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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare. The Life and Times of Shakespeare!. Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon (in England), died April 23, 1616 Never gave a single interview or wrote an autobiography Father was a prominent mayor

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William Shakespeare

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  1. William Shakespeare

  2. The Life and Times of Shakespeare! • Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon (in England), died April 23, 1616 • Never gave a single interview or wrote an autobiography • Father was a prominent mayor • Joined a famous acting group (Lord Chamberlain’s Men): wrote Romeo and Juliet for this group

  3. Family Life • 1582: married Anne Hathaway at age 18; she was 26! • 1585: Couple had twins (in addition to older sister Susanna), Judith and Hamnet (Hamnet died before reaching adulthood • Between 1585 and 1592, Shakespeare left his family and moved to London to become an actor and playwright

  4. Career • He was not concerned with making books-wanted his plays to be performances • Wrote his plays fast (he wrote 2 plays a year) • Only got paid once for each play-no royalties • Queen Elizabeth I loved Shakespeare’s plays. He wrote and performed several just for her. • Romeo and Juliet was written in the mid-1590s

  5. Career • Shakespeare started an acting company called The King’s Men, which performed for King James I. • Unlike many theater people, Shakespeare earned a good living; by 1599, he owned part of the Globe Theatre, one of the newest, trendiest theaters in London

  6. Theatre Life • Early Theatre • Being an actor was illegal • Noble men would employ men to be actors who traveled on a wagon • Could not be arrested because they were servants of the noble men

  7. The Globe • 1 penny=standing spot slightly below the stage, no roof (groundlings) • 2 pennies=gallery seat with a roof • 3 pennies gets you a seat with a cushion!

  8. The Globe Actors • Leading men • No women • Boys who did not hit puberty…got fired after voice changed • Women had less lines because the children played the roles

  9. Play types-Comedy • The thinking person’s response to an experience • About social groups and types-characters should not develop • When the funny runs out, or a character changes, he usually dies • Popular trends-mistaken identity, randomness, surprise • Greek comedies end happily • English comedies end in marriage

  10. Play types-Tragedy • Records the responses of a person with feelings • Shows great strength, high degree of character development • Focuses on one character, usually named in the title • English tradition says they must end in death

  11. Play types-Historical • Contain elements of comedy and tragedy • 10 total history plays • Covers English history from the 12th -16th centuries • Each one is named after and focuses on the reigning monarch of the time

  12. Shakespeare today Twelfth Night 10 Things I Hate about You The Lion King Romeo and Juliet O (Othello) Gnomeo and Juliet

  13. Life in the 1500s • Daily Life • Bathing was considered a health risk. (May=yearly bath) • Most houses had thatched roofs and dirt floors • Common foods=vegetables, porridge, and bread. Meat was a delicacy • Religion • Almost everyone was Christian • Official state religion=Church of England • Everyone was required to go to church at least once a month

  14. Life in the 1500s • Marriage and Dating: • Boys could marry at age 14, girls at 12 (Romeo: 14, Juliet: 13) • Considered foolish to marry for love (arranged marriages) • Children were considered property of their parents • School • Only boys went to school (7a.m.-5p.m.) • Entertainment • Gossip, tennis, attending the theatre, singing, dancing, embroidery, taking lessons…

  15. Romeo and Juliet Background • Setting: Verona, Italy (14th century) Montagues Capulets Lord and Lady Montague Lord and Lady Capulet Romeo-Montague’s son Juliet-Capulet’s daughter Benvolio-Romeo’s cousin Tybalt-Juliet’s cousin Balthasar-servant to Romeo Nurse-Juliet’s nanny Abram-servant to Montague Peter-Nurse’s servant

  16. Character List (con’t.) Apothecary-druggist Count Paris-young nobleman related to the Prince, sometimes called Paris or the County Friar John-local priest Mercutio-Romeo’s friend, related to the Prince Prince Escalus-ruler of Verona

  17. Romeo and Juliet Background • The Montagues and Capulets are deadly enemies; engage in bloody duels • Fate plays a role • Story begins with Romeo pining for Rosaline • Themes to look for: • Search for identity • Forcefulness of love • Individual vs. society • Inevitability of fate

  18. Romeo and Juliet Background Climax: Act III Rising Action: Act II Falling Action : Act IV Exposition: Act I Resolution: Act V

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