William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare: An IntroductionAn Introduction

Prepared by Mr. GrabhamPrepared by Mr. Grabham

Brampton Christian SchoolBrampton Christian School

What do we know of this What do we know of this Bard?Bard?

Born on April 23, 1564 in a little country Born on April 23, 1564 in a little country town called Stratford.town called Stratford.

Died on April 23, 1616 (same day!) as a Died on April 23, 1616 (same day!) as a very wealthy man on his estate in very wealthy man on his estate in Stratford. He was 52.Stratford. He was 52.

England's greatest poet and playwright.England's greatest poet and playwright. An actor and part owner of the Globe An actor and part owner of the Globe

Theatre in London.Theatre in London. There are no direct descendants of the There are no direct descendants of the

poet and playwright alive today.poet and playwright alive today.

The question that continues to The question that continues to plague scholarsplague scholars……

How did this How did this "provincial nobody" "provincial nobody" (i.e. country hick) (i.e. country hick) become, first, a become, first, a professional actor professional actor on the London on the London stage and then a stage and then a superb playwright- superb playwright- "Star of Poets"?"Star of Poets"?

What was Billy’s education?What was Billy’s education?

Did Did not not go to university.go to university.Wrote 37 plays: comedies, tragedies Wrote 37 plays: comedies, tragedies

and and “histories”.Wrote 154 sonnets (14 line poems).Wrote 154 sonnets (14 line poems).Shakespeare was shaped by the Shakespeare was shaped by the

culture of Elizabethan England culture of Elizabethan England (England under the reign of Queen (England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, 1558 – 1603).Elizabeth 1, 1558 – 1603).

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England

The Elizabethan Era The Elizabethan Era is often considered is often considered to be a golden age to be a golden age in English history. in English history.

Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth would often come would often come to watch to watch Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s plays at The Globe plays at The Globe Theatre in London.Theatre in London.

Queen Elizabeth I at her coronation

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, was Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, was

eight years older than Shakespeare and three eight years older than Shakespeare and three months pregnant when they got married.months pregnant when they got married.

Shakespeare and his wife had three children, Shakespeare and his wife had three children, daughter Susannah, son Hamnet and Judith – daughter Susannah, son Hamnet and Judith – who were twins. who were twins.

William lived through the Black Death, a William lived through the Black Death, a plague epidemic that killed over 33,000 in plague epidemic that killed over 33,000 in London alone.London alone.

Illustration of the Black Death (1411)

Just to clarify…Just to clarify…

Anne Hathaway, Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, Shakespeare’s wife, should should not be not be confusedconfused with the with the actress that starred in actress that starred in The Princess DiariesThe Princess Diaries, , The Devil Wears PradaThe Devil Wears Prada, , and and The WomenThe Women (2008). (2008).

Little is known of the Little is known of the original Anne, and no original Anne, and no images of her exist images of her exist today.today.

Anne Hathaway, American Actress.

Shakespeare’s Contribution to Shakespeare’s Contribution to the English Languagethe English Language

He invented 32,000 words.He invented 32,000 words.We still use about 5,000 today.We still use about 5,000 today.He invented phrases like “full circle”, He invented phrases like “full circle”,

“break the ice”, ”the naked truth”, “break the ice”, ”the naked truth”, “neither rhyme not reason”, “a sorry “neither rhyme not reason”, “a sorry sight”, “hot blooded”.sight”, “hot blooded”.

He invented words like “jaded”, He invented words like “jaded”, “addiction”, “hint”, “fashionable”, “addiction”, “hint”, “fashionable”, “lonely”, “gossip”, “bandit”, and many “lonely”, “gossip”, “bandit”, and many more.more.

Shakespeare’s Big BreakShakespeare’s Big Break By 1594, Shakespeare was By 1594, Shakespeare was

an actor, writer and part-an actor, writer and part-owner of a playing owner of a playing company known as the company known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Lord Chamberlain’s Men. He was also the principal He was also the principal playwright for them.playwright for them.

