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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare. Background Information. Elizabethan = during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) Jacobean = during the reign of James I (1603 – 1625). Childhood. born 4/23/1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon

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William Shakespeare

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  1. William Shakespeare Background Information

  2. Elizabethan = • during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) • Jacobean = • during the reign of James I (1603 – 1625)

  3. Childhood • born 4/23/1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon • Father – John Shakespeare, a shopkeeper and property owner held municipal offices (alderman, mayor)

  4. Education • went to King Edward Grammar School • Elizabethan Schools - • not like modern school • taught Latin and Greek language, literature, plays, history • School day – sunrise to sunset

  5. Shakespeare the Adult • married Anne Hathaway 1582

  6. Shakespeare the Adult • 3 children • Godfather to 40+ children • retired to Stratford 1613, • purchased the 2nd largest house in Stratford, • granted title of gentleman • died 4/23/1616 (age 52)

  7. Sh. the Playwright • a popular playwright in his lifetime • well-known as playwright in 1598 • both a shareholder and actor in theater company

  8. Sh. the Playwright • doubt about the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays • no manuscript exists in Shakespeare’s handwriting • Shakespeare made no effort to publish plays

  9. Elizabethan Theater

  10. Actors 1. actors organized into companies under protection of a patron 2. low social status, high popularity (esp. w/king & queen) 3. no actresses – men and boys

  11. Theater Buildings • Stage jutted into pit area • no curtains at front of stage – need action to clear stage • no elaborate scenery or sets • balcony above back of stage and at sides of stage

  12. Theater Buildings • standing room around stage • tiered seats in galleries around stage

  13. Theater Buildings • open roof • plays held during the day • no electricity - to be heard, loud speeches included

  14. Audience and Others 1. the audience - wide cross-section, but mostly common men and women 2. groundlings – cheap seats around stage, included cheap thrills to keep them under control 3. city officials didn’t approve of plays

  15. English Language History

  16. Old English Period 449-1100 • Uses letters no longer used in English language • Looks and sounds like another language

  17. Leofan men gecnawað þæt soð is: ðeos worolde is on ofste & hit nealæcð þam ende.

  18. ð eth ð þ thorn þ æ aesh æ

  19. Middle English Period 1100-1500 • Uses some letters no longer used in English language • Sounds a little like modern-day English

  20. Lauerd me steres, noght wante sal me:In stede of fode þare me louked he

  21. Early Modern English Period 1500-1800 • Uses some pronouns and verbs no longer used in English language • Words are sometimes spelled differently

  22. …in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare…

  23. Modern English Period 1800 –present At the Society’s annual luncheon in Albuquerque on January 7, President Joan Houston Hall announced…

  24. Shakespeare wrote and spoke Early Modern English!

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