Introduction to Shakespeare:

Some of his Most Important Works

The Works we will be going over

• Romeo and Juliet

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Much Ado About Nothing

Romeo and Juliet: Synopsis

• Set in Verona

• Play starts out with a brawl between the Moantagues and the Capaulets and their followers.

• The two families are sworn enemies

Basic Story: Con’t

• Romeo and Juliet are from either of these families and fall in a forbidden and fatal love

Why is this play important?

• Romeo and Juliet became Shakespeare’s most influential work throughout the ages. The story of forbidden love has been used in millions of stories since then.

What to look for in this play?

• The contrast between the two families

• The use of Shakespeare’s language, particularly in the description of the two lovers

• The drama that Shakespeare uses to conclude the final scene and how he set’s it up

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Synopsis

• The play features three interlocking plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of Duke Thesus of Athens and the Amazonian queen,Hippolyta, and set simultaneously in the woodland, and in the realm of Fairyland, under the light of the moon.

Why is this play important?

• This plays mythological creatures set up not only Shakespeare’s future plays but many of the plays of this poetic era and the next poetic era.

What to look for in this play?

• Watch the sexuality of this play. What do you notice? Do you think this is normal for this day and era?

• What do you think about how Shakespeare addresses women and feminity? Is this unique?

Much Ado about Nothing:A Synopsis

• At Messina, a messenger brings news that Don Pedro, a Spanish prince from Aragon, and his officers, Claudio and Benedick, have returned from a successful battle. Leonato, the governor of Messina, welcomes the messenger and announces that Don Pedro and his men will stay for a month. Beatrice, Leonato's niece, asks the messenger about Benedick, and makes sarcastic remarks about his ineptitude as a soldier. Leonato explains that "There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her."

Con’t:

• Beatrice and Benedick, longtime adversaries, carry on their arguments. Claudio’s feelings for Hero, Leonato's only daughter, are rekindled upon seeing her, and Claudio soon announces to Benedick his intention to court her. Benedick tries to dissuade his friend but is unsuccessful in the face of Don Pedro’s encouragement. While Benedick teases Claudio, Benedick swears that he will never get married. Don Pedro laughs at him and tells him that when he has found the right person he shall get married.

Con’t:

• A masquerade ball is planned in celebration, giving a disguised Don Pedro the opportunity to woo Hero on Claudio’s behalf. Don John uses this situation to get revenge on his brother Don Pedro by telling young Claudio that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself. Claudio becomes furious at Don Pedro and confronts him. The misunderstanding is quickly resolved and Claudio wins Hero's hand in marriage.

Why we read this play?

• Honestly, because it’s awesome. But seriously, this is by far the most humorous of Shakespeare’s plays and we read this to instill the fact that this was low brow at the time and not at all for the the rich of the rich in London at the time.

What we look for in this play:

• The humor. Realizing that Skakespeare wrote for the people is a huge concept to grasp.

What to get out of Shakespeare

• The use of language

• The use of humor

• The detail in description

• The popular culture of the time

• And He’s Awesome!