Cracking Shakespeare’

s Code

A Student’s Guide to Surviving the Bard

The Globe TheaterShakespeareShakespeare’’s s

audiences at the audiences at the Globe and its sister Globe and its sister structures were a structures were a unique cross section unique cross section of the London of the London populationpopulation.

The Globe Audience

Shakespeare wrote his Shakespeare wrote his plays for a theater that plays for a theater that consisted of three levels consisted of three levels and an audience that and an audience that represented three represented three strata of Elizabethan strata of Elizabethan SocietySociety

The middle classes sat in The middle classes sat in covered galleries and paid covered galleries and paid two penniestwo pennies to sit; three if to sit; three if

they wanted a cushionthey wanted a cushion

The middle classes sat in The middle classes sat in covered galleries and paid covered galleries and paid two penniestwo pennies to sit; three if to sit; three if

they wanted a cushionthey wanted a cushionThe Upper

classes paid even more to

sit in the lord’s Rooms

directly left and right of

the stage where they

could be closest to the

action and also be seen.

The lowest class of peasantstood in the pit surrounding the stage

for a penny. They were known as groundlings.

Prose and Verse

•The combination of verse and prose appealed to all strata of audience

•The combination allowed the writers to provide elements that each of the attending classes could enjoy.

•The verse form chosen was blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)

When Looking at Dialogue• Short, tense scenes underscore

tension; • Long asides (soliloquies)indicate a

character’s inner thoughts and feelings• Long speeches to other characters

may indicate an important public statement.

• When you see a long speech, pay attention to the character(s) to whom it is addressed. This will clue you in to what sort of speech it is.

Prose• Used for straightforward

dialogue often used to reveal plot or for letters.

• Employed when a character brings the level of the conversation down to a common level

• Most often, lower class characters use prose, but it is a mistake to assume a noble would not invoke prose.

Blank Verse

• Shakespeare’s essential pattern

• Used by nobles for important occasions that require elevated language

• Whenever a reader notices a change in this pattern, there is a reason for this change.

• With the change, Shakespeare is creating mood or establishing character.

Blank verse is a tool for the actor

It provides a pattern on the page

It is easier to memorize than prose

It provides rules that give direction to the character.

Iambic Pentameter

Blank Verse - Most closely resembles normal spoken English10 syllables - 5 unstressed alternating with 5 strong stresses:De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De DumThis is known as a normal blank verse line

Created by the Poet Surrey in the mid 15th century adopted by playwrights because of its natural sounding qualities.

Rhyme

• Used to represent characters from the supernatural realm (except ghosts)

• Underscore a ritualistic scene

• Employed when a character sings a song

End Stopped Verse and Run On Lines

• End stopped: When a line ends with punctuation !

• Run on Line: No punctuation tells the actor to keep going until the punctuation.

• Leontes:• Inch-thick, knee deep, o’er head and ears a forked

one!• Go play, boy, play: thy mother plays, and I• Play too - but so disgraced a part, whose issue• Will hiss me to my grave. Contempt and clamour• Will be my knell. Go play, boy, play, there have been,• Or I am much deceived, cuckolds ere now;•

The Winter’s Tale I.2.

Punctuation• Punctuation marks are like notations in music.Punctuation

indicates aplace for new thoughts. Shakespeare uses punctuation and breath for emotional, physical, and dramatic effect; therefore, it is important to understand different forms and usage.

• Full Stops: A full stop at the end of the line indicates a stop in thought.

• Mid Stop: Full stop punctuation found in the middle of the verse line. It signals a change. The character would proceed quickly launching ahead into the next thought found after the period/exclamation/question mark.

• Dashes: Indicate that the character is changing who s/he is speaking to. Always look to understand the new thought in connection to the thought that comes before the dash.

Shakespeare’s Favorite Literary

Devices• Alliteration: The likeness of sounds at the beginning of words can also indicate emotion.

• Antithesis: Finding opposites in the text will help convey meaning. Play these up in your writing and analysis. Shakespeare has his characters discuss opposites to show reason and thought.

• Oxymoron: A statement with two parts that appear contradictory.

• Puns: Double entendres.

Shakespearean Settings

Many of Shakespeare’s plays are set outside of England. Frequently, he sets the action of the play in other European locations such as Italy (passionate people), Denmark, or Scotland. The history plays are set in England and sometimes he creates a fanciful setting. The Elizabethans were fascinated with far-off places as exploration became popular.

Shakespeare’s Favorite Themes, Motifs, and Ideas• The Tragic Hero: A noble

character is brought to ruin by his own hubris.

• Appearance vs. Reality: What seems “good” is often “bad.” This applies to both comedies and tragedies.

• The Great Chain of Being: When an animal is mention, it is important!

• Gender Roles: What does it mean to be a man and woman?

• Illness/Healing:When things are not going well, Shakespeare includes the illness motif.

• Allusions to Greek and Roman Mythology: Shakespeare loves to compare his characters to ancient gods to remind the audience that struggles are divine and important.

• Upsetting the Natural Order: When the mortal world is in chaos, the natural mirrors the chaos with strange events.

• Obedient Daughters: Disobedient daughters were often abused verbally and physically.

Shakespeare’s Favorite Symbols• Blood: Can symbolize

guilt but also life force.

• Water: cleansing or rebirth.

• Night/Darkness:bad things happen at night.

• Light: represents the good in the world; hope; new beginnings.

• The Number 3: symbolizes fate or the trinity.

• The Weather: When there is lightening and thunder, bad things are about to happen; a sunny day brings hope.

• Moon: fickle emotions; can represent the feminine element.

• Sun: a stable presence.

Parallel Plots/Foil CharactersShakespeare seemed to believe that

if one set of lovers was interesting, four might even be better! Additionally, if one son was seeking revenge, why not have three sons seeking revenge? Look for parallel plots and you might find foil characters as well.

Shakespeare’s Romantic Comedies• The main action is

about love.• The lovers

overcome obstacles before being united in harmonious union.

• Frequently, they will contain elements of the improbable, the fantastic, the supernatural, or the miraculous.

Revenge Comedy Characteristics• Though Shakespeare

didn’t develop these ideas exclusively, he certainly adhered to them in many of his plays:• Consists of a hero’s plot to

avenge an injustice/crime against family

• There are sensationalistic characteristics

• Supernatural Occurrences• Revenge Here takes the

law into his own hands; operates outside traditional values

• Seriously concerned with retribution and honor.

Five Act Play Structure• The general characteristics apply to tragedies,

comedies, histories, and romances.• Act One: Scene one is almost always meant to grab the

audiences’ attention and establish the tone/mood of the play. The entire act functions as a way of presenting background information, introducing the important characters and establishing conflicts.

• Act Two: Develops characters, themes, conflicts, etc. Main character will most likely reveal inner thoughts/feeling at this point in a soliloquy.

• Act Three: The act where everything falls apart or reversed. Major turning points/complications occur.

• Act Four: Shakespeare begins to wind things up. • Act Five: The Final Resolution. Shakespeare restores

order and all is well. In a comedy, he will end with a union or wedding. In a tragedy, he will end with funeral(s)or just a death. Many times a rightful king/ruler is back on the throne.