Download SHAKESPEARE!!!!

SHAKESPEARE!!!!
Can you feel the excitement?!
Some Quotes…
“A Fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows
himself to be a fool.”
 “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some
achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon
them.”
 “Beauty is all very well at first sight; but whoever looks
at it when it has been in the house three days?”
 “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
 “How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a
good deed in a naughty world.”
 “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts
and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no
more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
signifying nothing.”
 “Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like the toad,
ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his
head.”
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Some of the “good stuff…”
“Thou whoreson, senseless villain!”
 “Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all!”
 “More of your conversation would infect
my brain.”
 “I’ll pray a thousand prayers for your
death.”
 “Your horrid image does unfix my hair.”
 “You peasant swain! You whoreson malthorse drudge!”
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Homework:
Do some research, and identify
your favorite Shakespearean insult
for Friday…
Our Intro. to Shakespeare…
I. Historical Background
 II. Features of Shakespeare’s Theatre, the
Globe
 III. The Plays Themselves
 IV. Shakespeare’s Life & Career
 V. The Others…
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I.
Historical Background
A. English Reformation 1534
Henry VIII breaks
from Rome
 Shift in power –
Secular & Religious
 Daily Life
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I.
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Historical Background
B. Rise of Humanism
Humanism: A
displacement of the
“other worldly” values
of the middle ages in
favor of a belief in the
potential of humanity
in this world.
I.

Historical Background
B. Rise of Humanism
Renaissance or a “rebirth” of art and
literature of the past…
I.
Historical Background
C. Elizabeth I Accedes to the
Throne (1558)
Elizabeth comes to the throne after the
death of her half-sister, Mary I, and reigns
until 1603.
 England rises to the height of political
power.
 1588: England defeats
The Spanish Armada… @
The same time Shakespeare
Begins his career

I.
Historical Background
C. Elizabeth accedes to the throne

England’s Political Scene:
 Catholics
(Recusants)
 Protestants
 Puritans
I.
Historical Background
D. Construction of the Theatre
1576: James
Burbage built 1st
Permanent theatrical
building… Guess who
the landlord is…
 The Suburbs
 The Acting Profession
 1599: The Globe
Theatre built
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I.
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Historical Background…
E. Death of Elizabeth 1603
James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England
Parliament is against the coronation… Why? James’ wife
was a Catholic
1620: Plymouth Rock
1642: Puritans take over the country of England…
Charles I beheaded… BUT THE MOST TERRIBLE PART…
All theaters are closed!
1642-1660: Interregnum Period
1660: THE RESTORATION: Britain brings back the
monarchy… Charles II crowned
Charles II allows women on stage & performances now
take place in doors…
II. Features of Shakespeare’s Theatre,
The Globe
A. Seating
Clues in play as to the design of the
theatre…
 Can house up to 3,800 spectators…
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 Roughly
1,500 people in higher levels
 Remaining 2,300 squeezed groundlings

No spectator is more than 50 ft. away
from the actors
II. Features of Shakespeare’s
Theatre, The Globe
B. The Stage, Props, Costumes,
and Scenery

Non-Representational: They did not try to
visually recreate what the audience was to
see. So how was this done?
 EXAMPLES…
Proscenium: Today versus then… 4th
Wall?
 Some furniture used
 Costumes… Contemporary of course!
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Let’s go to the Globe!
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http://www.shakespearesglobe.org/virtualtour/stage/
The Plays…
III. The Plays Themselves

37 Total… Divided into Four Groups
 Comedies
 Tragedies
 Histories
 Deal
with specific period in English history
 Romances
 Fairy
tale like quality with a mix of comedy and tragic
moments. GENERALLY a happy ending follows
Shakespeare never took part in publishing his
own plays
 No plays written by Shakespeare’s hand has
survived…
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IV. Shakespeare’s Life & Career
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1564-1616
Stratford-upon-Avon
“Not of an age but for all
time.” –Ben Jonson
Authorship
Married to Ann Hathaway, but
some rumors
Epitaph: “GOOD FREND FOR
JESUS SAKE FORBEARE TO
DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED
HEARE.
BLEST BE YE MAN YT SPARES
THES STONES AND
CURST BE HE THAT MOVES
MY BONES”
The others…
Ben Jonson
1572-1637
 Master of English
comedy
 Volpone, The
Alchemist, Every Man
in his Humour
 The MASQUE
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Christopher Marlowe
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1564-1593
Untimely Death
Introduced the first
important use of
blank (unrhymed)
verse
Tamburlaine the
Great, The Jew of
Malta, and Edward II
Doctor Faustus
His Life