ShakespeareShakespeare

“The Bard of Avon”“The Bard of Avon”

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHYTIMELINE BIOGRAPHY

Born April 23 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon Lived and went to school there until the age

of thirteen (no evidence that he went to university)

1581 At 18, he married Anne Hathaway. 1582 Their daughter, Susanna is born. 1585 Twins, Judith and Hamnet are born.

Born April 23 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon Lived and went to school there until the age

of thirteen (no evidence that he went to university)

1581 At 18, he married Anne Hathaway. 1582 Their daughter, Susanna is born. 1585 Twins, Judith and Hamnet are born.

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHYTIMELINE BIOGRAPHY

1585 Left for London with a traveling performance company.

1589 Began writing his own plays 1592 Was well-known as an actor, and his

plays were sponsored by the Earl of Southampton.

1594 Formed the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (theatre company)

1585 Left for London with a traveling performance company.

1589 Began writing his own plays 1592 Was well-known as an actor, and his

plays were sponsored by the Earl of Southampton.

1594 Formed the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (theatre company)

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHYTIMELINE BIOGRAPHY

1596 Hamnet dies 1597 Buys ‘New Place’ for his family 1599 Becomes a shareholder in The Globe

theatre 1603 Becomes part of “The Kings Men”

theatre company under King James I 1608 Takes over and becomes a shareholder

in The Blackfriars Theatre.

1596 Hamnet dies 1597 Buys ‘New Place’ for his family 1599 Becomes a shareholder in The Globe

theatre 1603 Becomes part of “The Kings Men”

theatre company under King James I 1608 Takes over and becomes a shareholder

in The Blackfriars Theatre.

TIMELINE BIOGRAPHYTIMELINE BIOGRAPHY

1610 Shakespeare returns home to Stratford-upon-Avon to live out his final years with his family.

1613 The Globe Theatre burns down 1614 The Globe Theatre is re-built 1616 Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday. 1623 First collected edition of plays published.

1610 Shakespeare returns home to Stratford-upon-Avon to live out his final years with his family.

1613 The Globe Theatre burns down 1614 The Globe Theatre is re-built 1616 Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday. 1623 First collected edition of plays published.

COMEDIESCOMEDIESAll’s Well That Ends Well Cymbeline

As You Like It Pericles

The Comedy of Errors The Winter’s Tale

Love’s Labour’s Lost The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Measure for Measure Twelfth Night

The Merry Wives of Windsor Troilus and Cressida

The Merchant of Venice The Tempest

A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Taming of the Shrew

Much Ado About Nothing

TRAGEDIESTRAGEDIESAntony and Cleopatra Coriolanus

Hamlet Julius Caesar

King Lear Macbeth

Othello Romeo and Juliet

Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus

HISTORIESHISTORIESHenry IV, Part I Henry VI, Part III

Henry IV, Part 2 Henry VIII

Henry V King John

Henry VI, Part I Richard II

Henry VI, Part II Richard III

PLAY STRUCTUREPLAY STRUCTURE

ACT ONE

The conflict of the characters is established and the audience ‘takes sides’. The rationale and emotional background of the coming action is given to the audience.

ACT ONE

The conflict of the characters is established and the audience ‘takes sides’. The rationale and emotional background of the coming action is given to the audience.

PLAY STRUCTUREPLAY STRUCTURE

ACT TWO

The suspense is built, usually the “good guys” and the “bad guys” make preliminary moves against each other.

ACT TWO

The suspense is built, usually the “good guys” and the “bad guys” make preliminary moves against each other.

PLAY STRUCTUREPLAY STRUCTURE

ACT THREE

Things look like the “bay guys” are going to win. This gets the audience more involved - they want to know what happens!

ACT THREE

Things look like the “bay guys” are going to win. This gets the audience more involved - they want to know what happens!

PLAY STRUCTUREPLAY STRUCTURE

ACT FOUR

The “good guys” get better and begin to close the gap with the “bad guys”. The audience is ready for the final victory - but we do not reach it in this act.

ACT FOUR

The “good guys” get better and begin to close the gap with the “bad guys”. The audience is ready for the final victory - but we do not reach it in this act.

PLAY STRUCTUREPLAY STRUCTURE

ACT FIVEThe conclusion - the final battle, the “good guys”

win. There could be a twist or turn that is unexpected but generally, a win is inevitable.

Usually this act is much shorter than the others.In tragedies, some (or many) of the characters are

dead.In comedies, all is resolved happily.

ACT FIVEThe conclusion - the final battle, the “good guys”

win. There could be a twist or turn that is unexpected but generally, a win is inevitable.

Usually this act is much shorter than the others.In tragedies, some (or many) of the characters are

dead.In comedies, all is resolved happily.

‘THEE’ and ‘THOU’‘THEE’ and ‘THOU’

The language is at least 400 years old. It is written for an audience for whom this language was

normal.

The language is at least 400 years old. It is written for an audience for whom this language was

normal.