William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Mrs. Myers-Magder Mrs. Myers-Magder

West Island CollegeWest Island College

William William Shakespeare Shakespeare (1564-1616) is the (1564-1616) is the most famous writer most famous writer the world has ever the world has ever known. But he known. But he started out just like started out just like any other 16any other 16thth Century kid. Century kid.

Shakespeare was born in an English Shakespeare was born in an English town called Stratford-upon-Avon. Hetown called Stratford-upon-Avon. He

was the third child of eight born to John, was the third child of eight born to John, a glove maker, and Mary Shakespeare. a glove maker, and Mary Shakespeare.

At 18, Shakespeare married Anne At 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, an older woman. By the Hathaway, an older woman. By the time he was 22, they had three kids, time he was 22, they had three kids, including twins. They named their including twins. They named their first daughter Susanna, and the first daughter Susanna, and the twins, Hamnet and Judith. twins, Hamnet and Judith.

Did Shakespeare write about his Did Shakespeare write about his life in his plays?life in his plays?

Anne was eight years older than her new Anne was eight years older than her new husband William.   We can only wonder if husband William.   We can only wonder if Shakespeare was speaking for himself in Shakespeare was speaking for himself in A A Midsummer Night's DreamMidsummer Night's Dream::

Lysander: The course of true love never Lysander: The course of true love never did run smooth;did run smooth;But either it was different in blood...But either it was different in blood...Or else misgraffed in respect of years--Or else misgraffed in respect of years--Hermia:  O spite! too old to be engage'd to Hermia:  O spite! too old to be engage'd to young.young.

At 23, he moved to London and At 23, he moved to London and joined an acting company. A few joined an acting company. A few years later, his first plays were years later, his first plays were performed and became big hits. In all performed and became big hits. In all Shakespeare wrote 37 plays – Shakespeare wrote 37 plays – including including Hamlet, Romeo and JulietHamlet, Romeo and Juliet, , and and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The WorksThe Works.  Shakespeare's early works, to .  Shakespeare's early works, to

mid-1594, can be divided into four groups:mid-1594, can be divided into four groups: 1.1. The Classical plays:The Classical plays: his first works which were heavily his first works which were heavily

influenced by the classical examples he had learned as a influenced by the classical examples he had learned as a student.  (student.  (The Comedy of ErrorsThe Comedy of Errors, , Titus Andronicus)Titus Andronicus). . 

2.2. The History plays:The History plays: where Shakespeare took the rough where Shakespeare took the rough materials he found in certain early chronicle plays, and materials he found in certain early chronicle plays, and virtually invented a new genre called the history play.  virtually invented a new genre called the history play.  ((Henry VIHenry VI plays, plays, Richard IIIRichard III. .

3.3. The Narrative Poems and Sonnets:The Narrative Poems and Sonnets: his favorite author his favorite author Ovid served as the model for Ovid served as the model for Venus and AdonisVenus and Adonis and the and the Rape Rape of Lucreceof Lucrece.  It is also extremely probable the sonnet .  It is also extremely probable the sonnet sequence (spurred by Sidney's sequence (spurred by Sidney's Astrophil and StellaAstrophil and Stella in 1591) in 1591) was begun (perhaps on commission) to encourage the Earl of was begun (perhaps on commission) to encourage the Earl of Southampton to marry.  The sonnets were probably Southampton to marry.  The sonnets were probably composed over a number of years, but were probably composed over a number of years, but were probably completed by 1597. completed by 1597.

4.4. Experiments in comedy:Experiments in comedy:    The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew, based , based on Italian comedy, on Italian comedy, Two Gentlemen of VeronaTwo Gentlemen of Verona, an experiment , an experiment with plot and character, and the more mature with plot and character, and the more mature Love's Love's Labour's LostLabour's Lost, probably all belong to this period. , probably all belong to this period.

The years 1594-1599 were The years 1594-1599 were momentous for Shakespeare.  He momentous for Shakespeare.  He produced a steady stream of plays, produced a steady stream of plays, and he continued to be the principal and he continued to be the principal actor and manager in the actor and manager in the Chamberlain's men, an acting Chamberlain's men, an acting company. company.

The Globe Theatre was the place to be The Globe Theatre was the place to be in Elizabethan London. Shakespeare’s in Elizabethan London. Shakespeare’s plays were performed in this venue.plays were performed in this venue.

Ms. Myers at the Globe Theatre Ms. Myers at the Globe Theatre in London, England. in London, England.

Shakespeare’s later works included Shakespeare’s later works included tragedies and comedies, and sonnets tragedies and comedies, and sonnets – a form of poetry.– a form of poetry.

Shakespeare who?Shakespeare who?

