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A Brief (and witty) Look at the Life and Times of William Shakespeare. How Shakespeare Wrote Plays. His Tools. A quill: the hollow, rigid shaft of a bird’s feather. Fun Fact: The word “pen” is derived from the Latin name for “feather”—“ penna .”
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A Brief (and witty) Look at the Life and Times of William Shakespeare
His Tools • A quill: the hollow, rigid shaft of a bird’s feather. • Fun Fact: The word “pen” is derived from the Latin name for “feather”—“penna.” • Introduced in 500 A.D. and was the writing instrument of choice until 1850
Used dialogue to make up for sparse decorations • Imaginative cooperation of the audience • Informal stage created intimacy between the actors and audience How setting affected his writing
Censorship • Manuscripts had to be submitted for approval. • The authorities allowed the theater to deal with political issues only if they did not refer too obviously to current affairs. • An acting company could alter a script as they saw fit—with or without a playwright's approval. • Did any of Shakespeare’s original manuscripts survive?
Act 1: Exposition.We meet the dramatis personae, and time and place are established. We learn about the antecedents of the story. Attention is directed toward the germ of conflict and dramatic tensions. • Marlin’s cautious nature is shown when he goes in and out of the home indefinitely, checking for danger. • Nemo’s ‘lucky fin’ is revealed, showing that he was physically affected by the baraccuda attack. • We also see that Nemo is a regular kid, annoyed by his father’s worrying. • Marlin is socially awkward, tells bad jokes.
Act 2: Complications (Rising Action).The rising action is the series of adventures the characters go on. Each adventure slowly takes them towards the climax. Quality stories get increasingly suspenseful and tense as the climax approaches. The rising action begins with an event known as the “inciting incident.” Essential Characteristics • Several mini-adventures within the main plot • Longest act of the story • Builds tension, excitement, and suspense over time • Examples of rising action from Finding Nemo: • Inciting incident: Nemo is taken by the divers! • Marlin encounters the sharks. • Marlin goes through the jellyfish. • Nemo gains the friendship of the aquarium fish. • Nemo attempts to escape the aquarium.
Act 3: The Climax.The development of conflict reaches its high point, the Hero stands at the crossroads, leading to victory or defeat, crashing or soaring. Example from Finding Nemo: • The search for Nemo intersects with Nemo’s own adventures in the dentist’s office. The climax continues into the ocean, reaching its peak when Nemo rescues the fish trapped in a net.
Act 4: Falling Action.Reversals. The consequences of Act 3 play out, momentum slows, and tension is heightened by false hopes/fears. If it's a tragedy, it looks like the Hero can be saved. If not, then it looks like all may be lost. • Essential Characteristics • Shows the outcome of the climax • Tells the reader the status of the main characters • Example: This is when Nemo saves Dorie and Marlin learns to trust his son.
Act 5: Catastrophe/Resolution.The conflict is resolved, whether through a catastrophe, the downfall of the hero, or through his victory and transfiguration. The dénouement reveals how the characters have “changed over time.” In Finding Nemo, the dénouement shows: • Marlin finally tells his whole joke. • Marlin is no longer over protective of his son. • Nemo is confident and happy.
