By: William Shakespeare

1. Romeo and Juliet By: William Shakespeare

2. William Shakespeare • Baptized April 26, 1564 (thought to be born on the 23rd) • Born in Stratford-upon-Avon (England) • Did not attend college • At age 18 married Anne Hathaway (on November 27, 1582) • 1585-1592: Seven Lost/Dark Years

3. William Shakespeare, The Lost/Dark Years • During his “lost” or “dark years,” Shakespeare has been said to be: • An attorney's clerk • Teaching • Joined a theater company and was acting and writing plays (firmest argument)

4. Shakespeare's Early Career • At some point during the “dark years,” Shakespeare began his career with a London theatrical company—perhaps in 1589 • He was already an actor and playwright of some note in 1592 • Shakespeare apparently wrote and acted for Pembroke’s Men, as well as numerous others, in particular Strange’s Men, which later became the Chamberlain’s Men, with whom he remained for the rest of his career

5. Theatre Timeline • 1576- The first permanent theatre, The Theatre, was built. • 1577- The second theatre, The Curtain, was built. • 1592-1594- Theatre closes due to plague • 1599 - The Globe Theatre was built. Shakespeare was one of 7 owners. • 1613 - The Globe Theatre accidentally burns down.

6. This sketch was drawn in 1596 by a Dutch student named Johannes de Witt. He attended a play in London at the Swan Theatre. It is the only surviving contemporary rendering of the interior of an Elizabethan-era public theatre.

7. The Theaters Close, 1592-1594 • Theaters close because of plague, and in the theaters people were constantly breathing on each other • Shakespeare continues writing and becomes a part of a theater company in 1595, (becomes known as “The King’s Men” when King James takes the thrown in 1603)

8. The Globe Theater • Originally built in 1599 • Most famous of all playhouses in London • Public Playhouse

9. The Globe Theatre • Shakespeare's company erected the Globe Theatre in London's Bankside district. • One of four major theatres in the area. Others: • Swan • Rose • Hope • Open-air, octagonal amphitheater

10. London and The Globe Theatre • At the time of the construction of The Globe Theatre, the population of London was approximately 150,000 people. • The approximate capacity of The Globe was 2,500-3,000 people.

11. Seating • There were three floors of galleries where people watched the play. • The cheapest way to see the play was as a "groundling," standing in the central yard or “pit.” • As you paid additional money, you could ascend to higher galleries.

12. Architecture • Behind the stage was a three story facade. • Pillars were located midway between the facade and the front of the platform to support a half roof. • The stage included a balcony and a trap door.

13. Scenery • The stage was bare; no scenery. • Costuming and props were fairly elaborate, though. • No hidden microphones.   • Actors would have to overstress their actions and yell their lines to try and make it easier for all to hear.  • No spot lighting, so plays usually took place in the early afternoon, typically starting around 1 p.m. or so and ending at about 5 p.m. 

14. The Globe Today • Reopened on August 21, 1996 with a short, unofficial season performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. • December 1996, Shakespeare's Globe was voted the best attraction in Europe and was awarded the European Tourism Initiative Golden Star Award by the European Federation of Associations of Tourism Journalists. • The new Globe theatre’s reopening season was in 1997 • It is only 200 yards from the original site

15. Fisheye view of The Globe Theatre

16. Shakespeare's Plays • Shakespeare wrote 37 plays • Most famous = Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, Macbeth and Othello • Most academics would argue Hamlet is Shakespeare’s greatest and most famous work • In popular culture, it would probably be considered Romeo and Juliet

17. Shakespearean Language • Shakespeare invented over 1700 common words …by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original. • Examples: • Assassination • Bump • Skim Milk • Worthless • Blanket • Ode • Shakespeare is said to have had a vocabulary of some 29,066 words. • An average person today might use just 2000 words in everyday conversation.

18. Shakespearean Language • mark—pay attention to…….. “Mark my words.” • marry—indeed……“He says I should respond quickly; marry, I want to.” • pray/prithee—a polite way of asking something……“I prithee answer the question.” • saucy—cheeky; sassy……“Hence, thou saucy boy!” • sirrah—a term of address used for inferiors……“Sirrah, bring the letter over here.” • thee—you……“When will I see thee next?” • thou—you……“Thou art a villain.” • thy—your……“Thy name is more hateful than thy face.” • whence—from where…….. “Whence came that news?” OR “Return to whence you came.” • wherefore—why……“Wherefore dost thou leave?” OR “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” [As in, “why can’t you be someone else, whom my family doesn’t hate?”] • anon—right now • art—are • dost or doth—does or do……“Dost thou know the time?” • ere—before……“We must leave ere daybreak.” • fain—gladly……“I fain would bake Mrs. Baxter cookies if I could get an A.” • fie—an exclamation of dismay or disgust……“You cheated? Fie upon it!” OR “Fie! Are you mad?” • hark—listen……. “Hark! The herald angels sing!” • hence—away…..“Get thee hence, beggar!” OR “We must hence before the army arrives.” • hie—hurry……“Hie thee hence, or lose your life!” • hither—here…..“Come hither, young lad.” • thither—there……“Look to the east—thither doth the sun arise.” • hath—has……… “He hath killed many a man.” OR “He hath a horse.” • ho—hey (roughly equivalent). “Lucius, ho!” [Brutus calling his servant]

19. The characteristics of Shakespearean Literature…

20. Shakespearean Tragedies • Hero will be a high authority person, power source • Play will progress to death of a hero • Heroes will exemplify a tragic flaw(s) • Character trait that expresses itself in acting or refusing to act, leading to ultimate downfall of hero • Usually has hubris, extreme pride • Hero will have more and longer soliloquies • We can learn a lot more about the hero that they know themselves • Follows Aristotle Idea • Audience will experience tragic sympathy, pity and fear

21. Shakespearean Unity • Multiple plots with common themes • Actions and characters that mirror each other (have a parallel contrast) • Major motifs of imagery that run throughout the entire play • Certain characters that will appear in all of the plots

22. Romeo and Juliet • Full title: The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet • Takes place in Verona, Italy in the 1300s • Was first published in 1597 • Written in Blank Verse

23. Shakespeare Retires, or does he? • Shakespeare writes his last play, The Tempest, in 1611 and retires from the theater • Yet, it is said that Shakespeare helped the new author for the “King’s Men” write new plays for the company

24. THE DEATH OF SHAKESPEARE • Died in 1616 on his birthday, at Stratford-upon-Avon • He was 52 • Two different sources…. First one says his cause of death was unknown. The second one says he died after drinking with his theater friends. • Buried at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon INTERESTING FACT: • Shakespeare’s will was very generous, but unlike most wills of his day, he didn’t leave much to the ones he was closest to. He gave money to colleagues and the poor. He left his youngest daughter, Judith, a silver bowl. He gave a sword to a friend who was a lawyer. He gave Joan, his sister, all his clothes, and to his granddaughter he gave his silverware. The strangest part of his will was to his wife. To her he left his "second-best bed" and to Susanna, his oldest daughter, and John, her husband, he left the best bed and new place.

25. Fun Facts & Info!!! • http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/ • http://www.bardweb.net/globe.html • http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/faq/faq.htm