Shakespeare and the English Renaissance

Shakespeare and the English Renaissance ITC 525 Computers for Educators Emily Volence

Language Table of Contents Historical Period Shakespeare’s Personal Life Shakespeare’s Literary Achievements Interesting Factoids

Language Introduction Coined Shakespearian Words Coined Shakespearian Phrases

Introductory Quiz • What do politicians have in common with rap/hip hop artists, and Shakespeare? A) They are popular B) They frequently lie C) They create their own words and phrases

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Correct! Each group or person “coined” words and/or phrases that are used in the English language. For example, politicians use slogans and rhetoric. “Stay the course” “No child left behind” “Axis of evil” “Weapons of mass destruction” Rap and Hip-hop introduced many words and phrases. “whip” “blingbling” Shakespeare, however, introduced more words into the English language than the other two groups. Click on the links below to discover more about Shakespeare’s custom language. Words Phrases

Coined Shakespearian Words According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Shakespeare introduced about 1,700 words into the English language. Here are some examples: bachelorship (“bachelorhood”) to bet candle holder epileptic hostile to gossip love letter to negotiate obscene successful upstairs vulnerable to torture fashionable employment Click here for a more comprehensive list of Shakespearian words

Coined Shakespearian Phrases Have you ever said any of these phrases? ‘Break the ice’ ‘All that glitters is not gold’ ‘Hot-blooded’ ‘In the mind’s eye’ ‘Housekeeping’ ‘It’s all Greek to me’ ‘The naked truth’ ‘One fell swoop’ ‘Method to his madness’ Click here for a more comprehensive list of Shakespearian phrases

Historical Period Introduction Middle Ages  Renaissance The Plague The Government

Historical BackgroundQuiz • In what period did Shakespeare live? A) The Middle Ages B) The Renaissance C) The Industrial Revolution

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Correct!! Shakespeare lived during the English Renaissance. The “English Renaissance” is a term historians use to describe the religious, cultural, and artistic movements in England from the early 16th century to the early 17th century. Renaissance means “rebirth.”

Middle Ages  Renaissance The Renaissance was a time of change. During the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance (1350-1450) the bubonic plague, also called the "Black Death," devastated one half of the population of Europe. The plague, which was almost always fatal, spread most rapidly in cities, where people were in close contact with each other. The only way to avoid the disease was to leave the city for the country. This solution was, unfortunately, available only to those wealthy enough to make the trip.

The Plague As incidence of the plague decreased in the late fifteenth century, populations swelled, creating a new demand for goods and services. A new middle class began to emerge as bankers, merchants, and tradespeople once again had a market for their goods and services. Many people moved into the cities. London was the heart of the English Renaissance.

The Government Who governed England during the Renaissance? The Tudor Monarchs (1485 -1603) A father and three children: Henry VIII (1509 – 1547) – the man with six wives Son Edward VI (1547 – 1553) – appointed at age nine; died at age fifteen Daughter Mary (1553 – 1558) – burned at the stake Daughter Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) – the most brilliant and successful monarch Click here to discover more about the Tudor Monarchs

The Tudor Monarchs The Church of England: Because the Pope refused to grant him a divorce, Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England in 1531. In 1531, the Church of England became the official religion of the country. To make a long story short, Henry VIII sought a divorce from one of his wives, Catherine of Aragon, because Catherine could not produce him a male heir and he loved someone else, Anne Boleyn. He appealed to the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church to declare that he was not properly married because his wife had been previously married to his brother. Click here to learn a jingle about Henry VIII’s wives

Interesting fact:King Henry the VIII had six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Their fates can be summarized in a jingle: “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” Click here to learn about Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I She reigned 45 years. She remained unmarried throughout her life. Like her father, she was the Governor of the Church of England. She was very well-educated (fluent in six languages), and had inherited intelligence, determination and shrewdness from both parents. The arts flourished during Elizabeth's reign. The Queen attended the first performance of Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Queen Elizabeth provided inspiration and patronage to many artists and writers, such as Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s Personal Life Birth Education Marriage Adversity

Birth of a Legend Records indicate that William Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare, a successful glover and alderman, and Mary, a daughter of the gentry (the class below the nobility). His birth is unregistered, but legend places it on April 23, 1564. Ironically, April 23 is the day on which he died 52 years later.

Educating Shakespeare He attended the King's New School, which was staffed with a faculty that held Oxford degrees. He did not attend a university, since university education was reserved for prospective clergymen. More impressive than his formal education is his working knowledge of vocabulary. It is far greater than any other English writer.

Married With Children In 1582, at age 18, William Shakespeare married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. Their first daughter, Susanna, was baptized only 6 months later; much speculation about the circumstances surrounding the marriage. In 1585, Anne bore twins, baptized Hamnet and Judith Shakespeare.

Adversity Hamnet, Shakespeare’s son, died at the young age of eleven. In 1589, Shakespeare wrote his first play, Henry VI, Part 1. He and his wife moved to London, where he pursued a career as a playwright and actor. Shakespeare was a young rogue who was once forced to flee London under sketchy circumstances. Young Will was not an immediate and universal success.

Literary Achievements Initial Success Lord Chamberlain’s Men Money The Great Works Death of a Giant

Shakespeare Rising By 1590, Shakespeare was a popular playwright. The majority of Shakespeare's sonnets were probably written in the 1590s. Shakespeare wrote, on average, 1.5 plays a year since he first started in 1589.

All The King’s Men In 1594 Shakespeare became a charter member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a group of actors who changed their name to the King's Men when James I ascended the throne. By 1598 he was the "principal comedian" for the troop, and by 1603 he was "principal tragedian.“ At this time, acting and playwriting were not considered noble professions, but successful actors were relatively respected.

Money Shakespeare made a lot of money acting and writing, so he invested in Stratford real estate. In 1597, he purchased the second largest house in Stratford, the New Place, for his parents. In 1596 Shakespeare applied for a coat of arms for his family in effect making himself a gentleman; his daughters married successfully and wealthily. The motto on the coat of arms was "Non sanzdroit", or "Not without right", showing a certain defensiveness and insecurity on the part of William.

The Great Works In total, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and composed 154 sonnets. Shakespeare’s most famous works are the plays that are taught in today’s schools. Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, etc…

Death of a Literary Giant William Shakespeare lived until 1616, and his wife Anne died in 1623. Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. He put a curse on anyone daring to move his body from that final resting place. His epitaph was allegedly written by Shakespeare himself: “Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear. To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones. And cursed be he that moves my bones." His body remains where he was buried.

Fun Shakespeare Facts Shakespeare never published any of his plays. They were published by friends after his death. Macbeth is thought to be one of the most produced plays ever, with a performance beginning somewhere in the world every four hours! While he was writing the plays at such a pace he was also conducting a family life, a social life and a full business life, running an acting company and a theatre. And he was practicing his profession as an actor. He was also writing poems. If he wrote at night, he was doing it in poor lighting and using a quill and ink. Shakespeare left most of his property to Susannah, his first child and not to his wife Anne Hathaway. Instead his loyal wife infamously received his "second-best bed". The Bard's second best bed wasn’t so bad, it was his marriage bed; his best bed was for guests. Works Cited

Works Cited • http://absoluteshakespeare.com • http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeare-words.htm • http://shakespeare.mit.edu • http://www.bardweb.net

Shakespeare and the English Renaissance