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Twelfth Night Storytelling: From Greek Theater to Shakespearean Comedy

Explore the evolution of storytelling from ancient Greek theater through Medieval Mystery Plays to Shakespeare's comedic brilliance in Twelfth Night. Discover the cultural influences and themes that shaped these performances, from religious narratives to secular entertainment, and learn about Shakespeare's life, works, and the controversies surrounding his authorship. Delve into the vibrant world of Twelfth Night, set in exotic Illyria, and meet its colorful characters amid a backdrop of festive celebrations and mistaken identities.

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Twelfth Night Storytelling: From Greek Theater to Shakespearean Comedy

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  1. English 3012 Twelfth Night

  2. Storytelling: The ancient art

  3. Greek Theater

  4. Medieval Mystery / Miracle Plays (1400s-1500s) • - Grew out of church skits about biblical narratives • - Performed by amateurs, but sometimes touring actors • - Performed in churchyards or public areas • - Religious themes, but often rough humor or jokes • - Their growth leads to ticketed, private, secular plays

  5. York Mystery Plays (1300s)

  6. Second Shepherd’s Play (1400s)

  7. Everyman (c. 1510)

  8. The Globe (Replica). Theaters were first built in 1575.

  9. An Elizabethan Theatre

  10. An Elizabethan Audience • Typically 3 tiers • Capacity 1500-3000 • Little artificial light • Noisy and not always sober!

  11. William Shakespeare 1564-1616- Widely considered the greatest writer in the English language- Author of 38 plays and 154 sonnet poems- From Stratford-upon-Avon

  12. - Son of an alderman and glove maker - Married Anne Hathaway at 18; three children- Moved to London around 1590- Member of a playing company; part owner of the Globe theater

  13. Shakespeare the playboy? • “In 1602, Richard Burbage was at the height of his fame playing Richard III at the Globe theatre. • After one performance, a female admirer gave Burbage her name and address and invited him to pay her a late-night visit, using the code name ‘Richard III’. • William overheard this and that evening, when Burbage arrived to see the woman, the playwright was already there. • Shakespeare later sent a witty message to his friend, which stated: ‘William the Conqueror was before Richard the Third.’”

  14. Did he write his own plays?- About 40 historical documents describing him, but mostly legal- Few medieval plays or stories were ‘invented.’ Most had traditional origins Walt Disney did not “write” Snow White, Cinderella, or Beauty & the Beast

  15. Shakespeare’s 14th great-niece, Suzana Shakespeare (February 2014). They live in Stratford.

  16. Twelfth Night festival • - Twelfth day of Christmas (January 5); the day before Epiphany, when the three wise men visited the infant Jesus • - A time of festivals and partying (Saturnalia) • - Possibly first performed for a lawyers’ party

  17. Saturnalia

  18. Twelfth Night (about 1602) • - Possibly based on Gl'ingannati (The Deceived Ones), 1531 • - First published in the First Folio (1623)

  19. Setting: Exotic Illyria! Not boring England. (Now Croatia) Ethnic stereotypes in Shakespeare?

  20. Characters Orsino, duke Olivia, countess Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s uncle Sir Andrew Aguecheek Malvolio, steward Maria, Olivia’s lady Feste, clown Viola Sebastian, Viola’s sister Antonio, sea captain

  21. http://nfs.sparknotes.com/twelfthnight/

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