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William Shakespeare : the Man, the Myth, and the Legend

William Shakespeare : the Man, the Myth, and the Legend. Placing Shakespeare in Context. A Bit of History…. William Shakespeare Born (baptized) April 26 th , 1564 In Stratford, England “Stratford-upon-Avon” Small market town in Warwickshire, England Died April 23 rd , 1616.

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William Shakespeare : the Man, the Myth, and the Legend

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  1. William Shakespeare: the Man, the Myth, and the Legend Placing Shakespeare in Context

  2. A Bit of History… • William Shakespeare • Born (baptized) April 26th, 1564 • In Stratford, England • “Stratford-upon-Avon” • Small market town in Warwickshire, England • Died April 23rd, 1616

  3. A Bit of History… • English Renaissance • Early 16th to late 17th centuries • Queen Elizabeth • 1558 – 1603 • King James 1st • 1603 – 1625 • Commercial Theater in England • 1567 – 1642 • The Theatre • First structure for “the playing of plays” • The Globe • Built in 1599, burned to the ground in 1613 • “The house that Shakespeare built”

  4. Before and After… • Before the Renaissance • Medieval Dramas (highly religious) • Morality plays • Mystery plays • Performed in wagons • During and After the Renaissance • Plays were performed at universities • Later performed in playhouses • The Theatre, The Globe, ETC… Let’s take a tour of The Globe

  5. The Man, the Industry, the Hollywood Icon, the Cultural Touchstone • The Man • We know who he is…don’t we? • The Industry and Hollywood Icon • Think about our Pop Culture exercise • The Cultural Touchstone • Molding Shakespeare to fit any genre • Music • Movies • ETC…

  6. Something to ponder… • Anxiety of influence • Do writers after Shakespeare become derivative of him? • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe • “The German Shakespeare” • Has Shakespeare said it all? What do you think?

  7. Did Shakespeare Exist? • Stratfordian vs. Anti-Stratfordian • Christopher Marlowe • Some argue that Shakespeare was a “front” for Marlowe, among others • Controversy of Authorship • Was it a combination of forces and his pure talent? • Was he a “front man” for the writing? • Seven signatures of Shakespeare

  8. Did Shakespeare Exist? • Was Shakespeare a “genius” and are his works universal? • Or was he at the right place at the right time?

  9. Performances, Playhouses, and the Players • What about the theater is different? • You are in control of the perspective • You look where you want to look • Every performance is different • Audience vs. Spectator • Audio- EAR • Spectacle- EYE • “Let’s go hear a play” • Combo of EYE and EAR to create meaning • People were good listeners because most were illiterate

  10. Performances, Playhouses, and the Players • Patronage • Funding, important for livelihood • Outside Amphitheaters vs. Indoor Playhouses • Universities had the indoor playhouses • Amphitheaters were for the “people” • Actors were called players • They were “playing” • Fun, pretend, ILLUSION, fiction, escape • The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and King’s Men • Playwrights were called poets • Shakespeare is a poet

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