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Shakespeare and Macbeth. British Literature. Shakespeare’s Biography. Very little actually known about Shakespeare- most information is found through Church documents Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon (a guess even since only his baptism is recorded)
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Shakespeare and Macbeth British Literature
Shakespeare’s Biography Very little actually known about Shakespeare- most information is found through Church documents Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon (a guess even since only his baptism is recorded) Married to Anne Hathaway in December 1582 3 children- Suzanne, Judith and Hammnet Died on April 23, 1616
Playwright Performed most plays in The Globe Theater Began as a member of Lord Strange’s players acting company After that, joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men Transitioned to the King’s Men in 1603
Patronage and Monarchs • Queen Elizabeth was on the throne when Shakespeare began writing his plays • As a result, most of his plays written during that era are typically happier and include more comedies • King James I assumed the throne in 1603 and was also a Patron to Shakespeare • As a result, Macbeth is seen to appeal to James I (of Scotland) and a representative of a more turbulent time
The Types of Plays The Comedy- purpose to entertain. Plot lines usually involve a love story and friends of the lovers (and a clown) EX: A Midsummer Night’s Dream The History- more serious purpose. Records the rise and fall of great kings. Served as a moral example EX: Julius Caesar The Tragedy- A play with a violent end-disaster as a result of breaching a fundamental moral law. EX: Macbeth
Shakespeare’s language • Blank Verse: Unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter • This is the normal form of speech in Shakespearean plays for major characters • Rhymed Verse: couplets of iambic pentameter, also called heroic couplets • Used for supernatural characters (more than mortal) • Used at the end of a scene • Used when speaking of love
Shakespeare’s Language • Song • Used to create a particular mood • Prose • Used for lower class characters and for reading from letters or documents
Act 1: Protasis- Characters and situations are introduced, necessary exposition, conflict begins. • Act 2/3: epitasis- complication starts and reaches a frenzy • Act 4: catastrophe- looks like everything will be solved, then the solution goes wrong • Act 5: catastasis- solution to all conflicts The 5 Act Play Shakespeare’s Plays were divided into 5 acts by later publishers of the plays. His 5 acts are broken down by certain plot characteristics. The first complete publication of all 36 of Shakespeare’s plays is called the First Folio
Literary Terms to Know Anachronism: false assignment of event, person, scene, language to a time when that item was not in existence Equivocation: the use of expressions with double meaning in order to mislead the listener; a half truth Aside: dramatic convention that allows a character on stage to speak aloud his thoughts, unheard by other characters present Pathetic fallacy: nature reflecting the deeds of men Soliloquy: dramatic convention that allows a character alone on stage to speak aloud his thoughts Allusion: reference within literary work to person, historical event, work of art
Patterns to Note Imagery Patterns Deceptive appearances Irony Sleeplessness Flattery to James I Reversal of morality (“fair is foul, foul is fair”) • Bird • Animal • Color • Clothing • Darkness/Light