William William Shakespeare:Shakespeare:Life in the Elizabethan Life in the Elizabethan

TheaterTheater

How much do you Already How much do you Already Know?Know? True or False:True or False:

1.1. The Elizabethans were The Elizabethans were superstitious and believed the superstitious and believed the future of a person’s life was future of a person’s life was determined by the placement of the determined by the placement of the stars at that person’s birth.stars at that person’s birth.

2.2. Before coming to London, Before coming to London, Shakespeare married an older Shakespeare married an older woman who was already pregnant.woman who was already pregnant.

3.3. William Shakespeare attended William Shakespeare attended Oxford University where he spent Oxford University where he spent years perfecting his writing.years perfecting his writing.

4. 4. Shakespeare wrote over 150 Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets and 38 plays.sonnets and 38 plays.

5. When 5. When Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet was first was first performed in 1595, Juliet was performed in 1595, Juliet was played by a young boy.played by a young boy.

6. Shakespeare’s plays came 6. Shakespeare’s plays came straight from his imagination.straight from his imagination.

7. Shakespeare’s theater, The 7. Shakespeare’s theater, The Globe, burned down in 1613 and Globe, burned down in 1613 and was not open again until 1997was not open again until 1997..

How’d you do?! Let’s see…How’d you do?! Let’s see…

Elizabethan Times:Elizabethan Times:Beliefs About the UniverseBeliefs About the Universe

Elizabethans believed that the earth was Elizabethans believed that the earth was the center of the universe and fixed the center of the universe and fixed firmly in place. firmly in place.

Seven planets– the moon, Mercury, Seven planets– the moon, Mercury, Venus, the sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus, the sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn– rotated around the earthSaturn– rotated around the earth

Astrologers thought they could predict Astrologers thought they could predict future events by knowing the conjunction future events by knowing the conjunction of stars, and the future course of a of stars, and the future course of a person’s life could be known ahead of person’s life could be known ahead of time by knowing the placement of the time by knowing the placement of the stars at that person’s birth (stars at that person’s birth (astrology).astrology).

What do you think?What do you think?

Do we have similar beliefs Do we have similar beliefs today?today?

What role will fate and What role will fate and predictions play in predictions play in Romeo Romeo and Julietand Juliet? ?

““The Father of English”The Father of English” William Shakespeare was born on William Shakespeare was born on

April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.Avon.

He was born into a moderate life; He was born into a moderate life; his family could not afford to his family could not afford to send him to university. send him to university.

He was married to Anne He was married to Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582. Hathaway on November 28, 1582. William was 18 and Anne was 26William was 18 and Anne was 26—and pregnant.—and pregnant.

Their first daughter, Susanna, Their first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. The was born on May 26, 1583. The couple later had twins, Hamnet couple later had twins, Hamnet and Judith; Hamnet died in and Judith; Hamnet died in childhood at the age of 11.childhood at the age of 11.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace: Stratford-Upon-Avon

““Father of English”… Father of English”… continuedcontinued

He wrote his first play when he was 25 He wrote his first play when he was 25 years old. years old.

He wrote approximately 38 plays and He wrote approximately 38 plays and 154 sonnets in his lifetime.154 sonnets in his lifetime.

Many of his plays are autobiographical: Many of his plays are autobiographical: comments on the royal society or comments on the royal society or reflective of his fatherhood concerns.reflective of his fatherhood concerns.

He died in 1616 at the age of 52, most He died in 1616 at the age of 52, most likely on his birthday.likely on his birthday.

He never published any of his plays. We He never published any of his plays. We only read them today because his actors only read them today because his actors recorded his work as a posthumous recorded his work as a posthumous dedication to him.dedication to him.

OTHER FUN FACTSOTHER FUN FACTS

William Shakespeare’s nickname: William Shakespeare’s nickname: The BardThe Bard

All of Shakespeare’s 38 plays have All of Shakespeare’s 38 plays have been made into filmsbeen made into films

Shakespeare created approximately Shakespeare created approximately 2,000 words throughout his career, 2,000 words throughout his career, including lonely, champion, hint, including lonely, champion, hint, tranquil, and zanytranquil, and zany

About Shakespeare’s About Shakespeare’s PlaysPlaysShakespeare’s plays are divided into 3 Shakespeare’s plays are divided into 3

categories:categories:

HISTORIESHISTORIESHenry IV, V,Henry IV, V, and and VI,VI, and and Richard IIIRichard III..

COMEDIESCOMEDIESA Midsummer Nights Dream, Much Ado A Midsummer Nights Dream, Much Ado

About Nothing,About Nothing, and and As You Like It.As You Like It.

TRAGEDIESTRAGEDIESHamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet,

King Lear,King Lear, and and OthelloOthello

About About Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy about two young is a tragedy about two young “star-crossed” lovers in Verona, Italy.“star-crossed” lovers in Verona, Italy.

The plot of the play is revealed by the Prologue.The plot of the play is revealed by the Prologue. All of Shakespeare’s tragedies are in five acts, All of Shakespeare’s tragedies are in five acts,

and ends with the deaths of the main and ends with the deaths of the main characters.characters.

Act I:Act I: Exposition ExpositionACT II:ACT II: Rising Action, complications Rising Action, complicationsACT III: ACT III: Crisis, Turning PointCrisis, Turning PointACT IV: ACT IV: Falling ActionFalling ActionACT V: ACT V: Climax, resolutionClimax, resolution

Attending Shakespeare’s Attending Shakespeare’s TheaterTheater

Shakespeare’s plays Shakespeare’s plays were performed at were performed at the Globe Theatre in the Globe Theatre in London.London.

The theater was The theater was round and covered round and covered only the outside only the outside galleries- many galleries- many playgoers got wet in playgoers got wet in the frequent London the frequent London rains.rains.

                                 

          

Attending Shakespeare’s Attending Shakespeare’s TheaterTheater

Almost half of the Almost half of the theater-goers stood theater-goers stood on the ground and on the ground and were called were called “groundlings.”“groundlings.”

People paying People paying higher prices got higher prices got seats in the seats in the galleries for their galleries for their money and a roof money and a roof to keep off the rain.to keep off the rain.

Attending Shakespeare’s Attending Shakespeare’s TheaterTheater

No one went to the theater at No one went to the theater at night- the stage was in the night- the stage was in the middle of the audience and was middle of the audience and was lighted by the sun.lighted by the sun.

No women or girls acted in the No women or girls acted in the plays- boys played all female plays- boys played all female partsparts

There was no scenery, few props, There was no scenery, few props, and only costumes that the and only costumes that the actors provided for themselves.actors provided for themselves.

Why were women prohibited to act during this time period?

What were the established gender roles?

The Globe Theatre: Old The Globe Theatre: Old and Newand New In 1613, the old Globe In 1613, the old Globe

Theatre burned to the Theatre burned to the ground after being set on ground after being set on fire by a spark from a fire by a spark from a canon during a canon during a performance of performance of Henry VIII.Henry VIII.

Reconstruction on a Reconstruction on a replica of the original replica of the original Globe Theatre began in Globe Theatre began in 1993 and was completed 1993 and was completed in 1996.in 1996.

Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Globe officially opened the Globe in May of 1997.in May of 1997.

Image: Shakespeare’s Globe

Answers to your questions– Answers to your questions– did you get them right?did you get them right?

1.1. TrueTrue2.2. TrueTrue3.3. FalseFalse4.4. TrueTrue5.5. TrueTrue6.6. FalseFalse7.7. TrueTrue