In 1599, Lord Ch. Co. built In 1599, Lord Ch. Co. built The Globe Theatre where The Globe Theatre where most of Shakespeare’s most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed.plays were performed.

The group became popular The group became popular enough for the new king enough for the new king James I (1603) to adopt James I (1603) to adopt the company himself, after the company himself, after which it became known as which it became known as the King’s Men. the King’s Men.

King James I

Would you like to visit the Globe Would you like to visit the Globe Theatre?Theatre?

Well, here we go!

“It’s time to don your doublet!”“ Tighten your trussing!”

“Get on your galligaskins!”“Females, fit on your

farthingales!”

“Smooth your stomachers!” “Slip on your shoes!”

“And grab your gloves!”

““Remember your ruffs!”Remember your ruffs!”

“Is everybody ready?Let’s go to the theatre!”

The Globe Theatre StatsThe Globe Theatre StatsShakespeare’s theatre

was located on the south-side of the Thomas River in London, England.

The theatre would fly a white flag on performance days.

The Globe could house around 3,000 spectators.

The Globe Theatre - 1599The Globe Theatre - 1599

On June 29, 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry the Eighth. No one was

hurt.

The New Globe Theatre - The New Globe Theatre - 19971997

The New Globe opened in 1997 and was recreated to be as faithful a replica as possible. Except for one big difference -- it

includes a sprinkler system!!!

$ The Worth of a Dollar $$ The Worth of a Dollar $

The cost of a The cost of a theatre ticket theatre ticket was about the was about the price of a pint of price of a pint of beer.beer.

The cost of a The cost of a book was about book was about an average an average annual salary.annual salary.

Theatre StatsTheatre Stats Plays were produced Plays were produced

for the general public for the general public ANDAND for the royalty for the royalty

The theatre was The theatre was roofless and open to roofless and open to the airthe air

There was no There was no artificial lightingartificial lighting

The courtyard was The courtyard was surrounded by 3 surrounded by 3 levels of galleries levels of galleries from which the play from which the play was viewedwas viewed

SpectatorsSpectators

The wealthy got benches.The wealthy got benches.““Groundlings”, the poorer people, Groundlings”, the poorer people,

stood and watched from the courtyard, stood and watched from the courtyard, known as the “pit”.known as the “pit”.

All but the wealthy were uneducated All but the wealthy were uneducated and illiterate.and illiterate.

There was much more interaction There was much more interaction between the actors and audience than between the actors and audience than today.today.

Staging AreasStaging Areas StageStage - platform that - platform that

extended into the pitextended into the pit The dressing & The dressing &

storage rooms were storage rooms were in galleries behind & in galleries behind & above the stageabove the stage

Trap door were used Trap door were used for ghostsfor ghosts

The “Heavens”The “Heavens” were used for angelic were used for angelic beingsbeings

Differences between theatre then & Differences between theatre then & now…now…

There was There was NONO scenery scenery Instead, the settings were referenced Instead, the settings were referenced

in dialoguein dialogueVery elaborate costumesVery elaborate costumesUsed plenty of propsUsed plenty of propsVery fast-paced and colorfulVery fast-paced and colorfulA typical Shakespeare play would A typical Shakespeare play would

last about the length of a movie - 2 last about the length of a movie - 2 hours!hours!

ActorsActors

Only men and boysOnly men and boysYoung boys whose Young boys whose

voices had not voices had not changed play changed play women’s roleswomen’s roles

Would have been Would have been considered indecent considered indecent for a woman to for a woman to appear on stageappear on stage

We are set to begin!We are set to begin!

Now that you have Now that you have experienced experienced Shakespearian life, Shakespearian life, we are ready to we are ready to begin studying one begin studying one of his plays.of his plays.

We will begin with We will begin with Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s delightful comedy, delightful comedy, As You Like It.As You Like It.