William Shakespeare (1564–1616), `The Bard of Avon'

True or False

• The longest word in all Shakespeare is: "honorificabilitudinitatibus" which means: "honorableness."

• Shakespeare invented the word "puke" among thousands of others

• It's estimated that he used between 25,000 and 29,000 different words in his plays and poems

• Throughout Shakespeare's lifetime, his name was spelled as Shagsbere,Shaxpere, Shakesspeare, Shakspeare and Shakespeare. According to English orthography there are 4000 ways to spell it.

Impressive.

• During Elizabethan times at The Globe, rehearsal time was minimal. Actors learned their parts in about a week; a leading man might have to memorize 800 lines a day and sometimes learn and retain over 25 different roles a year.

• There was no producer or director then; the actors were in complete control of the production. And the plays belonged to the acting company and not the playwright. Shakespeare didn't own or have the right to publish any of his own plays.

Popular lines and expressions….

• DEAD AS A DOORNAIL• AN EYE-SORE• O, BRAVE NEW WORLD• A TOWER OF STRENGH• KNOCK, KNOCK ! WHO'S THERE?• GOOD RIDDANCE

• THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER• PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW• INTO THIN AIR• THE NAKED TRUTH• TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Insults…

• HE HAS NOT SO MUCH BRAIN AS EAR-WAX...

• YOU SPEAK AN INFINITE DEAL OF NOTHING...

• WERE I LIKE THEE I'D THROW AWAY MYSELF...

• YOU CRUST BOTCH OF NATURE...• YOU PEEVISH BAGGAGE...• YOU COWARDLY, GIANT-LIKE OX-

BEEF...• LET VULTURES GRIPE THY GUTS...

HIS GUTS ARE MADE OF PUDDING

• YOU ARE A FOOL, A COWARD, ONE ALL OF LUXURY, AN ASS, A MADMAN...

• YOU ARE AS A CANDLE, THE BETTER PART BURNT OUT...

Macbeth

What do you know about this play?

Leading Characters

DUNCANThe King of Scotland c. 1034- Presented as a true and gracious

monarch- Embodiment of Elizabethan belief

that a king was appointed as God’s deputy on earth

Malcolm

• Duncan’s elder son• Heir to the throne• Prime suspect in Duncan’s murder

Macbeth

• Mighty and ambitious warrior• One of Duncan’s army leaders• Witches prophecy tells him he will

be king• Leads to his conscience allowing

him never to rest

Lady Macbeth

• Macbeth’s wife• Even more ambitious than him• Few moral scruples• Incessantly urges Macbeth to

greater ambition• cold

Banquo

• Macbeth’s co-commander• Also hears witches prophecy, but

resists temptations

Macduff

• Scottish thane • Comes to prominence after the

murder of Duncan and opposes Macbeth

Ross

• Scottish thane• Valuable commentator on play• And on the effects on the wider

world outside the castle

Witches

• The “weird sisters”, related to three Fates in classical mythology

• Have been depicted very differently • Grotesque and frightening• Comic and ridiculous• Young and beautiful

Exeunt.