William Shakespeare 1564-1616

William Shakespeare 1564-1616 The “be-all and end-all” of dramatists

CHILDHOOD • Born in Stratford-upon-Avon • Son of a glove-maker • Grammar school education (6am-6pm) boys studied Latin:Cicero,Virgil,Ovid, and Seneca • Developed a vocabulary more than 50,000 words • His writing reveals a knowledge of a wide variety of subjects:Music, law, seamanship, the Bible, military science, the stage art, politics, history, psychology, hunting, woodcraft, animal husbandry, and sports

ADULTHOOD • At 18 he married Ann Hathaway who was 26. • Lord Chamberlain’s Men . • In 1592 and 1594, the theatres of London were closed the plague. • He wrote poetry; considered himself a better poet than playwright. • His works have been translated into more languages than any book besides the Bible

Shakespeare and Language: • English language was rapidly growing; new words and phrases • No dictionaries or grammar books; • Will coined many words himself: Assassination, courtship, critic, critical, disgraceful, dishearten, distrustful,dwindle,eventful, exposure, fretful, gloomy, lonely, misplaced, recall, monumental, suspicious

Shakespeare the Playwright: • Wrote a total of 36 plays • Known for having written • Histories: Henry Iv • Comedies: Much Ado About Nothing • Tragedies: Hamlet, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet • He borrowed most of his plots from other sources and wasn’t always faithful to historical accuracy

Did he or didn’t he? • Debate about author of Shakespeare's plays • Possible authors: Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe or Edward De vere • However, Shakespeare's authorship not questioned in Shakespeare’s time • Folios written long after plays had been shown many times

His Audiences: • Audiences were enthralled by language • An auditory—not visual—audience. • Those who could pay more sat in the seats surrounding the stage. • The poorer crowd stood as “groundings” and paid a penny for admittance. • All social classes, attended the plays • Playwrights had the challenge of keeping everyone entertained.

Shakespeare's themes • Shakespeare’s crowd enjoyed viewing: Supernatural spirits, instant madness, and realistic dueling tales of monarchy’s intrigues powerful characters in splendid costumes

Active Audiences • Shakespeare’s audiences were active throughout the performances • The actors addressed the audience, and members of the audience often spoke back • Norrie Epstein claims that “the average Elizabethan yelled, hooted, snacked, and chatted.”

Environment • History suggests that play going was most likely a smelly experience • There were no bathrooms • People relieved themselves inside • People rarely bathed

The Theatre: • Awnings covered the stage and gallery seats. • Not in the city of London, but on the South Bank of Thames. • In 1574 public plays banished from the city by an ordinance for “corruptions of the youth and other enormities” (opportunities for prostitutes and thieves)

The Performances: • Performances took place between two and five in the afternoon • Advertising of plays was prohibited • a raised flag and a trumpet fanfare announced the beginning of the performance • A black flag meant tragedy, a white flag, a comedy, and a red flag, history

Performances cont…. • Vendors sold beer, water, oranges, nuts, gingerbread, and apples • Up to 30 plays were performed in 1 season • customarily the program changed daily.

Scenery was simple– Audiences had to use their imaginations • Instead of lighting technicians and panel,Horatio in Hamlet says, “But look, the morn is russet mantle clad Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.”

Scenery cont….. • Elaborate and extravagant costumes, often donated by aristocratic patrons • Musical accompaniment • All parts played by males (prepubescent choir boys played female parts)

William Shakespeare 1564-1616