William Shakespeare and The Globe Theater

1. William Shakespeareand The Globe Theater

2. Shakespeare’s Early Life • Born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, northwest of London, England • He belonged to a well-respected family and probably attended Stratford Grammar School, learning Latin, logic, history, natural history, and some Greek; therefore, his knowledge of classical literature would have come from here.

3. Shakespeare in Adulthood • In late November or early December 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married twenty-six year old poet Anne Hathaway • Anne gave birth to daughter Susanna in 1583 and twins, Judith and Hamnet, in 1585 (Hamnet died in 1596) • Scholars believe he served as a country schoolmaster for a short time after he married Anne

4. Shakespeare's Career • It is believed he was acting by age eighteen or nineteen in plays in London • By 1594, he was part owner and principal playwright of the most successful theatrical company known as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, in London • In 1599, the company built the famous Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s plays would be performed • In 1603, King James I took control of and renamed the theatre company The King’s Men, but Shakespeare continued to write for and act with them

5. Shakespeare’s Later Life • Shakespeare retired to Stratford around 1610 having made a good living from his share in the theatre company • He died on April 23 (his birthday), 1616 • Shakespeare has no living descendants since none of his daughters Susanna’s and Judith’s children had any of their own

6. Elements of Shakespeare’s Plays • Iambic Pentameter: Shakespeare’s style of writing features stressed/unstressed repeated five times which equals 10 syllables per line • Main characters spoke in iambic pentameter, so the groundlings knew who the main characters were • Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter • Soliloquy: long speech to audience to reveal thoughts of a character • Monologue: long speech to another character • Aside: brief statement to either another character or the audience

7. The Globe Theatre • Polygonal shape made of wood and thatch • 3 levels to represent the 3 classes of society • Has a roofless courtyard for natural light • The poor spectators, called groundlings, stood on the dirt, and hazelnut shells, to watch the plays from in front of the stage

8. The Globe Theatre • During the time of the plague, the “pit” was feared as a breeding ground for the disease; therefore, the Master of Revels would continually close the theatre to “control” the disease • It held between 2,500 and 3,000 people, 800 of which would be groundlings • The theatre raised a white flag to indicate a play was being performed

9. The Globe Theatre, continued • Original foundation was discovered in 1990s and excavation gave clues to its history • The first Globe burned down in 1613 during the staging of Henry VIII, the thatch roof catching fire after cannon fire was used during the performance • The second Globe stood until the English Civil War in 1642, when Parliament closed the theatres, and it was torn down • The other famous polygonal (or roughly circular) theatre was the Rose, thought to have a 72 foot diameter. The Globe’s was thought to be 100 feet, and to have 20 sides. • The current Globe Theatre was opened in 1997, after extensive research to recreate it in as historically accurate a way as possible.

10. Theatrical Productions • The stage extended into the “pit” and the actors were essentially standing in the crowd • All actors entered the stage from the doors at the back of the stage • The small rooms above and behind the stage were used as dressing and storage rooms • The second level gallery was used as a second stage when needed

11. Theatrical Productions • The plays had no scenery and limited props • The setting and acts were referenced in the dialogue between the actors or narration • There were no scene breaks • They lasted about two hours • There were five acts • No women were allowed on stage, so men played the female roles. • Although there was no scenery, the actors wore elaborate costumes. Even today, at the Globe, the costumes represent period dress.

12. Shakespeare’s Plays • Not including poetry and sonnets, Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven different plays divided into four categories: • 12 Comedies • 11 Tragedies • 10 Histories • 4 Romances • His 150 sonnets are titled numerically • Shakespearean sonnets have a specific rhyme/meter