William William ShakespeareShakespeare

William William ShakespeareShakespeare

The Life and Times of the The Life and Times of the World’s Most Celebrated ArtistWorld’s Most Celebrated Artist

The Life and Times of the The Life and Times of the World’s Most Celebrated ArtistWorld’s Most Celebrated Artist

The Face of LiteratureThe Face of LiteratureThe Face of LiteratureThe Face of Literature

The Biography of “The The Biography of “The Bard”Bard”

The Biography of “The The Biography of “The Bard”Bard”

Born April 23rd, 1564/died in 1616

Born and raised in Stratford-at-Avon, England

Working-class son of a glover and farmer

Received a high-school equivalent education

Married Anne Hathaway (seven years older)

Had three children

Born April 23rd, 1564/died in 1616

Born and raised in Stratford-at-Avon, England

Working-class son of a glover and farmer

Received a high-school equivalent education

Married Anne Hathaway (seven years older)

Had three children

Early CareerEarly CareerEarly CareerEarly Career

Moved to London to pursue acting career

Achieved only modest success onstage

Switched focus to writing plays, poetry

Co-owner of The Globe Theatre, a popular theatre house in London, England

Founder of Lord Chamberlain’s Men and The King’s Men theatre companies

Moved to London to pursue acting career

Achieved only modest success onstage

Switched focus to writing plays, poetry

Co-owner of The Globe Theatre, a popular theatre house in London, England

Founder of Lord Chamberlain’s Men and The King’s Men theatre companies

Shakespeare’s DramasShakespeare’s DramasShakespeare’s DramasShakespeare’s Dramas

Wrote thirty-seven full-length plays

Histories: fictional plays based upon real historical people and events

Comedies: light-hearted plays filled with magic, romance, and silliness

Tragedies: dark, depressing plays featuring death, violence and moral transgression

Wrote thirty-seven full-length plays

Histories: fictional plays based upon real historical people and events

Comedies: light-hearted plays filled with magic, romance, and silliness

Tragedies: dark, depressing plays featuring death, violence and moral transgression

Shakespeare’s “Tragic” Shakespeare’s “Tragic” HighlightsHighlights

Shakespeare’s “Tragic” Shakespeare’s “Tragic” HighlightsHighlights

Macbeth: Tragic tale of a Scottish warrior who kills his king, assumes his crown, and descends into paranoid madness

Hamlet: Tragic tale of a Danish prince who avenges the death of his father

Romeo and Juliet: Romantic tale of two teenage lovers and their tragic love affair

Macbeth: Tragic tale of a Scottish warrior who kills his king, assumes his crown, and descends into paranoid madness

Hamlet: Tragic tale of a Danish prince who avenges the death of his father

Romeo and Juliet: Romantic tale of two teenage lovers and their tragic love affair

Shakespeare’s Comic Shakespeare’s Comic HighlightsHighlights

Shakespeare’s Comic Shakespeare’s Comic HighlightsHighlights

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A whimsical tale of three couples cursed by a fairy in the woods

The Tempest: A strange story of a mysterious wizard on an enchanted island

Measure for Measure: A gender-bending disguises and an odd love triangle

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A whimsical tale of three couples cursed by a fairy in the woods

The Tempest: A strange story of a mysterious wizard on an enchanted island

Measure for Measure: A gender-bending disguises and an odd love triangle

Shakespeare’s Historical HighlightsShakespeare’s Historical HighlightsShakespeare’s Historical HighlightsShakespeare’s Historical Highlights

Julius Caesar: A fictional look at Rome’s most infamous emperor

Henry IV, Part One: A fictional look at Prince Hal, a royal heir and his wild escapades

Richard III: A fictional tale of a hunch-back king and his mental decline

Julius Caesar: A fictional look at Rome’s most infamous emperor

Henry IV, Part One: A fictional look at Prince Hal, a royal heir and his wild escapades

Richard III: A fictional tale of a hunch-back king and his mental decline

Shakespeare’s PoetryShakespeare’s PoetryShakespeare’s PoetryShakespeare’s Poetry

Wrote hundred of poems

Though known most commonly for his plays, is considered one of greatest poets of all-time

