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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature. Shakespeare. 1563-1616 Stratford-on-Avon, England wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets started out as an actor. Shakespeare wrote:. Comedies Histories Tragedies. Romeo and Juliet. Written about 1595

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William Shakespeare

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  1. William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

  2. Shakespeare • 1563-1616 • Stratford-on-Avon, England • wrote 37 plays • about 154 sonnets • started out as an actor

  3. Shakespeare wrote: • Comedies • Histories • Tragedies

  4. Romeo and Juliet • Written about 1595 • Considered a tragedy

  5. The Theater • Plays produced for the general public • Roofless>open air • Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

  6. Spectators • Wealthy got benches • “Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) • All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate • Much more interaction than today

  7. Differences • No scenery • Settings > references in dialogue • Elaborate costumes • Plenty of props • Fast-paced, colorful>2 hours!

  8. Actors • Only men and boys • Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles • Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

  9. Prose • Ordinary writing that is not poetry, drama, or song • Only characters in the lower social classes speak this way in Shakespeare’s plays • Why do you suppose that is?

  10. Plot • The sequence of events in a literary work

  11. Exposition • The plot usually begins with this: • introduces>>>> • setting • characters • basic situation

  12. Inciting Moment • Often called “initial incident” • the first bit of action that occurs which begins the plot • Romeo and Juliet “lock eyes” at the party

  13. Conflict • The struggle that develops • man vs. man • man vs. himself • man vs. society • man vs. nature

  14. Crisis • The point where the protagonist’s situation will either get better or worse • protagonist>good guy • antagonist>bad guy

  15. Climax • The turning point of the story>everything begins to unravel from here • Thus begins the falling action

  16. Resolution • The end of the central conflict

  17. Denouement • The final explanation or outcome of the plot • If this is included in literature, it will occur after the resolution.

  18. Tragedy (Shakespearean) • Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster/great misfortune • In many tragedies, downfall results from> • Fate • Character flaw/Fatal flaw • Combination of the two

  19. Theme • Central idea or >> • Insight about life which explain the downfall

  20. Dramatic Foil • A character whose purpose is to show off another character • Benvolio for Tybalt • look for others in R & J

  21. Round characters • Characters who have many personality traits, like real people.

  22. Flat Characters • One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait • Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

  23. Static Characters • Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

  24. Dynamic Character • Characters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.

  25. Monologue • One person speaking on stage > may be other character on stage too • ex > the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

  26. Soliloquy • Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

  27. Aside • Words spoken, usually in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

  28. Pun • Shakespeare loved to use them!!! • Humorous use of a word with two meanings > sometimes missed by the reader because of Elizabethan language and sexual innuendo

  29. Direct Address • Words that tell the reader who is being addressed: • “A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.” • “Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?”

  30. Dramatic Irony • A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

  31. Verbal Irony • Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

  32. Situational Irony • An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

  33. Comic Relief • Use of comedy within literature that is NOT comedy to provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness. • In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation

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