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Background and Intro to Hamlet

William Shakespeare. Background and Intro to Hamlet. Picture from http://www.bardweb.net. Overview. Shakespeare’s London Iambic What? or Shakespeare’s Style Meet Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Shakespeare’s London. Elizabethan era (1558 - 1603) Reign of Queen Elizabeth Globe Theatre (1598)

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Background and Intro to Hamlet

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  1. William Shakespeare Background and Intro to Hamlet Picture from http://www.bardweb.net

  2. Overview • Shakespeare’s London • Iambic What? or Shakespeare’s Style • Meet Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

  3. Shakespeare’s London • Elizabethan era (1558 - 1603) • Reign of Queen Elizabeth • Globe Theatre (1598) • Located in London • Performance place of Lord Chamberlain’s Men • Shakespeare was actor AND playwright • Men only - not an honorable profession • Re-built after 1613 fire. Later re-opened 1996. The Globe Picture from http://www.bardweb.net/

  4. Personal Life Shakespeare’s Birthplace • Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April, 1564 • Parents John and Mary Arden Shakespeare • John was a leather merchant, Mary and heiress • Married Anne Hathaway November 18, 1582 • 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith (twins) • Hamnet died at age 11 • 1588 - moved to London to pursue theatre HOME Picture from http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/England/Central.htm

  5. Iambic What? (style) • An IAMB is a group of 2 syllables • The first syllable is unstressed • The second is stressed • Ex: to-DAY • Pentameter means every 2 lines has 10 meters Ex: 'Tis NOW the VE ry WITCH ing TIME of NIGHT, when CHURCH yards YAWN and HELL it SELF breathes OUT.

  6. Shakespearean Sonnet • 14 Lines in Iambic Pentameter • 3 quartos (4 lines) • 1 couplet (2 lines) • Rhyme scheme • ABAB CDCD EFEF GG • Audio Examples - Shakespearean Sonnets HOME

  7. Meet Hamlet • Hamlet - Prince of Denmark • Ghost of Hamlet - Ghost of the former King • King Claudius - King’s brother • Queen Gertrude - widow of King, marries Claudius • Polonius - The King’s advisor • Ophelia - Polonius’ daughter • Laertes - Polonius’ son • Horatio - Hamlet’s companion Laurence Olivier as Hamlet Picture from http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/hamlet.html

  8. “There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark…” • Plot • After the ghost of King Hamlet claims he was murdered, Hamlet must wrestle with the idea of avenging his father’s death. • Major Themes • Being vs. seeming • Grief and guilt • Revenge • Death • Morality • Freudian psychology

  9. Pictures from http://www.imdb/com and http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/hamlet.html The Many Faces of Hamlet Lawrence Olivier - 1948 Nicol Williamson - 1969 Richard Burton - 1964 Mel Gibson - 1990 Kenneth Branagh - 1996 HOME

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