Shakespeare & Julius Caesar

Shakespeare & Julius Caesar “Men at some time are masters of their fates.” (I.ii.139)

Biography • April 26, 1564-April 26, 1616 • Stratford-on-Avon • Anne Hathaway • Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith • Reputation of acting • Plague (1592-1594) • Lord Chamberlain’s Men(1594) King’s Men (1603)

DRAMATIC STRUCTURE Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict. Climax point of highest tension;action determines how the conflict will be resolved Complications tension builds Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends Expositioncharacters and conflictare introduced

1. Tragedy Atragedyis a play that ends unhappily. • Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as right and wrong justice and injustice life and death • Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny. (Ex. Cassius vs. Caesar) The protagonist of most classical tragedies is atragic hero.Who is another example of a tragic hero from our studies this year?

2. Comedy Acomedyis a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict. boy wins girl boy loses girl boy meets girl

3. History A history play is normally defined as a play based on the life of an English king.

Types of Stages Stages can have many different sizes and layouts. • “Thrust” stage • The stage extends into the viewing area. • The audience surrounds the stage on three sides.

Types of Stages “In the round” stage is surrounded by an audience on all sides.

Types of Stages Proscenium stage • The playing area extends behind an opening called a “proscenium arch.” • The audience sits on one side looking into the action. upstage stage right stage left downstage

Types of Stages Stages in Shakespeare’s time were thrust stages.

The Globe The Globe Theaterwas built using the timbers from “The Theater.” • When Burbage’s landlord raised the rent and threatened to take over “The Theater,” members of Burbage’s company tore down the structure and stealthily transported the timbers across the river on the night of January 20, 1599.

The Globe Shakespeare’s greatest plays were performed in The Globe Theater. It • had an open area about sixty-five feet in diameter surrounded by a circular (or polygonal) building • had three tiers of seating • was called the “wooden O” in Henry V

The Globe’s Stage The Globe’s main stage • was forty-by-thirty feet • stood five feet off the ground • projected into the courtyard • had trapdoors in the floor main stage

The Globe’s Stage The Globe’s inner stage was • curtained off • flanked by two entrances upper stage • had an upper stage above it inner stage

The Globe’s Stage Theupper stageor balcony could be used as • the high walls of castle • the bridge of a ship upper stage

The Globe’s Stage The roof above the stage was called “The Heavens.” • Actors could be lowered from the Heavens by cranes.

The Globe’s Stage Trapdoors could be used for • entrances and exits for ghosts • descents into hell

The Destruction of the Globe Theater The Globe Theater burned down in 1613. • During the battle scene of Henry VII, a spark from a lit cannon fuse flew up and started a fire in the thatched roof of the Heavens. • In 1997 a new Globe Theater opened on London’s South Bank, just 200 yards from the original site.

Important Terms The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms.

Important Terms Hyperbole: exaggeration Plebeian: a common person (ex. Carpenter) Extended Metaphor Verbal Irony: sarcasm; saying one thing but meaning another Dramatic Irony:…again! Anachronism: …ideas? Think stems! Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter (see handout…more to come  )

The End . . . for now! Note to Self: JCAct I on powernotes for Shakespeare rhythm and historical background 

Shakespeare & Julius Caesar