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William Shakespeare

Explore the key elements of a Shakespearean tragedy, discover notable examples of tragic heroes, and delve into the unique language and poetic devices used by William Shakespeare.

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William Shakespeare

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  1. William Shakespeare

  2. Timeline • 1564: Born in Stratford-upon-Avon • Learned Latin and studied Greek and Roman Classical literature as a child. • His plays were highly influenced by these texts. • 1590s: Began acting professionally and writing plays in London. • 1599: The Globe Theatre was constructed, in which many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed. • 1599: Julius Caesar was performed as the first play to be produced in the Globe Theatre. • 1616: Died in Stratford-upon-Avon.

  3. Tragedy • “Tragedy is, then, an enactment of a deed that is important and complete, and of a certain magnitude, by means of language enriched with ornaments, each used separately in the different parts of the play: it is enacted, not merely recited, and through pity and fear it effects relief (catharsis) to such and similar emotions.” Aristotle, Poetics, VI 1449b 2-3

  4. enactment • deed that is important • complete • of a certain magnitude • language enriched with ornaments • recited • through pity and fear it effects relief (catharsis) to such and similar emotions

  5. Elements of a Tragedy • Five acts • Three unities: • action: a play should have one main action that it follows, with no or few subplots. • place: the action in a play should take place in only one setting. • time: the action in a play should take place over no more than 24 hours. • Main characters of noble rank • Several of the main characters along with the tragic hero die by the end, and order is finally restored. • No scenes of horror onstage

  6. Tragic hero • The protagonist of a tragedy. • The audience feels pity or sympathy towards him. • Shows hubris—pride or arrogance, the presumption that one’s mind alone can distinguish good and evil. • Has a tragic flaw—error in judgment. • Experiences a reversal of fortune. • Experiences a recognition of the error.

  7. Examples • Oedipus in Sophocles' Oedipus the King (429 BC). • Brutus in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1599). • Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet (1601). • Lear in Shakespeare's King Lear (c. 1603-1606). • Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth (c. 1603-1607). • Othello in Shakespeare's Othello (1604). • Batman/Bruce Wayne from the DC Universe (1939). • Spider-Man/Peter Parker from the Marvel Universe (1962). • Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in George Lucas' Star Wars (1977-2005). • William Wallace in Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995). • Walt Kowalski in Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino (2008). • Harvey Dent in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008). • Maximus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000 film)

  8. Important questions to consider • What makes a good leader? • Who is the tragic hero of the play, Julius Caesar or Brutus? • “This play is distinctive because it has no villains” (Wills 118).

  9. A laughing stock (The Merry Wives of Windsor) • A sorry sight (Macbeth) • As dead as a doornail (Henry VI) • Eaten out of house and home (Henry V, Part 2) • Fair play (The Tempest) • I will wear my heart upon my sleeve (Othello) • In a pickle (The Tempest) • In stitches (Twelfth Night) • In the twinkling of an eye (The Merchant Of Venice) • Mum's the word (Henry VI, Part 2) • Neither here nor there (Othello) • Send him packing (Henry IV) • Set your teeth on edge (Henry IV) • There's method in my madness (Hamlet) • Too much of a good thing (As You Like It) • Vanish into thin air (Othello • A dish fit for the gods (Julius Caesar) • It was Greek to me (Julius Caesar) • Itching palm (Julius Caesar)Lean and hungry look (Julius Caesar)Lie low (Much Ado about Nothing)Live long day (Julius Caesar)

  10. Shakespeare’s Language • Iamb: an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. • I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not like them in a box. I do not like them with a fox. I will not eat them here or there. I will not eat them anywhere.

  11. Iambic pentameter: a line of verse with five “feet”: five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables in a row. • Blank verse: lines of iambic pentameter that do not rhyme • He was my friend, faithful and just to me.But Brutus says he was ambitious,And Brutus is an honourable man.

  12. Antiquated word forms • When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.

  13. Reversed word order • I thrice presented him a kingly crown,Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?

  14. Figurative language • I could be well moved if I were as you.If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.But I am constant as the Northern Star,Of whose true fixed and resting qualityThere is no fellow in the firmament.The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;They are all fire, and every one doth shine;But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.

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