The master of the “sonnet”, a rule-governed , fourteen line poem

Most of his poems surround a love affair of questionable distinction

Wrote hundred of poems

Though known most commonly for his plays, is considered one of greatest poets of all-time

The master of the “sonnet”, a rule-governed , fourteen line poem

Most of his poems surround a love affair of questionable distinction

Renaissance EnglandRenaissance EnglandRenaissance EnglandRenaissance England

Shakespeare wrote and lived during a period called “The English Renaissance”

Also known as the“Elizabethan Period” and the “Shakespearean Era”

A time of cultural “rebirth”: an increased interest in art, such as music, dance, writing, and performing

Shakespeare wrote and lived during a period called “The English Renaissance”

Also known as the“Elizabethan Period” and the “Shakespearean Era”

A time of cultural “rebirth”: an increased interest in art, such as music, dance, writing, and performing

Renaissance England Renaissance England (cont.)(cont.)

Renaissance England Renaissance England (cont.)(cont.)

Most Englanders lived in rural/suburban settings (farms, villages)

Cities were crowded, unsanitary and dangerous

Education was a privilege

Literacy was quite rare

Disease and illness limited average lifespan

Most Englanders lived in rural/suburban settings (farms, villages)

Cities were crowded, unsanitary and dangerous

Education was a privilege

Literacy was quite rare

Disease and illness limited average lifespan

Renaissance England Renaissance England (cont.)(cont.)

Renaissance England Renaissance England (cont.)(cont.)

Politics were simple: Monarchy

Kings/queens believed to be descendants of royal blood

“Patriarchal” society valued males substantially more than females

Modern advancements included sailing, mapmaking, and internal medicine

Politics were simple: Monarchy

Kings/queens believed to be descendants of royal blood

“Patriarchal” society valued males substantially more than females

Modern advancements included sailing, mapmaking, and internal medicine

The The Globe Globe

TheaterTheater

The The Globe Globe

TheaterTheaterThe House That

Shakespeare Built...LiterallyThe House That

Shakespeare Built...Literally

The Globe TheaterThe Globe TheaterThe Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater

Shakespeare’s home theater house

An open-air, semi-enclosed theater

Located on the “slummy” side of the Thames River in London, England

Capacity: 3,000 patrons

Co-owned by Shakespeare and Richard Burbage

Shakespeare’s home theater house

An open-air, semi-enclosed theater

Located on the “slummy” side of the Thames River in London, England

Capacity: 3,000 patrons

Co-owned by Shakespeare and Richard Burbage

““Showtime at the Globe”Showtime at the Globe”““Showtime at the Globe”Showtime at the Globe”

Theater crowd consisted of all social groups, from royal subjects to farmhands

Poor patrons could purchase a ticket for one cent and watch play in standing-room only “pit” in front of the stage (called “groundlings”)

Wealthy patrons sat in bleacher seats, or on rare occasions, onstage in seats of honor

Theater crowd consisted of all social groups, from royal subjects to farmhands

Poor patrons could purchase a ticket for one cent and watch play in standing-room only “pit” in front of the stage (called “groundlings”)

Wealthy patrons sat in bleacher seats, or on rare occasions, onstage in seats of honor

More from The Globe...More from The Globe...More from The Globe...More from The Globe...

Plays were performed in early afternoons

A flag above The Globe signified what type of play was to be performed

Crowds were often rowdy, drunk, and loud

Area around theater was a dangerous carnival of street merchants, vendors, criminals and prostitutes

Only men permitted to perform onstage!

Plays were performed in early afternoons

A flag above The Globe signified what type of play was to be performed

Crowds were often rowdy, drunk, and loud

Area around theater was a dangerous carnival of street merchants, vendors, criminals and prostitutes

Only men permitted to perform onstage!

Shakespeare’s StyleShakespeare’s StyleShakespeare’s StyleShakespeare’s Style

Writing is highly stylized, poetic and complicated

Used metric pattern known as “iambic pentameter”

Characters often speak their thoughts to the audience directly

Shakespeare “invented” some 2,600 words

Writing is often funny, ironic and raunchy

Writing is highly stylized, poetic and complicated

Used metric pattern known as “iambic pentameter”

Characters often speak their thoughts to the audience directly

Shakespeare “invented” some 2,600 words

Writing is often funny, ironic and raunchy