JournalJournal

What I already know about What I already know about Shakespeare…Shakespeare…

(If you don’t know anything about him, (If you don’t know anything about him, that’s FINE! Share your that’s FINE! Share your EXPECTATIONS and PREDICTIONS EXPECTATIONS and PREDICTIONS about his life and work instead.)about his life and work instead.)

Meet the Bard: Meet the Bard: William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Ms. Geller’s Sensational Ms. Geller’s Sensational SophomoresSophomores

Fall 2013Fall 2013

Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s Life Born April 23, 1564, Born April 23, 1564,

Stratford-on-Avon, EnglandStratford-on-Avon, England Died on his birthday in Died on his birthday in

16161616 Little is known about his Little is known about his

early lifeearly life Father was a merchant and Father was a merchant and

served one term as mayorserved one term as mayor Attended Stratford Attended Stratford

Grammar School until age Grammar School until age 1414

Studied Latin and Greek, Studied Latin and Greek, as well as British History as well as British History and World Historyand World History

Shakespeare’s House Shakespeare’s House in Stratford-on-Avonin Stratford-on-Avon

Shakespeare’s Life, continuedShakespeare’s Life, continued

Married Anne Married Anne Hathaway at age Hathaway at age 1818

Three children: Three children: Susanna, Judith Susanna, Judith and Hamnetand Hamnet

Left for London Left for London around 1592around 1592

Shakespeare and His TheatreShakespeare and His Theatre

Quickly developed a reputation as an actor Quickly developed a reputation as an actor and playwright; wrote a total of 37 playsand playwright; wrote a total of 37 plays

Principal playwright of the Lord Principal playwright of the Lord Chamberlain’s MenChamberlain’s Men

Built the Globe Theatre in 1599Built the Globe Theatre in 1599 Began writing poetry when theatres closed Began writing poetry when theatres closed

due to plaguedue to plague Theatre company renamed the King’s Men Theatre company renamed the King’s Men

when James I became king in 1603when James I became king in 1603 Retired to Stratford in 1610Retired to Stratford in 1610

Shakespeare’s TheatreShakespeare’s Theatre

No one knows exactly when each play was writtenNo one knows exactly when each play was written Plays consisted of five acts and were approximately Plays consisted of five acts and were approximately

two hours longtwo hours long Several distinct sub-genres of drama:Several distinct sub-genres of drama:

TragediesTragedies ComediesComedies RomancesRomances History PlaysHistory Plays

Subject matter based on history and myth; already Subject matter based on history and myth; already well-known to Shakespeare’s audienceswell-known to Shakespeare’s audiences

Theatre considered an inappropriate vocation for Theatre considered an inappropriate vocation for women; female roles typically played by men and women; female roles typically played by men and boysboys

"Pardon, gentles all, the flat "Pardon, gentles all, the flat unraised spirits that hath unraised spirits that hath

dareddaredOn this unworthy scaffold to On this unworthy scaffold to

bring forth so great an bring forth so great an object.object.

Can this cockpit hold the Can this cockpit hold the vasty fields of France?vasty fields of France?

Or may we cram Within this Or may we cram Within this ““Wooden O” Wooden O” the very the very

casques that did affright the casques that did affright the air at Agincourt?"air at Agincourt?"

Shakespeare’s Theatre, Shakespeare’s Theatre, continued…continued…

The Globe consisted of a round or octagonal, The Globe consisted of a round or octagonal, roofless courtyard with no artificial lightroofless courtyard with no artificial light Plays performed during daylight hoursPlays performed during daylight hours No scenery; settings were indicated through dialogueNo scenery; settings were indicated through dialogue Actors wore luxurious Elizabethan clothing, rather Actors wore luxurious Elizabethan clothing, rather

than costumesthan costumes Wealthier playgoers watched from three levels Wealthier playgoers watched from three levels

of benchesof benches Less wealthy spectators, called “groundlings,” Less wealthy spectators, called “groundlings,”

stood and watched from the “pit.”stood and watched from the “pit.”

Shakespeare’s Theatre, Shakespeare’s Theatre, continuedcontinued

The Globe burned The Globe burned down in 1613down in 1613

Foundation of Foundation of original structure original structure discovered in 1990discovered in 1990

Re-opened to its Re-opened to its first full season in first full season in 19971997

The GlobeThe Globe

Shakespeare’s LanguageShakespeare’s Language

Shakespeare’s plays were written Shakespeare’s plays were written primarily in primarily in blank verse—blank verse—unrhymed iambic pentameter.unrhymed iambic pentameter.

Iambic pentameter: ten syllables per Iambic pentameter: ten syllables per line, every second syllable accentedline, every second syllable accented

Commoners speak in proseCommoners speak in prose

Shakespeare’s Language, Shakespeare’s Language, continuedcontinued

Elizabethan EnglishElizabethan English Footnotes are your friends!Footnotes are your friends!

““Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind;Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind;

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste.Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste.6565

Wings, and no eyes, figureWings, and no eyes, figure6666 unheedy haste.” unheedy haste.”

65. Nor…judgment taste: Love, which arises from feelings, is 65. Nor…judgment taste: Love, which arises from feelings, is without judgment.without judgment.

66. figure: Symbolize66. figure: Symbolize