The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

1. The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

2. K.W.L. • Make a burrito out of your paper • Let’s do a KWL

3. ILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was born on April 23, 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, England to Mary Arden and John Shakespeare. His dad made some money in the glove business, eventually opened a general store and over the years bought some property. Will was the third of eight children and received a free boyhood education because of his father's position as alderman. Indications in his later writing suggest that as a kid Shakespeare enjoyed football, field sports and arguing with the referees. The Shakespeare's were comfortable, but not aristocrats by any means. By the time William was fifteen the family's fortunes were in decline. Business was bad. This just meant that when Will came of age, he had to work for a living.

4. Obviously, there were not a lot of entertainment options at the time. Books were not in wide circulation and anyone with half a brain could only take so much of that crappy re-order music and those inane puppet shows - so Shakespeare had the brilliant idea of becoming an actor.

5. Shakespeare’s history • Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England • Birth date unknown, but baptismal date April 26, 1564 • Date of Death: April 23, 1616 • First Folio published in 1623 • The “Lost Years” 1585 to 1592

7. THE FAMILY • Married Anne Hathaway November 29, 1582- she’s 26 • Father: John Shakespeare • Mother: Mary Arden • Kids- • Susanna (66) 1583 • twins Judith (77) and Hamnet (11)- 1585

8. Write an Inference! Based on the evidence in the previous slide, what can we infer about William Shakespeare . . Fast Willy?

10. Education and theater • Attended Stratford Grammar school until age 14 • Studied Latin and Greek • Leaves family in England, goes to London • Join’s Lord Chamberlain’s Men Later known as The King’s Men

11. Shakespeare’s career • Made a living as actor, part owner in Globe theater, playwright • Writes three types of plays • Retires in 1610

12. The time period • The English Renaissance or Elizabethan Era • Named after Queen Elizabeth I, first female monarch • She was the daughter of Henry VIII • Bubonic Plague was a major cause of death and illness, affected Globe sales in 1592 & 1608-1610 • King James succeeded her

13. THE GLOBE THEATER • Held 2,500 to 3,000 people • Built in 1599 • Shakespeare owned 10% • Had a flag on top to signaled that a play was happening that day • Performed in afternoon because of sunlight

14. Picture of the Globe theater • http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/blettiere/globe.pdf

15. Globe Continued • Only men acting, women were not allowed to act • Burned down in 1613 • Rebuilt in 1614, but Shakespeare has retired from the Globe

16. Shakespeare's Language Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter verse Meter: recurrence in a poetic line of a regular rhythmic unit Foot: combination of stressed and unstressed syllables which constitutes the meter. Iambic- an unstressed followed by a stressed syllable e.g. re-call . . . Heroic couplets: 2 rhyming lines to finish a passage of verse Soliloquy: an extended speech in which a character is alone on stage Aside: A statement said out loud but can only be heard by the speaker and the audience. Other characters onstage cannot hear it

17. Shakespearean Play types- 39 total History: used to generate funds and appease the benefactor (King James), slightly accurate historically speaking Henry IV’s, Ricahrd II, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Henry V, Henry VIII Tragedy: a serious play dealing with the problems of a central usually noble character that end with calamitous events and death. Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, MacBeth, Othello Romance/ Comedy: a lighthearted play dealing with redemption stories and love plots/ triangles, often mystical and fantastic The Tempest, Much Ado about Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale

18. 5 acts of fun- Tragedy Act I: Introduction- introduces the complication (plot) that is to stir the protagonist from the regular path: includes a moral conflict in most tragedies. When s/he chooses incorrectly/ evil and defies foreshadowing, it is called a tragic flaw: the element that leads to a hero’s unfolding. Act II: Dramatic Action Increases- more difficulties are added to the plot to compound the conflict

19. 5 Acts of Fun: con’t Act III: Turning Point (climax)- Protagonist makes a mistake and cannot turn back. His fate is sealed and the dramatic irony builds because the audience can perceive what will ultimately happen. Act IV: Tease of Success- In the 4th acts the protagonist generates a plan, sometimes with help from other characters or foils (characters in contrast to the protagonist’s), that will successfully resolve the conflict. This builds tension because it contrasts with the foreshadowing. Act V: Catastrophe- The final predicted resolution is enacted and many people die including the protagonist. The Catharsis is sometimes fulfilling but typically leaves crowd saddened and awakened through their sympathy.

20. Romeo and Julietby William Shakespeare http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU1zJofOY60 We will be reading Shakespeare’s Play Romeo and Juliet. What can you tell me about this play? Write a K.W.L about what you know about the play Romeo and Juliet.

21. What do you know about this play?

22. Romeo and Juliet– the history of the play • Categorized as a tragedy • Not an Original Story • Story set inVerona, Italy • Story is about 2 feuding families • Montagues- Romeo • Capulets- Juliet • Retellings- • West Side Story, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,