introduction to shakespeare · introduction to shakespeare advanced language arts notes. why do we...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Shakespeare
Advanced Language Arts
Notes
Why do we read Shakespeare?
A. Considered the greatest dramatist and finest poet
B. Influence on English language1. Invented phrases/words
C. Messages for today1. Themes we learn from2. Understanding of human nature3. Entertainment
a. Every time you read, you learn more
4. Influence on culturea. Romance, what is heroic, bravery, etc.b. What is in his plays molded ideas into our heads
The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance
1400 – 1600
Caused by a re-interest in the arts and the development of new inventions
New trade routes opening
Beginning of modern science
Moveable type invented
The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance
Large class differences
Believed that you could not escape your
birth
Highest class is the Royalty
Clergy
Nobles/Merchants – lawyers, master
craftsmen, traders
Peasants
The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance
Society
Male dominated; women expected to
marry when reaching child-bearing age
Infant/Child mortality rate high
People readily believed in superstitions and magic
The Elizabethan Era/The Renaissance
Queen Elizabeth I
Her reign was considered the “Golden Age
of England”
Encouraged literature/poets/playwrights by having them perform for her in court
Openly supported and admired Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564 (assumed by baptism record)
Lived in Stratford-on-Avon
Assumed to be very well educated. His father held local political offices which allowed young William to attend school.
William Shakespeare
Married Anne Hathaway who was eight years older than he was.
They had three children: Susana and twins – Hamnett and Judith
First play written was Henry IV, Part I in 1589
Wrote 37 plays total
William Shakespeare
Plays divided into comedies, tragedies, histories
Shakespeare’s plays quickly became popular. The public loved language and praised his quick wit.
Plays written in iambic pentameter and blank verse
Died in 1616 at the age of 52
The Globe Theater
Built in 1599 by Richard Burbage
Became the main theater to see Shakespeare’s plays
The Globe Theater
Shape was a circular octagon that could hold 2000 people
Audience made up of both sections of Elizabethan society
Ordinary citizens, travelers, some women watched on ground (groundlings)
Noblemen, country squires, masked women with male escorts sat in raised balconies
The Globe Theater
Had special effects with trap doors
Music a large part of theater
Women were not allowed on stage
The Plague (Black Death) forced theater closures Theater seen as evil/heretical
Rats and highly contagious virus was true cause of spread
Burned down in 1613 during a performance of “Henry VIII”. Cannons from battle scene sparked the building. Had to be rebuilt.
Vocabulary
Soliloquy – personal speech that reveals his thoughts
Irony – opposite of actual meaning Farce – light comedy; satirical in nature Pun – play on words Blank verse – unrhymed verse; it has a basic
metrical pattern Iambic pentameter – each unit, or foot,
contains an iamb; an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable which is repeated five times to make a pentameter
The Tragedies
Tragedy – a serious drama having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion
Types
Revenge tragedy – the hero discovers that a close relative has been murdered, experiences considerable trouble in identifying the murderer. After overcoming numerous obstacles, he finally succeeds in avenging the death by killing the murderer
Tragic comedy
The Tragedies
Tragic World
Consequences are irreversible
Nobility – persons of great and noble birth make a mistake in judgment and fall
Everyone is affected by the tragedy
Focus is directed on actual tragedy and tragic hero
Relationships are more intense. Lovers become frustrated, suicidal
Evil is very real and prevalent
The Tragedies
Qualities of the Tragic Hero
Noble birth – strength of characters larger
than life. Excellence makes him more susceptible to mistakes. The more perfect, the more vulnerable. High birth impels him to perform daring actions that the common man would not attempt. It is
these actions that will have drastic consequences.
The Tragedies
Qualities of the Tragic Hero
Failure – fall from great height. Often
undone by his own greatness
Tragic Flaw – makes an error in judgment
Responsible for the fate he must endure; his death is tragic, yet deserved
The Tragedies
Qualities of the Tragic Hero
There must be a point where the tragic
hero realizes he has made an irreversible mistake
After realization, hero must accept the
inevitable death
Hero must express his tragic experience with extreme perceptivity as to affect
everyone with its tensity
The Tragedies
Purpose of a Tragedy
Designed to make the common man (us!)
come to terms with reality
Asks the audience to transform human suffering into human greatness
The Tragedies
Central Aspect of Tragedy
Death – it is ironic that from awareness of
mortality comes the concept of immortality (life after death)
The tragedy of life is the persistence of
death and evil. The only consolation we have is that good survives and life goes on.
The Tragedies
Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying;
And now I’ll do ‘t. And so ‘a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged. That would be scanned:
A villain kills my father, and for that,
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
The Histories
History – History plays focus on communities of men and women and the society of the nation. The hero in a history play is England.
The Histories
Themes Lessons in leadership for future rulers
Education about the monarchy for the common people
Promotes ideals of England patriotism
a love of liberty
dangers of rebellion/treason
unity within nation
The Histories
Development
Histories were developed in the
Renaissance period as multiple plays written in a continuous narrative.
History plays were used as a political
mirror of how a monarch ought to lead.
The Histories
Qualities within plays Histories set the ideal character of a
Christian ruler Elizabethans believed their monarchs were
appointed by God. God was seen as the ultimate governing force, and the King and Queen were working on His behalf.
Histories were NOT completely factual Characters were real; details exaggerated
Shakespeare used to shed light on current political situations
The Histories
Go therefore tell thy master, here I am;
My ransom is this frail and worthless turnk;
My army but a weak and sickly guard;
Yet, God before, tell him we will come on,
Though France himself and such another neighbor
Stand in our way.
The Comedies
Comedy
Shakespearean comedies revolve around a
general theme of young lovers who encounter difficulties, but who are ultimately united.
Most characters function in a world separate from the everyday troubled world. They undergo a renewal and find what they are seeking, whether it is love, wealth, or just peace.
The Comedies
Qualities found in comedies Contrasts are a constant element of the comedies
age vs. youth
city vs. country
wisdom vs. ignorance
justice vs. injustice
love vs. obedience
Comedies are romantic; they tell of the trials and the ultimate success in the love of the young, usually aristocratic people
Idea that love has the power to conquer and transform all
The Comedies
Seven Common Features of all Shakespearean Comedies
Atmosphere of optimism
Festive endings – usually a wedding or a feast or both
Practical jokes – without feelings of regret
Predominance of young lovers and of marriage; contain old elements of country
romance
The Comedies
Seven Common Features of all Shakespearean Comedies Background roles for older characters;
usually play decisive or kindly roles to get to a final resolution
In most, evil is presented in a form which may be so extravagant, so overdone, so melodramatic that we laugh at it rather than worry about it
Creation of the “green world” – a secluded and peaceful place created around each of the plots
The Comedies
Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a
dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our
own hearts and our wives’ heels.
“As You Like It”
First performed in early 1600
The plot is not an original idea. Based on a pastoral romance called “Rosalynde”, which in fact was based on a medieval poem titled “Gamelyn”. Many of the characters and
situations are directly from these works
This play is Shakespeare’s tribute to the attractions of the woodlands of England. He
often depicts man in harmony with nature.
“As You Like It”
He often depicts merriment, humor, and youth!
During this time period, pastoral romances and fantastic situations were extremely popular, such as Robin Hood
MAJOR THEMES Love – many types of love are shown throughout
this play. There are four main couples, each commenting on a different type of love
City life vs. country life – the conflicts in the city are unnatural and dangerous. It is in the country where lives and loves are sorted out