Shakespearean Overview

1. Shakespearean Overview Presented by Mr. Afram

2. Table of Contents • Shakespeare’s Personal Life • Political Environment • London Theatre • Shakespearean Language • R + J: Setting • R + J: Themes • R + J: Essential Questions

3. Shakespeare’s Personal Life • William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England (Roth). • His father was a successful merchant. Given the family’s wealth, scholars believe that young William attended school and studied Latin and Greek, as well as basic Roman literature (Roth). Stratford-upon-Avon is ninety-five miles from London.

4. Personal Life, Con’d • Shakespeare eventually found great financial success as a playwright, and he was able to purchase Stratford’s second-largest home (Lacie). • Shakespeare’s family remained in Stratford while his plays were performed in London (Roth). Shakespeare’s home

5. Personal Life, Con’d • By the time he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. They eventually had three children (Roth). • Sadly, their only son, Hamnet, died at age 11 (Roth). An example of women from the upper class

6. Political Environment • Queen Elizabeth I was England’s ruler at the time. England’s navy was increasing in power, and its overseas exploration was making it rich (Wikipedia). • Queen Elizabeth encouraged the arts, and while many Europeans looked down upon English culture, they respected the London stage (Wikipedia). Since she never married, Elizabeth was often referred to as the “Virgin Queen.”

7. London Theatre Note: “Theatre” refers to the art form and “theater” refers to the building. • By 1594, two theatrical companies competed for the attention of the viewing public: The Lord Admiral’s Men and the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Roth). • Shakespeare and the Chamberlain’s Men eventually surpassed their rival for two reasons: Shakespeare was a talented playwright, and Richard Burbage was a fine actor (Roth). Richard Burbage performed as Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth.

8. London Theatre, Con’d • Initially, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed at the Theatre. However, after a dispute with the landlord, the company built their new home, The Globe (Roth).

9. London Theatre, Con’d • In Shakespeare’s day, most of the theaters were outside the city walls. Religious conservatives believed that plays were sinful and encouraged deceptive behavior. The Puritans punished immoral behavior.

10. London Theatre, Con’d • Unlike today, the theatre was viewed by members of every social class. For a pence, one could stand in front of the stage for the entire performance. These patrons were referred to as “groundlings.” • The Globe, for example, could accommodate 2,000 people, and guests frequently witnessed Queen Elizabeth 1 in the galleries (Roth). Even today you can be a grounding at the Globe!

11. London Theatre, Con’d Two facts of interest: • All actors in the London theatre were male, and female parts were often played by young boys. • Shakespeare was often known to perform in his own plays! At the time, women were not allowed to act.

12. Shakespearean Language • Most of Shakespeare’s work was written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic technique invented by the ancient Greeks (Wikipedia). • An iamb contains two syllables: the first is unstressed and the second is stressed. • Pentameter refers to the fact that that are five sets of iambs, for a total of ten syllables.

13. Shakespearean Language, Con’d Examples: • “he WENT/ to TOWN/ toDAY/ to BUY/ a CAR.” or… • “In SOOTH/ I KNOW/ not WHY/ I AM/ so SAD” (The Merchant of Venice, Act I, scene i).

14. R + J: Setting • The play is set in Verona, Italy. • Verona is one of the larger cities in northern Italy, and it’s known for great art and architecture (Wikipedia).

15. R + J: Setting, Con’d www.luxist.com • Most of the play’s activity occurs in the Capulet estate. • As a wealthy man in a prosperous city, Lord Capulet is accustomed to luxury. Italian villas www.allposters.com

16. R + J: Theme #1 www.pcs.org • Disguises allow characters to learn the truth about an individual or situation. • Disguises are commonly used in Shakespearean comedies such as Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. www.dailycamera.com

17. R + J: Theme #2 www.michellelebow.net • The play also shows the disruptive power of love. In other words, what happens when people fall in love? How does their character change? How do their worlds change? Love changes our lives aibuenglit.pbworks.com

18. R + J: Theme #3 frontrow.dmagazine.com • Openness of sexual desire is also a dominant theme in the play. From the first scene through the play’s end, the characters freely discuss their sexual desires. The play isn’t shy about sex entertainment.xin.msn.com

19. R + J: Essential Questions www.desimartini.com • What is love? • How does love change people? • What are the qualities of a strong romantic relationship? blogs.sfweekly.com www.cinemablend.com

20. Works Cited Lacie, Christina, ed. Much Ado About Nothing. Hauppage: Barron's Educational Series, 2009. Print. Shakespeare Made Easy. Roth, Robert R., ed. Macbeth. Hauppage: Barron's Educational Series, 2002. Print. Simply Shakespeare. "William Shakespeare." Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia, 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare>.