately 38 plays and 154sonnets, as well as a variety of other poems. Already a popularsonnets, as well as a variety of other poems. Already a popularwriter in his own lifetime, Shakespeare became increasinglywriter in his own lifetime, Shakespeare became increasinglycelebrated after his death and his work adulated by numerouscelebrated after his death and his work adulated by numerousprominent cultural figures through the centuries. prominent cultural figures through the centuries. Orthodox scholars believe Shakespeare produced most of hisOrthodox scholars believe Shakespeare produced most of hiswork between 1586 and 1612, although the exact dates andwork between 1586 and 1612, although the exact dates andchronology of the plays attributed to him are under considerablechronology of the plays attributed to him are under considerabledebate, as is the authorship of the works attributed to him. He isdebate, as is the authorship of the works attributed to him. He iscounted among the very few playwrights who have excelled incounted among the very few playwrights who have excelled inboth tragedy and comedy, and his plays combine popular appealboth tragedy and comedy, and his plays combine popular appealwith complex characterization, poetic grandeur and philosophicalwith complex characterization, poetic grandeur and philosophicaldepth.depth.

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Shakespeare’s writing can be divided Shakespeare’s writing can be divided into two time periods:into two time periods: 1590/2- 1603: Elizabethan Period- Wrote 1590/2- 1603: Elizabethan Period- Wrote

mostly comedies and histories.mostly comedies and histories. 1603- 1611/12: Jacobean Period- Wrote 1603- 1611/12: Jacobean Period- Wrote

mostly tragedies and romances.mostly tragedies and romances. 1585- 1592- “The Lost Years”1585- 1592- “The Lost Years”

Scholars have no real idea where Scholars have no real idea where Shakespeare was or what he was doing. Shakespeare was or what he was doing.

DramaDrama

DramaDrama is a literary is a literary composition involving composition involving conflict, action crisis and conflict, action crisis and atmosphere designed to atmosphere designed to be acted by players on a be acted by players on a stage before an stage before an audience. This definition audience. This definition may be applied to may be applied to motion picture drama as motion picture drama as well as to the traditional well as to the traditional stage.stage.

Types of Shakespearean Types of Shakespearean Drama:Drama:

TragedyTragedy -- In general, tragedy involves the ruin of the -- In general, tragedy involves the ruin of the leading characters. To the Greeks, it meant the leading characters. To the Greeks, it meant the destruction of some noble person through fate, To the destruction of some noble person through fate, To the Elizabethans, it meant in the first place death and in Elizabethans, it meant in the first place death and in the second place the destruction of some noble person the second place the destruction of some noble person through a flaw in his character. Today it may not through a flaw in his character. Today it may not involve death so much as a dismal life, Modern tragedy involve death so much as a dismal life, Modern tragedy often shows the tragedy not of the strong and noble but often shows the tragedy not of the strong and noble but of the weak and mean,of the weak and mean,

ComedyComedy -- is lighter drama in which the leading -- is lighter drama in which the leading characters overcome the difficulties which temporarily characters overcome the difficulties which temporarily beset them. Usually ends in marriage. beset them. Usually ends in marriage.

History-- History-- The 1590’s were the decade of history play.The 1590’s were the decade of history play.Two types of History:Two types of History: Providential- History determined by GodProvidential- History determined by God Machiavellian- Not God, but the people who want power who Machiavellian- Not God, but the people who want power who

determine history.determine history.

Shakespeare’s LanguageShakespeare’s Language

Shakespeare’s plays are written in Early Shakespeare’s plays are written in Early Modern English, which can be difficult to Modern English, which can be difficult to read. read.

The pronouns usage is especially The pronouns usage is especially different. Some examples includedifferent. Some examples include thou = youthou = you thee/ ye = youthee/ ye = you thy/ thine = your/ yoursthy/ thine = your/ yours

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter We spoke about Iambic pentameter before, We spoke about Iambic pentameter before,

You’ll recall that it is:You’ll recall that it is: A rhythmical pattern. The "iambic" part means that A rhythmical pattern. The "iambic" part means that

the rhythm goes from an unstressed syllable to a the rhythm goes from an unstressed syllable to a stressed one, as happens in words like divine, stressed one, as happens in words like divine, caress, bizarre, and delight. It sounds sort of like a caress, bizarre, and delight. It sounds sort of like a heartbeat: daDUM, daDUM, daDUM. The heartbeat: daDUM, daDUM, daDUM. The "pentameter" part means that this iambic rhythm is "pentameter" part means that this iambic rhythm is repeated five times. repeated five times.

Shakespeare uses Iambic Pentameter often in his Shakespeare uses Iambic Pentameter often in his Plays!!Plays!!

WordplayWordplay

Shakespeare uses a lot of words with Shakespeare uses a lot of words with double meanings or double meanings or punspuns, where a word , where a word can mean more than one thing in a given can mean more than one thing in a given context.context.

Shakespeare uses puns as away of Shakespeare uses puns as away of illustrating what is on the surface and illustrating what is on the surface and what meanings lie beneath. what meanings lie beneath.

Shakespeare’s lines were meant to be Shakespeare’s lines were meant to be spoken!! spoken!!

Reading them out loud or performing Reading them out loud or performing them helps the reader/audience to them helps the reader/audience to understand them. understand them.

Why Caesar?Why Caesar? Probably written in 1599, Probably written in 1599, Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

was the earliest of Shakespeare's three was the earliest of Shakespeare's three Roman history plays. Roman history plays. Julius CaesarJulius Caesar is a is a dramatization of actual events, dramatization of actual events, Shakespeare drawing upon the ancient Shakespeare drawing upon the ancient Roman historian Plutarch's Roman historian Plutarch's Lives of the Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (1579)Noble Grecians and Romans (1579) as as the primary source of the play's plot the primary source of the play's plot and characters. and characters.

Shakespeare thought the story would Shakespeare thought the story would translate well onto the stage due to its translate well onto the stage due to its rich descriptions. rich descriptions.

History Plays were popular during this History Plays were popular during this time and Shakespeare took part in the time and Shakespeare took part in the chronicling of history by writing many chronicling of history by writing many history plays. Some others include: history plays. Some others include: Richard II, Henry IV Richard II, Henry IV Part 1 and 2, andPart 1 and 2, and Henry V.Henry V.

The Play- The Play- Julius CaesarJulius Caesar Written in blank verse- form of poetry in Iambic Written in blank verse- form of poetry in Iambic

Pentameter.Pentameter. Written due to a renewed interest in ancient Written due to a renewed interest in ancient

Roman literature and art during the Roman literature and art during the Renaissance.Renaissance.

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar appeared in print for the first appeared in print for the first time, seven years after Shakespeare’s death. time, seven years after Shakespeare’s death.

It is rich in stage directions like character It is rich in stage directions like character entrances and exits, blocking, props, and entrances and exits, blocking, props, and special effects. special effects.

Why read it?Why read it?

The play has been read and performed The play has been read and performed for over 400 years!for over 400 years!

Every generation since Shakespeare’s Every generation since Shakespeare’s time has been able to identify with some time has been able to identify with some political aspect of the play.political aspect of the play.

The political figures in the play mimic the The political figures in the play mimic the political figures and situations of our time.political figures and situations of our time.