William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareHis Life and TimesHis Life and Times

Birthplace & FamilyBirthplace & Family

Born around April Born around April 23, 1564; 3rd of 8 23, 1564; 3rd of 8 children children

Family lived in Family lived in Stratford-on-Avon, Stratford-on-Avon, a market town a market town about 100 miles about 100 miles NW of London NW of London

SchoolingSchooling

Attended grammar school, where he Attended grammar school, where he studied studied

- Latin grammar and literature - Latin grammar and literature

- Rhetoric (the use of language) - Rhetoric (the use of language)

No further formal education knownNo further formal education known

MarriageMarriage

Married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 Married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 years older than Shakespeareyears older than Shakespeare

3 children: Susanna (1583), Judith 3 children: Susanna (1583), Judith and Hamnet (twins, 1585) and Hamnet (twins, 1585)

Later LifeLater Life 1594 – became 1594 – became

shareholder in company shareholder in company of actors called Lord of actors called Lord Chamberlain’s Men Chamberlain’s Men

1603 – James I became 1603 – James I became king of England; acting king of England; acting company renamed King’s company renamed King’s MenMen

DeathDeath

1610 – 1610 – Shakespeare Shakespeare retired to Stratford-retired to Stratford-on-Avon on-Avon

April 23, 1616 – April 23, 1616 – died at the age of died at the age of 5252

English theater in the time of English theater in the time of Shakespeare Shakespeare

1576 – James 1576 – James Burbage, an Burbage, an actor/manager, built actor/manager, built the first permanent the first permanent theatre in England theatre in England

Called “The Theatre” Called “The Theatre”

Burned down in 1599Burned down in 1599

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Shakespeare and his Shakespeare and his company used company used materials salvaged materials salvaged from The Theatre to from The Theatre to build the Globe build the Globe Theatre Theatre

Octagonal shape Octagonal shape Oak timbers, plaster Oak timbers, plaster

walls, thatched roofwalls, thatched roof

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Levels 1 & 2, Levels 1 & 2, Backstage: dressing Backstage: dressing and storage areas and storage areas

Level 3, Upper Stage: Level 3, Upper Stage: could represent could represent balcony, walls of a balcony, walls of a castle, bridge of a ship castle, bridge of a ship

Resembled courtyard Resembled courtyard of an inn of an inn

Proscenium stage Proscenium stage

A large platform without a curtain or a A large platform without a curtain or a stage setting stage setting

2 ornate pillars supported canopy 2 ornate pillars supported canopy

Stage roof (under part of canopy) called Stage roof (under part of canopy) called “the heavens,” elaborately painted to “the heavens,” elaborately painted to depict the sun, moon, stars, planetsdepict the sun, moon, stars, planets

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Trap doors: entrances and exits of ghosts; Trap doors: entrances and exits of ghosts; area under stage called Hell area under stage called Hell

Inner stage: a recess with balcony area Inner stage: a recess with balcony area above above

Floor: ash mixed with hazelnut shells from Floor: ash mixed with hazelnut shells from snacks audience ate during performance snacks audience ate during performance

Effect on performance: Effect on performance: plays held in afternoon plays held in afternoon No roof No roof No artificial lighting No artificial lighting No sceneryNo scenery

Acting CompaniesActing Companies

Only boys and men Only boys and men

Young boys Young boys performed female performed female rolesroles

AudienceAudience

2000-3000 people from all walks of 2000-3000 people from all walks of life life

Well-to-do spectators sat in covered Well-to-do spectators sat in covered galleries around stage galleries around stage

Most stood in yard around platform Most stood in yard around platform stage – “groundlings”stage – “groundlings”

Elements of DramaElements of Drama

5-part dramatic structure corresponds to a 5-part dramatic structure corresponds to a play’s 5 acts play’s 5 acts

Exposition (introduction) Exposition (introduction) Establishes tone, setting main characters, main Establishes tone, setting main characters, main

conflict conflict Fills in events previous to playFills in events previous to play

Rising action Rising action Series of complications for the protagonist Series of complications for the protagonist

(main character) (main character) flowing from the main conflictflowing from the main conflict

Elements of DramaElements of Drama

Crisis or Climax Crisis or Climax Turning point in story Turning point in story Moment of choice for protagonist Moment of choice for protagonist Forces of conflict come together Forces of conflict come together

Falling action Falling action Results of protagonist’s decision Results of protagonist’s decision Maintains suspense Maintains suspense

Resolution or DenouementResolution or Denouement Conclusion of play Conclusion of play Unraveling of plot Unraveling of plot May include characters’ deathsMay include characters’ deaths

Writing StyleWriting Style

Blank verse: unrhymed iambic Blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter pentameter

Iambic pentameter Iambic pentameter five beats of alternating unstressed and five beats of alternating unstressed and stressedstressed syllables; ten syllables per line syllables; ten syllables per line

Dramatic and Literary Dramatic and Literary DevicesDevices

Pun: play on words involving Pun: play on words involving Word with more than one meaning Word with more than one meaning Words with similar sounds Words with similar sounds

Soliloquy Soliloquy Speech of moderate to long length Speech of moderate to long length Spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not Spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not

heard by other actors) heard by other actors)

Aside Aside Direct address by actor to audience Direct address by actor to audience Not supposed to be overheard by other Not supposed to be overheard by other

characterscharacters

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream

ComedyComedyTakes place in Takes place in

Athens, Greece.Athens, Greece.4 plots are 4 plots are

happening at oncehappening at onceWorld of human and World of human and

the world of Fairiesthe world of Fairies