Although Shakespeare’s works are Although Shakespeare’s works are now considered masterpieces, now considered masterpieces, people didn’t think of them that way people didn’t think of them that way in the Elizabethan Era. in the Elizabethan Era. Shakespeare’s biggest fans might Shakespeare’s biggest fans might not have even known his name – just not have even known his name – just as people today often don’t know as people today often don’t know who writes their favourite TV shows.who writes their favourite TV shows.

Scholastic Scope-February 26, 1993Scholastic Scope-February 26, 1993

Why is Shakespeare famous?Why is Shakespeare famous?

With the 154 poems and 37 plays written during With the 154 poems and 37 plays written during Shakespeare's literary career, his body of works Shakespeare's literary career, his body of works are among the most quoted in literature. are among the most quoted in literature. Shakespeare created comedies, histories, Shakespeare created comedies, histories, tragedies, and poetry.tragedies, and poetry.

Shakespeare's works have been translated into Shakespeare's works have been translated into every major living language, and his plays are every major living language, and his plays are continually performed all around the world. continually performed all around the world.

For over 400 years, his work has been performed, For over 400 years, his work has been performed, read and analyzed by millions. read and analyzed by millions.

Classiclit.comClassiclit.com Wikipedia.comWikipedia.com

You are quoting Shakespeare You are quoting Shakespeare if:if:

you have ever refused "to budge an you have ever refused "to budge an inch" or suffered from "green-eyed inch" or suffered from "green-eyed jealousy”jealousy”

you have been "tongue-tied" - or "in a you have been "tongue-tied" - or "in a pickle" pickle"

you have insisted on "fair play" - you have insisted on "fair play" - "slept not one wink" "slept not one wink"

you "laughed yourself into stitches", you "laughed yourself into stitches", had "too much of a good thing", or if had "too much of a good thing", or if you have "seen better days" you have "seen better days"

You are quoting Shakespeare You are quoting Shakespeare if:if:

You have ever referred toYou have ever referred to your "own flesh your "own flesh and blood", or if you "lie low" and blood", or if you "lie low"

You act "without rhyme or reason", or if You act "without rhyme or reason", or if you bid me "good riddance" and "send me you bid me "good riddance" and "send me packing", if you wish I was "dead as a packing", if you wish I was "dead as a doornail", if you think I am an "eyesore" - doornail", if you think I am an "eyesore" - a "laughing stock" or a "blinking idiot", a "laughing stock" or a "blinking idiot", then... then...

"For goodness sake" you are quoting "For goodness sake" you are quoting Shakespeare! Shakespeare!

Elizabethan Era in briefElizabethan Era in brief

The The Elizabethan EraElizabethan Era is the period is the period associated with the reign of Queen associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). It saw the Elizabeth I (1558–1603). It saw the flowering of English literature and flowering of English literature and poetry. This was also the time during poetry. This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre grew and which Elizabethan theatre grew and William Shakespeare, among others, William Shakespeare, among others, composed plays that broke away from composed plays that broke away from England's past style of plays.England's past style of plays.

Wikipedia.comWikipedia.com

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s DreamPoints of interestPoints of interest

"A Midsummer "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Night's Dream" inspired four inspired four hundred years of hundred years of stories and pictures stories and pictures of tiny, butterfly-of tiny, butterfly-winged people winged people living in the woods. living in the woods. Walt Disney's fairies Walt Disney's fairies are their are their descendants. descendants.

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s DreamPoints of interestPoints of interest

The popular movie The popular movie "Dead Poets "Dead Poets Society" used the Society" used the play as a metaphor play as a metaphor for young people for young people choosing choosing nonconformity.nonconformity.

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s DreamPoints of interestPoints of interest

The best-known character, "Bottom", The best-known character, "Bottom", is transformed into an "ass" and is transformed into an "ass" and becomes the "butt" of jokes.becomes the "butt" of jokes.

The play-within-a-play looks like The play-within-a-play looks like Shakespeare's parody of his own Shakespeare's parody of his own "Romeo and Juliet". "Romeo and Juliet".

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s DreamPoints of interestPoints of interest

It is not known exactly when It is not known exactly when A Midsummer A Midsummer Night's DreamNight's Dream was written or first performed, but was written or first performed, but it is assumed to be between 1594 and 1596. it is assumed to be between 1594 and 1596. Some have theorized that the play might have Some have theorized that the play might have been written for an aristocratic wedding; been written for an aristocratic wedding; numerous such weddings took place in 1596, numerous such weddings took place in 1596, while others suggest it was written for the Queen while others suggest it was written for the Queen to celebrate the feast day of St. John, but no to celebrate the feast day of St. John, but no concrete evidence exists to link the play with concrete evidence exists to link the play with either of them. In either case, it would also have either of them. In either case, it would also have been performed at The Theatre, and, later, The been performed at The Theatre, and, later, The Globe in London.Globe in London.

Wikipedia.comWikipedia.com

Enjoy one of Enjoy one of ShakespeareShakespeare

’s finest ’s finest comedies!comedies!