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William Shakespeare 1564-1616

William Shakespeare 1564-1616. I. Brief Introduction . 1.Origin of English Drama Miracle(mystery) play Morality play Interludes. 2.Shakespeare’s predecessors 1)Latin influence: Seneca’s fate 2)University Wits Thomas Kyd: Spanish Tragedy

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William Shakespeare 1564-1616

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  1. William Shakespeare1564-1616

  2. I.Brief Introduction • 1.Origin of English Drama • Miracle(mystery) play • Morality play • Interludes

  3. 2.Shakespeare’s predecessors • 1)Latin influence: Seneca’s fate • 2)University Wits • Thomas Kyd: Spanish Tragedy • Christopher Marlower:Tamburlain the Great(supreme desire of Renaissance men and powerful blank verse) • Renaissance and humanism

  4. II.Shakespeare and His Works • 1.His life • April 23, 1564—April 23, 1616 • Stratfor-on-Avon, Warwickshire • 2.His works(37/38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 long poems) • general comment

  5. 3. 4 periods of his writings • 1)apprenticeship period • 2)comedies + histories (period of maturity) • 3)period of tragedies: 4 great tragedies • 4)period of dramatic romances

  6. 4. translation of some titles: • As You Like It 《皆大欢喜》、《如愿》 • All’s Well That Ends Well《终成眷属》

  7. 5.New findings about his play • 1)The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613) • Co-author with John Fletcher • 2)a play about Edward III has been recognized by scholars as 39th play by Shakespeare

  8. III. Shakespeare’s language and grammar • 1.Archaic words • thou, thee, thy (thine), ye=you（pl）,hath, hast thou: have you; wilt: will; doeth: does; art:are; Dost thou: do you; didst thou: did you

  9. 2.Grammar: • 1) est(-st) (didst, wouldst… anst) • 2)know not=do not know • Bassanio: • Do all men kill the things they do not love? • 3) Shylock: • Hates any man the thing he would not kill? • (different formation of questions) • 4)Antonio: • You may as well forbid the mountain pines/ To wag their high tops, and to make no noise(double negation=positiveness)

  10. IV.Reading of His Excerpts • 1. To be or not to be(a soliloquy by Hamlet) • Attention to some words • respect, regard, conscience, thought=consideration/reflection • resolution, action, will • (Hamlet: more thought than action;his hesitation )

  11. 2. Sonnet 18 • Motifs: • Friendship, youth, beauty,time, death, eternity, immortality of poety

  12. V.General Comment • 1.Shakespeare’s poetry • He has 154 sonnets as well as his beautiful and powerful verse lines in his plays. His sonnets are true treasures owned belonging to humanity.

  13. 2.Shakespeare’s tragedies • Each of his four great tragedies: Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth portrays some noble figure caught in a difficult situation, when some weakness, or bias of his nature is exposed. Upon his action depends not only his own fate, but that of an entire nation.

  14. 3.Shakespeare’s comedies • a mood of youth, love, and ideals of happiness in his comedies • heroes and heroines usually young men and women fighting against destiny itself and mould their own fate • general spirit of optimism in accordance with the humanist spirit of Renaissance period and the writer’s youthful mind

  15. 4.Shakespeare’s achievements • Social significance of his plays • Art of his plays • 1. unforgettable characterization • 2. masterful plot construction • 3. masterly use of language

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