William Shakespeare’s Background

1. William Shakespeare’sBackground

2. Well let’s start with his stats: An English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Wrote 37 plays Wrote 154 sonnets Invented 1,700 words currently used today Introduced words and phrases into the English language Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer in the English language – after the various writers of the Bible. there are 157 million pages referring to him on Google. There are 132 million for God, 2.7 million for Elvis Presley, and coming up on Shakespeare’s heels, George W Bush with 14.7 million. William Shakespeare’ is an anagram of ‘I am a weakish speller No one knows the actual birthday ofShakespeare Many eminent authors and politicians do not believe that Shakespeare wrote his plays... Shakespeare's family were all illiterate But…Much of Shakespeare’s life was shrouded in mystery. Who is William Shakespeare?

3. All that glitters is not gold All's well that ends well Be-all and the end-all Dead as a doornail A dish fit for the gods For goodness' sake Jealousy is the green-eyed monster In a pickle Something wicked this way comes There's the rub What's done is done Kill with kindness Knock knock! Who's there? Laughing stock Love is blind Milk of human kindness Naked truth One fell swoop Star-crossed lovers Parting is such sweet sorrow Send packing What the dickens Wild-goose chase Who is Shakespeare: He’s Everywhere in Our World. • All that glitters is not gold • All's well that ends well • Be-all and the end-all • Dead as a doornail • A dish fit for the gods • For goodness' sake • Jealousy is the green-eyed monster • In a pickle • Something wicked this way comes • There's the rub • What's done is done • Kill with kindness • Knock knock! Who's there? • Laughing stock • Love is blind • Milk of human kindness • Naked truth • One fell swoop • Star-crossed lovers • Parting is such sweet sorrow • Send packing • What the dickens • Wild-goose chase

4. 10 Things I Hate About You West Side Story She’s the Man O The Lion King Romeo Must Die Scotland, PA Forbidden Planet Ran Shakespeare in Love Films Inspired by Shakespeare

5. Shakespeare is ubiquitous even today Inspiring Film Music Television Literature Poetry And Fine Art But WHYYYYYYY? Yes, Shakespeare is Everywhere…

6. To Understand Shakespeare’s Enduring Nature, Let’s Take a Look at the Man Himself • Shakespeare’s Background

7. William Shakespeare’sBackground William Shakespeare, who is often referred to as the Bard, which merely means poet, was born in the year 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is a town in England. William Shakespeare’s dad John Shakespeare was a merchant (he sold gloves made of goat skin), and dealt a bit in black market merchandising in wool (yep, that’s right, wool). Because of his father’s social standing. William was able to attend Stratford Grammar School until the age of 14 for free.

8. William Shakespeare’sBackground Here he studied Latin and Greek. Apparently, Shakespeare’s dad shady dealings catch up with the him, and the family had to sell off much of their property. Here, historians loose track of young William until he is 18 when he marries the 26-year old Anne Hathaway.

9. William Shakespeare eventually leaves his family behind and arrives in London where he joins Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a successful theater company. William Shakespeare’s Background

10. This company changes its name to The King's Men in 1603. Shakespeare stays a member of this company until he retiresin 1610. While in the company, Shakespeare made his living three ways: He was part owner of the Globe theatre, He was an actor, and He was a playwright. ALL Very cool William Shakespeare’s Background

11. During this time very little Scenery was used on stage, but was accomplished by Dialogue or conversation between characters. Shakespeare’s Background

12. Shakespeare was alive during the late Renaissance, or “rebirth.” In England this period is referred to as the Elizabethan Era, so named after Queen Elizabeth I, Britain's first female and arguably most powerful, monarch. She was the daughter of Henry VIII, and Ann Boylen, the second of Henry’s six wives. Henry eventually executed Elizabeth’s mother for not producing a male child. Elizabeth was half sister to Mary I, otherwise known as Bloody Mary for the murders of many Protestants. It’s important to note that England was fast becoming the world’s most powerful nation. It was the rebirth England This new wealth and rising merchant class fed into the intellectual pool of Elizabethan England. This rising bourgeoisie were interested purchasing tickets for plays, and sponsoring poets, musicians, and the arts. Elizabeth ADORED the THEATER William Shakespeare’sBackground

13. Aside from attending executions, many, many people amused themselves by attending the theater. London’s famous theaters, the Globe, the Rose, and the Swan, were located in the seedy side of town, along the south bank of the Thames River. This section of town, known as Bankside or Southwark, could be reached by crossing the London Bridge, the only bridge across the Thames, or by taking a boat across the river. Shakespeare and his fellow theatre colleagues were fortunate that the Queen enjoyed the theatre because the theatres were constantly closed because of the Bubonic Plague, which had a tendency to not only cut down on theatre attendance but the population as well The queen was excellent about having the theatres reopened. Otherwise, some, like the English Puritans, would have liked to have seen these theatres, such as the Globe, which held about 2,500 to 3,000 spectators, closed for good. William Shakespeare’sBackground

14. Shakespeare’s Theater • Since there was no electricity, the Globe and Rose theaters were open air theaters. Plays were performed only during the day, and if the weather was bad, the show was cancelled. A flag at the top of the theater would indicate if a play was performing that day. The color of the flag indicated which genre. • Like all other theatres in Elizabethan England, it had only men perform on stage because women were not allowed to act. Still, the theaters were enormously popular with both sexes and all ages and classes alike.

