Introduction to Shakespeare & Fact vs. Opinion

Introduction to Shakespeare &Fact vs. Opinion

Quick Write • Write a paragraph that includes four positive facts about ____School and one positive opinion.

William Shakespeare • Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England • Education: Grammar School • Married Anne Hathaway when he was only 18 • Had a successful life • Had three children: Susanna, and twins, Hamnet (died age 11) and Judith • Died in 1616, at the age of 53 • Died too young

Shakespeare wrote his plays in Old English. Is this a fact or an opinion? His Epitaph • Good friend for Ievus sake forebeare, • To digg the dvst encloased heare, • Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones, • And cvrst be he yt moves my bones

Written Works • Wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and many poems. • Wrote 3 genres of plays: comedy, tragedy, and historical. • Shakespeare wrote during the Elizabethan Age (1558—1603). • Shakespeare was lucky to have the queen as a patron. • He was a co-founder of the acting troop Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which changed its name to The King’s Men when King James I was crowned in 1603.

“The Wooden O” The Globe theater opened in London in 1599. It tragically burned down in 1613. The New Globe was built in 1997 on the site of the original. The Globe Theatre

Facts (and an opinion) About the Globe • Plays always began at 2 P.M. and lasted about 2 hours. • The Globe welcomed women and men, the wealthy and the poor. • Women could not attend alone or with friends. They had to have male escorts. • The rich sat in the Gallery, known today as “box-seats.” • The “cheap seats” were not seats at all. “Penny seats” were sold to the poor who stood in the floor section of The Globe referred to as the “yard” or the “pit.” The penny seat purchasers were called “groundlings” • It was unfair that the rich people were invited to sit down while the poor were expected to stand.

The Expensive Seats This are the best seats! Fact or opinion?

The Groudlings’ View It would not be as fun to watch the play if you had to stand for hours.

The New Globe Theatre The New Globe Theatre opened in 1997 in London’s South Bank. It is a replica of the one in which William Shakespeare began presenting his plays about 1599. You’re very lucky if you get to see a play here someday, especially if you get a box seat. The spectators on the main floor stand in the space in front of the stage, just as the "groundlings" did in Shakespeare's time.

Setting • Eating and DRINKING were allowed at The Globe. • Scenery and sets were not part of Shakespeare’s performances; however, elaborate costumes were. • It took a good imagination to enjoy one of Shakespeare’s plays. • The setting was indicated through references in the ACTORS’ lines.

Female Roles The theatre in Shakespeare's day was very different from the theatre we know today. The greatest difference was that there were no actresses. All of the women's roles were played by boys! Many of these boys acted their parts very well and all were totally accepted by Elizabethan audiences. The first female actors did not appear on the English stage until 1660!

Movies: Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Harry Potter, Pan’s Labyrinth, West Side Story, The Lion King, Twilight [2008] TV: Stargate SG-1, SNL, Tin Man, House, m.d., Criminal Minds, The Walking Dead Cartoons: Gargoyles, Family Guy, South Park, The Simpsons, Sponge Bob, American Dad Shakespeare is still everywhere!

Will’s Words • Will “made up” more than 3000 words during his lifetime! • Will had an awesome, but sometimes VERY adult, sense of humor. • Will inserted humor and puns all over his works to entertain his Elizabethan audience.

“not slept one wink” “vanished into thin air” “a sorry sight” “cold comfort” “come what may” “a fool’s paradise” “budge an inch” “eaten me out of house and home” “without a rhyme or reason” “brevity is the soul of wit” “breathe one’s last” “for goodness sake” “a wild goose-chase” “kill… with kindness” “good riddance” “send him packing” “dead as a doornail” “foregone conclusion” “it was Greek to me” “heart of gold” “the devil incarnate” “come full circle” “in a pickle” “a laughing stock” “all’s well that ends well” “a spotless reputation” “strange bedfellows” “woe is me” “green-eyed monster” Shakespeare Phraseology

How Language Has Changed • Old English: Faeder ure thu the eart on heofonum, si thin nama gehaldgod. Tobecume thin rice. Gewurthe thin will on earthan swa swa on heofonum… • Middle English: Oure fadir that art in heuneus, halwid be thi name; thi kyngdom cumme to; be thi wil don as in heun and in erthe… • Traditional English: Our father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven… • Modern English: Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven…

Prologue Two families, both equal in fame and fortune, In the city of Verona, wherethis story takes place, Have been fighting as long as anyone can remember, and the general public has even gotten involved. Both families have children who will fall in love, but will end up killing themselves. • Two households, both alike in dignity, • In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, • From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, • Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. • From forth the fatal loins of these two foes • A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Exit Slip • List two facts you learned about Shakespeare’s personal life. • List three facts you learned about the Globe theatre.

Introduction to Shakespeare & Fact vs. Opinion