Getting to Know Shakespeare

1. Getting to Know Shakespeare

2. William Shakespeare • April 23, 1564 – April 23, 1616 • Playwright during the Elizabethan and Jacobian period in England. • Wrote for the masses, NOT the elite. • He started out as an actor.

3. Stratford – on – the – Avon • This is where Shakespeare lived in his youth • He retired here after he left theatre

4. John Shakespeare • Shakespeare’s father • Was a local official and glove maker • He fell on hard times and was unable to send young William past the 7th grade.

5. Fact vs. Opinion • There is an argument over whether Shakespeare wrote his plays. • There are a few facts to back the opinion the he did not. • He was not incredibly well educated, but that does not totally exclude the possibility that he did write the plays.

6. Ann Hathaway • Shakespeare’s wife • She was 6 years older than he was • They got married and 6 months later they had their first child

7. Lord Chamberlain’s Men • Shakespeare’s company • You had to have someone of at least a Baron’s level to sponsor your company • Shakespeare’s company was one of the best of his period, they had one major rival.

8. Lord Admiral’s Men • This was the opposing company • They had great talented actors and a great playwright

9. Edward Allyn • One of the two greatest actors of his time. • He was an actor with the Lord Admiral’s Men • He still was not as good an actor as Mr. Horn  Mr. Horn is the bomb diggity actor!!

10. Christopher Marlowe • Considered by serious scholars to be a superior playwright to Shakespeare starting out. • He wrote for the Lord Admiral’s Men • He died in a barroom brawl at the age of 29 • He was stabbed through the eye with a sword • He was incredibly well educated which is why some people think he wrote Shakespeare’s plays. Doubtful!

11. James Burbage • A carpenter • Later became an actor and owner of the Theatre and later Globe Theatre • After he died, his sons floated the Globe down the Thames from one site to another • They then reassembled the Globe on the banks • His two children were very active and important in theater circles

12. Richard Burbage • James Burbage’s son • Shakespeare wrote his plays for this man • He was the other great lead actor in Shakespeare’s time

13. Cuthbert Burbage • James Burbage’s son • He was a producer • He took in all the revenue and then distributed it among the actors, playwrights and stage managers

14. The Globe Theater • On the banks of the Thames • This is one of the two theatres that Shakespeare had his plays produced frequently • His plays were also produced for private parties

15. The Theater • This was John Burbage’s first theater

16. The audience of the plays • People would come to the shows to meet others • To buy clothes, fresh fruits, etc • This was NOT the type of audience who would sit quietly and enjoy the play • The play was important, but the theater was a meeting place

17. The General Design of The Globe • We don’t know exactly what the theater looked like • There was no pictures • There was a few drawings and a copy of the building permit which said to build it along the same design as the Fortune Theater

18. What people thought of the actors in that day • Actors were considered lower class citizens • They were not trusted • They were frequently considered to be dirty, dishonest and not appropriate for women to date Actors from Macbeth

19. The Sharers • These people were given a percentage of the money for each performance • You had to work your way up to be a sharer

20. How could men play women’s parts? • Acting was not considered lady like • Women did not play in theaters • Some women went to theaters, but they were sometimes looked at with an uneasy eye • Queen Elizabeth and her successor did support the theatre though

21. Understatement • You would say something without emphasis when it was of great importance • This would actually put greater emphasis on it

22. Tone • The mood established by the writing, setting, or set design of a play/scene Romeo and Juliet

23. Answering the right question • Sometimes Shakespeare would create characters who were easy tricked or fooled • This is to both bring comic relief and to add to the tension in the play

24. Foreshadowing • An idea would be introduced so that the audience could anticipate what might happen in the future