7TH GRADE HONORS ENGLISH2013-2014

Introduction to Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Life

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

At 18, he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway

Shakespeare’s wife probably didn’t look like this!

Shakespeare’s Life

Had three children: Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith

Died on April 23, 1616 (What’s ironic about his death?)

Elizabethan Era

Elizabethan Era: Elizabeth I was queen of England

Literature and theater became popular during this time.

Shakespeare Becomes a Playwright

First entered theater as an actor; traveled with different acting companies.

At the age of 27, he decided to try writing plays.

Although respected during his day, he didn’t gain popularity until the 19th century (1800s).

He wrote 38 plays in total, although his authorship is questioned.

Shakespeare’s Plays

His works can be traced back to various literary sources and incidents in his life and the world around him. Writing also influenced by Roman and Italian authors

Wrote Four types of plays:1. Comedies2. Tragedies (have fatal endings)3. Histories (chronicle the lives of royalty)4. Romances (weird hybrid plays – not exactly

comedy or tragedy)

Theater in the Elizabethan Era

Elizabethans wanted plays with a lot of excitement, laughs, dirty jokes, romance, ghosts, stabbing, and sword fights.

If they were not pleased, the audience would throw rotten eggs and vegetables at the actors.

Theater in the Elizabethan Era

Women were not allowed to act, so men had to play all parts. Young boys would often play the parts of women.

The Original Globe Theater

The original theater was built in 1599 by the acting company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed here.

The Original Globe Theater

The Globe was 3 stories high, octagon-shaped and had an open air court in the middle. The stage reached into the middle area and was surrounded by tiers of seats that had a roof over them.

The upper- and middle- class sat in the seats.

The poor people (called “groundlings”) paid a penny to stand in the center.

Acting in the Globe

There were no electric lights, sound effects, or big sets in The Globe. All performances took place during the day when there was light for the audience to see.

Acting in the Globe

Because all the plays took place on a bare stage in the daytime, Shakespeare had to use language to convey time of day, weather, and mood. Characters who talk about how dark it is are setting the stage for the audience.

Shakespeare’s Other Works

154 sonnets3 long narrative poemsSeveral other poems(Remember: he wrote 38 plays)

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers whose families get in the way of their happiness.

Theatrical Devices and Literary Terms

Tragedy- the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to handle bad circumstances.

Soliloquy – a long conversation by a person who is talking to him or herself. It is intended to tell the character’s innermost thoughts. The character is usually on stage alone.

Irony- the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning, and an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected

Dramatic Irony- when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience

Aside- part of an actor’s lines supposedly not heard by other actors on stage and intended only for the audience.

Rhyme- A word that is identical to another in its terminal sound. Tie, pie

Pun- the humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize the different meanings; a play on words. The science teachers fell in love because they had great chemistry.

Allusion- a brief reference to something in history, art, religion, etc.

Plot Twist- an unexpected change in a story.

Comic Relief - an amusing scene, incident, or speech introduced into serious or tragic elements, as in a play, in order to provide temporary relief from tension, or to intensify the dramatic action.

Paradox: a statement or situation containing apparently contradictory or incompatible elements, but on closer inspection may be true. Deep down, he’s really very shallow.

Oxymoron: a paradox reduced to two words. Jumbo shrimp

Apostrophe: a figure of speech in which someone absent or dead OR something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present. How is this different from personification?