Download William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare
The Bard of Avon
Shakespeare’s Personal Life
• Baptized- April 26, 1564
– Stratford on Avon
– Born to John and Mary
• Married- Anne Hathaway
– November 28. 1582
• Children- Susanna, Hamnet,
• Judith
• Died- April 23, 1616
Shakespeare’s England
• Queen Elizabeth
• Population- approx. 200,000
• River Thames- main highway
• Overcrowding let to Bubonic Plague
The Plague
• Carried by fleas on rats
• Thought to be a sign of
God’s anger
• Two bouts killed ¼ of the
population within eleven
years (1592-1603)
• Theatres closed- too
dangerous
Shakespeare Lived Through:
•Galileo’s invention of the telescope
•Drake sailed around the world
•Elizabeth I maintained Church of
England/supported arts
•Puritans strict views
•“Medieval Period” ending
•James I succeeded Elizabeth I/into witchcraft
Shakespeare’s
Professional Life
• Member of Lord
Chamberlain’s Men
• Actor and Playwright
• Later became King’s Men
• Performed primarily at Globe
theater
Elizabethan
Drama
• Globe Theater–
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Octagon shape
Five sections for
spectators
Open air courtyard surrounded
by galleries
Flag flew on Performance days
Upper Gallery= 2 pennies
Lower Gallery= 3 pennies
» Best seat in the house
No reserved seats
2000 people= sold out
No curtain-no artificial lighting
Elizabethan
Performance
• Fast Tempo- No Interruptions
• Audience very involved-booing,
cheering, throwing veggies
• Little scenery
• No women
• Violence
Shakespeare’s Writing
37 plays
Tragedies
Comedies
Histories
154 Sonnets
Patron
Dark Lady
Shakespeare’s Themes
• Love
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At first sight
Lost and found
Between family members
In old age
Between young lovers
unrequited
Shakespeare’s Themes
• Power
– Used and abused
– In those who seek it
– In those who protect it with loyalty
– In the just and merciful rule of wise leaders
– In the hands of unscrupulous tyrants
Shakespeare’s Themes
• Honor
– In noble men and women
– Lost through foolishness
– Stolen through trickery and loyalty
– For one who seems an outcast
Shakespeare’s Themes
• Friendship
–Between men and men, men and
women, women and women
–Between masters and servants
–Put to the test through
jealousy, grief,
misunderstanding
Why is Shakespeare
Popular?
• Because his language is fun!!!
• Because his language “rolls off the
tongue”
• Many films are being made based on his
plays
• Many big stars love to star in
Shakespeare plays
• Shakespeare writes about human
behavior that will never change
• Shakespeare’s plays always have juicy
bits in them like murder, deceit, the
supernatural, sex, witchcraft, and even
drugs