15. It didn’t matter who you were, because everyone could afford the theater. Poor patrons, called Groundlings would stand in an area called The Pit, while those with money may be sitting in stands or “galleries” rising above the elevated stage. Crowds in Shakespeare’s time loved to participate, becoming emotionally involved in the play. They would show their pleasure by cheering wildly or sounding a drum. But if the performance went badly or an actor was “off” that night, he could expect his performance to be met with jeers or a volley of rotten vegetables to his head. Talk about a rough crowd. Shakespeare’s Stage

16. In 1613 the theatre burned down during a performance of Henry VIII. Oh the irony! A canon was accidentally shot into the thatched roof and the whole theatre was set ablaze. The theatre was rebuilt in 1614 without Shakespeare, for he had retired. Shakespeare dies in April 1616 at age 52. About 30 years later, Puritans assume power in England and have the theatre torn down. The Puritans did not believe in a good time. Shakespeare’s Theater

17. William Shakespeare’s Work When we study William Shakespeare's plays, we categorize them into three genres: • Comedy • Tragedy • History Romeo and Juliet, which was written in Shakespeare's early years, is considered a TRAGEDY. But like all Shakespeare’s tragedies, the play is filled with humor to provide Comic Relief to audiences who required a way to recover from intense scenes.

18. William Shakespeare’sBackground • Romeo and Juliet, is not an original story; Shakespeare retells a story that can be dated back to as early as fourth century Greece. • Shakespeare uses a narrative poem called "Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet," which is written by Arthur Brook, to get most of his information for his play. Shakespeare sets his Romeo and Juliet in Verona, Italy.

19. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s best known works, which has spawned hundreds of adaptations in the four hundred years since it was first written. It is the tragic story of the doomed love affair between two teenagers from two feuding Italian families Italy, incidentally, is where the Renaissance began, mainly because it was so close to the trade routes that led to such far off places as Asia , the Middle East and Africa Another reason Shakespeare set his play in this location was to show the contrast between his people, the very rational Northern Europeans and the hot-blooded Southern Italians, who were known for having long-standing feuds between wealthy and prominent families like the Capulets and Montagues. Elizabeth, like most absolute monarchs, despised dueling and feuding and tried to suppress it. Shakespeare was especially smart to set his play in a land far away from Elizabeth’s England Romeo and Juliet

20. More than any other Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of people spawning hundreds of adaptations. Romeo and Juliet

21. Romeo The sixteen-year-old son of Montague and Lady Montague. He is cousins with Benvolio, and friends with Mercutio and Friar Laurence. Romeo's defining characteristic is the intensity of his emotions—whether in anger, love, or despair. Romeo is also intelligent, quick-witted, loved by his friends, and not a bad swordsmen. Over the course of the play, Romeo grows from a an adolescent who claims to be in love with Rosaline, but in reality seems more in love with the idea of love and with being a miserable wretch in the mold of classical love poets, to a young man who shares a deep and passionate love with Juliet and is willing to face the obstacles of friends, family, the law, fate, and, ultimately, death to be with her. List of Major Characters

22. Juliet The beautiful 13 daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet, and cousin to Tybalt. The Nurse is Juliet’s closest friend and advisor. Juliet is naïve and sheltered at the beginning of the play, and has given almost no thought to love, until her mother asks her her feelings on an arranged marriage with the noble Paris But as soon as she meets and falls in love with Romeo she quickly develops into a woman of remarkable strength and resolve in pursuing what she wants. Like Romeo, she is willing to face all obstacles of society, fate, and death to be with her love. She turns her back on the Nurse and her family to follow her love. Yet even while head over heels in love, Juliet remains more grounded than Romeo. She even calls him on his silliness when he gets overly poetic. It seems possible to attribute much of Romeo's transformation from a callous youth to a passionate lover to Juliet's influence. List of Major Characters

23. The Nurse The Nurse is a servant who nursed Juliet as a baby (the Nurse's own baby died just before Juliet was born), and raised her through childhood. She is Juliet's best friend and confidante, and in many ways is more her mother than Lady Capulet The Nurse can be quite sentimental, but also tends to go on and on with bawdy and sometimes embarrassing stories. She is very dirty and the source of many humorous and inappropriate moments Though the Nurse will do anything for Juliet, and helps Juliet to marry Romeo, in the end she proves herself pragmatic when it comes to love. List of Major Characters

