What do these four things What do these four things have in common?have in common?

Introduction to Introduction to ShakespeareShakespeare

Why Shakespeare?Why Shakespeare?Why do we have to study Why do we have to study

Shakespeare?Shakespeare?He has become an important part of our He has become an important part of our

cultureculturePlays have become movies, Simpsons Plays have become movies, Simpsons

episodes, songs etc.episodes, songs etc.His plays ask the “big questions” : His plays ask the “big questions” :

What is love? Why are we here? What What is love? Why are we here? What is real and what not?is real and what not?

Who was Shakespeare?Who was Shakespeare?

While we know a While we know a lot about the lot about the works of works of Shakespeare there Shakespeare there is not as much is not as much about his personal about his personal life.life.

What we (think) we know…What we (think) we know… Born in England on April the 23th, 1564 in Born in England on April the 23th, 1564 in

the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon.the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Oldest son of John Shakespeare, a Oldest son of John Shakespeare, a tanner, and Mary Arden, daughter of a tanner, and Mary Arden, daughter of a well-to-do farmer.well-to-do farmer.

Believed to have attended the grammar Believed to have attended the grammar school, where Latin was the focus and school, where Latin was the focus and language of all subjects (language of all subjects (Shakespeare Shakespeare often makes references to Latin and to often makes references to Latin and to Greek and Roman myths in his plays)Greek and Roman myths in his plays)..

During most of Shakespeare’s lifetime , During most of Shakespeare’s lifetime , Queen Elizabeth I was in power. She had Queen Elizabeth I was in power. She had turned the country around financially and turned the country around financially and religiously, and culture was beginning to religiously, and culture was beginning to growgrow

What we (think) we know…What we (think) we know… Married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 years Married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 years

old when William married her at age 18.old when William married her at age 18.

They had eight children, including twins They had eight children, including twins named Hamnet (sounds like HAMLET!) and named Hamnet (sounds like HAMLET!) and JudithJudith Moved to London (the most important city in Moved to London (the most important city in England for culture and commerce) in his England for culture and commerce) in his early 20s, leaving Anne in Stratford.early 20s, leaving Anne in Stratford.

Started as an actor before turning to writing.Started as an actor before turning to writing.

Was a member of an important acting Was a member of an important acting troupe, The Lord Chamberlain’s men, which troupe, The Lord Chamberlain’s men, which included the famous actor, Richard Burbage.included the famous actor, Richard Burbage.

Died at the age of 52, in 1616, on the same Died at the age of 52, in 1616, on the same day he was born . . . Weird!.day he was born . . . Weird!.

During his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote 36-38 plays, During his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote 36-38 plays, including:including: Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending

(e.g. (e.g. Twelfth Night)Twelfth Night)

Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings

(e.g. (e.g. Romeo and Juliet)Romeo and Juliet)

Histories – involve events or persons from history Histories – involve events or persons from history (e.g. (e.g. Henry V)Henry V)

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Where Was It?Where Was It? The Globe Theatre was the The Globe Theatre was the

most important theatre during most important theatre during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and as Shakespeare’s lifetime, and as a part owner, many of his a part owner, many of his plays were performed in it.plays were performed in it.

Playhouses were located in the Playhouses were located in the Southwark District (a London suburb), Southwark District (a London suburb), because religious Puritan politicians and because religious Puritan politicians and clergymen considered plays immoral. clergymen considered plays immoral.

In this district you could In this district you could find playhouses, find playhouses, brothels, bearbaiting, brothels, bearbaiting, and cockfights. It was and cockfights. It was the “wrong side” of the the “wrong side” of the Elizabethan tracks!Elizabethan tracks!

What Did It Look Like?What Did It Look Like? Globe Theatre had an Globe Theatre had an

open roof, was three open roof, was three stories high, and had no stories high, and had no indoor lighting.indoor lighting.

Because of this, plays Because of this, plays were only shown during were only shown during the day, and rain could the day, and rain could cancel a performance!cancel a performance!

Laws kept theatres Laws kept theatres from advertising, so from advertising, so they raised a flag and they raised a flag and sounded trumpets to sounded trumpets to announce a play.announce a play.

SpectatorsSpectators Seating was divided Seating was divided

by price.by price. The wealthy paid 2-3 The wealthy paid 2-3

pennies to sit on pennies to sit on benches in the benches in the second and third second and third levels.levels. The poorer people, The poorer people, called groundlings, called groundlings, had to stand and had to stand and watch in the watch in the courtyard, called the courtyard, called the pit.pit. There was much more participation There was much more participation than in theatres today; if the than in theatres today; if the audience did not like the play or audience did not like the play or actor, they would throw garbage onto actor, they would throw garbage onto the stage!the stage!

ActorsActors Only men and boys Only men and boys

were actors.were actors.

Young boys whose Young boys whose voices had not voices had not changed played changed played the women’s rolesthe women’s roles

It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage

Juliet was therefore Juliet was therefore usually played by a usually played by a boy!boy!