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Shakespearean Drama: Background

Shakespearean Drama: Background. Romeo and Juliet English I & Honors. “All the World’s a Stage”. Shakespeare’s Philosophy: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,

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Shakespearean Drama: Background

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  1. Shakespearean Drama: Background Romeo and Juliet English I & Honors

  2. “All the World’s a Stage” Shakespeare’s Philosophy: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages…” -- From As You Like It

  3. Theatre During Shakespeare’s Time • Plays were performed in public theaters. • Wealthy playgoers sat on the benches • Less wealthy playgoers stood in the pit • Hazelnuts were their theater food of choice. • The GLOBE • Where many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed. • Located in London – built in 1599. • Was reconstructed in 1997 • Held ~3,000 people

  4. Theater Cont’d • Setting and stage directions were imbedded in the script: • “Soft! What light through yonder window breaks?” • “If I profane with my unworthiest hand/this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this” • “What, drawn, and talk of peace?” • Women did NOT perform in the theater • Plays lasted roughly 2 hours

  5. About Romeo & Juliet • Wrote histories, tragedies and comedies • It is one of Shakespeare’s tragedies • A tragedy is a drama in which the central character meets disaster or great misfortune. • The plot was borrowed!!!! • Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562

  6. Theatrical Terms • Monologue: a long speech made by one actor usually expressing thoughts. • Soliloquy: a long speech made by an actor to the audience (the content is private). • Aside: the character speaks to the audience; it’s unheard by the other characters

  7. A Distinction of Importance • Shakespeare used two types of writing: • Blank Verse: unrhymed poetry with a distinct meter • Prose: no rhyme or meter; “normal speech” Typically: • The wealthy, important characters speak in blank verse • The poor, unimportant characters speak in prose

  8. Academic Vocabulary • Shakespeare is known for his wordplay. • Oxymoron: a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms • “the deafening silence” • “the living dead” • Pun: a play on words that suggests two or more meanings • “I work as a baker because I knead dough.” • “Never invest in funerals; it is a dying industry.”

  9. Activity • Part I: Research “puns” tonight on the internet. Find three examples, write them down, and explain why each is a pun. • Part II: Shakespeare re-orders many of his words. • “John caught the ball”  in Shakespearean…“The ball John caught” OR “John the ball caught” • YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Come up with three normal sentences and then re-word them into “Shakespearean lingo” (DUE tomorrow!)

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