24. Friar Laurence A Franciscan monk and a friend to both Romeo and Juliet. He preaches moderation because he understands that intensity of any kind of emotion, good or bad, can lead to disaster. (Note the herb speech) Yet he gets caught up in his own hope for ending the feud between Montagues and Capulets. In the process, he shows himself to be quite a schemer. List of Major Characters

25. Mercutio Romeo's close friend, and a kinsmen of Prince Escalus. Mercutio is a wild, antic, and brooding youth (“mercurial). He is a whiz with wordplay and is constantly dropping sexual puns (note Queen Mab speech) But beneath this playful and sarcastic veneer lies a bitter world-weariness. Mercutio hates romantic ideals of any sort, whether about honor or love, and mercilessly mocks those who hold them. List of Major Characters

26. Tybalt The nephew of Capulet, and Juliet's cousin. A hothead and a punk, consumed by issues of honor and well known for his skill with a sword. Tybalt is consumed by an flawed sense of honor. Tybalt hates the Montagues with a profound passion. He seems to look for excuses to fight. The name “Tybalt” comes from a child’s story about a cat who was a prince, hence his epithet: Prince of Cats. List of Major Characters

27. Capulet Juliet's father, Lady Capulet's husband, and Tybalt's uncle. He is the leader of the Capulet family, and an enemy of Montague. Capulet tries to appear an even-minded and loving man, and he certainly does love his daughter but he believes he knows what's best for her, never consults her about her feelings, and is quick to anger when crossed or disobeyed. Lady Capulet Juliet's mother, and Capulet's wife. A woman who married Capulet when she was Juliet's age (13), she loves her daughter but is a cold woman and an ineffectual mother who left most of the raising of her daughter to the Nurse. When it comes to marriage, Lady Capulet believes more in the material happiness a "good match" can bring than in love. List of Major Characters

28. Paris A kinsman of Prince Escalus who wants to marry Juliet. Paris is a good-looking and wealthy man, but is rather pompous, a tad boring, and lacks Romeo's passion. His love for Juliet seems genuine, but, like Capulet, he seems to think he can make Juliet's decisions for her. Benvolio Montague's nephew, Romeo's cousin., and Mercutio's friend. Of the three boys, he is the most calm and the least quick-witted. On a few occasions he tries to keep the peace rather than fight. Yet Benvolio is seldom successful in his peacekeeping efforts, and will fight if pushed. Montague Romeo's father, Lady Montague's husband, and Benvolio's uncle. The leader of the Montague household, and quick to anger at his bitter rival, Capulet. Lady Montague Montague's wife and Romeo's mother. She barely appears in the play. Prince Escalus The Prince and leader of Verona. Escalus Kinsman to Paris He is concerned primarily with keeping order in the city. He will do anything in his power to stop the feud between the Montagues and Capulets from affecting the other citizens of the city Other Characters

29. Important Dramatic Elements • Aside – a little soliloquy; lines whispered to the audience or to another character on stage (not meant to be heard by all of the characters) • Catastrophe – the final event in a drama (a death in a tragedy, a marriage in a comedy) • Comic relief – a bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic events. • Dramatic irony – occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not. • Soliloquy – a single character on stage verbally thinking out loud • Monologue – a long speech by one character, said while other characters are present • Tragic flaw – a pronounced trait in a character that leads to their downfall or destruction • Hyperbole – an extreme exaggeration • Prologue - A separate introductory section of a literary or musical work.

30. Important Rhetorical Elements • Pun - A pun is a humorous play on words • Allusion - a reference to a well known work of art, music, literature, or history. • Metaphor - a direct comparison between two unlike things • Personification - an inanimate object or concept is given the qualities of a person or animal • Oxymoron - describes when two juxtaposed words have opposing or very diverse meanings • Paradox - statement or situation with seemingly contradictory or incompatible components. • Foreshadowing - a reference to something that will happen later in the story

31. Foils in the Play Romeo and Juliet is a play of foils and, as Friar Laurence notes, negotiating extremes in life. Shakespeare includes a number of these competing extremes including: • Light vs. Dark • Youth vs Age • Rich vs. Poor • Moderation vs. Impulsiveness • Naïveté vs. Worldliness • Warm vs. Cold • Dreams vs. Reality

32. So….Why Again Do We Still Read Shakespeare? • You will answer that question at the end of the unit. • Note major themes throughout the novel – try to identify at least four • Look at Shakespeare’s development of character – why are even the most imperfect characters perfectly appealing • Look to issues that still speak to us today – As a story of teenagers in love, what aspects of the protagonists’ relationship speak to you? • Lying to parents • Taking drugs • Crashing a party • Picking a fight • Going out with someone your parents don’t like • Liking someone for their looks