William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare The Man The Myth The Legend The Bane of High School Students Everywhere

Famous British Playwright and Poet

Life and Times • Baptized April 26, 1564 • Births were not recorded, baptisms were • Most likely born three days earlier • From Stratford-upon-Avon • Father was a glove maker and wool merchant • Mother was from a wealthy family

Shakespeare’s childhood home

Married Anne Hathaway • No, not that Anne Hathaway • Married November 28, 1582 • He was 18, she was 26 • First child was born six months later (Scandal!) • Susanna • Had twins Judith and Hamnet two years later • Hamnet died when he was 11

Anne Hathaway?

The Lost Years • We have no idea what happened between 1585 and 1592 • He moved from Stratford to London and began working in theatre • Family stayed in Stratford

Started Writing Poems • Two longer poems • “Venus and Adonis” – 1593 • “The Rape of Lucrece”- 1594 • 154 sonnets • Written sometime in the mid 1590s • Shakespeare is one of the most famous sonnet writers • He had a specific style of sonnet which we now call the Shakespearean Sonnet

Shakespearean Sonnets • 14 line poem • Three stanzas with four lines each (quatrain) and a rhyming couplet at the end • Rhyme scheme ababcdcdefefgg • Rhythm: Iambic Pentameter • Iambic = type of sound • Pair of syllables…first is unstressed, second is stressed • Pentameter= length of meter • Number of times a sound pattern occurs……five times in this case • “Penta” like pentagon (five sided shape)

But…..he also enjoyed acting • The Lord Chamberlain’s Men formed in 1594 • Group of actors that performed most of Shakespeare’s plays • Shakespeare was one of the managers, although he would sometimes play smaller roles • Changed name to the King’s Men in 1603 • King James ascended to the throne • Performed plays at the Rose and Globe Theatres

Shakespearean Plays • Wrote 38 plays, most between 1594-1611 • Plays were very popular during his lifetime • He did not publish them immediately • People paid to go see them performed in a theater • Actors traveled to court to perform for the Queen (and later the King) • Fine line between entertaining and offending Royalty

All Good Things Must Come to an End • Shakespeare moved back to Stratford in 1611 • Died on April 23, 1616 • The same day as his (presumed) birthday • Shakespeare’s friends published a collection of his plays in 1623

Famous Shakespeare Plays • Comedies • As You Like It • The Merchant of Venice • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Taming of the Shrew • The Tempest • Histories • Richard III • Henry V • Tragedies • Macbeth • King Lear • Hamlet • Othello • Julius Caesar • And……….. • Romeo and Juliet!!!!!!!

Love, Fighting, and Death, O My! • Story about young lovers from warring families in Italy • Based on Italian tale • Shakespeare expanded the plot, added characters etc.

R+ J Frequently Adapted Even Today

The Power of Language • Students sometime struggle with Shakespeare’s “Antiquated” language • Some of the language is no longer used, but Shakespeare is famous for his neologisms • Neologism = new word • Shakespeare is credited with at least 1,700 • Critical ,Dwindle, Majesty, Excellent, Obscene, Fragrant, Brittle, Aggravate, Radiance, Summit

Misconceptions • Shakespeare did not write in Old English • Old English is basically German • Beowulf (written sometime between 8th and 11th century)

Misconceptions • Shakespeare did not write in Middle English • German, French and Latin • Starting to somewhat resemble modern English • Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in Middle English • Written in 14th century

TGFEME • Shakespeare wrote in Early Modern English • It is very similar to Modern English

William Shakespeare