William Shakespeare

A Man for All Times

Why Study Shakespeare?

Read and understand ANYTHING!

Broader view of the world

Greater understanding of human nature

Allusions are EVERYWHERE!!!

Shakespearean AllusionsCommercials

Pizza HutLexus

MoviesRenaissance ManCluelessMuch Ado About NothingRomeo and Juliet

TVStar TrekThe SimpsonsHome Improvement

Background Information

The facts are scarce…Born April 23, 1564; Stratford-on-Avon, England

Died April 23, 1616 (Driver’s license; driver’s license)

Married Anne Hathaway (he 18; she 26)

Three kids: one son, two daughters (son and one daughter twins)

His Works37 plays

Comedies-funny• Taming of the Shrew• As You Like It

Tragedies-everyone dies• Julius Caesar• Romeo and Juliet

Histories-based on true events• King Henry VIII• Richard II

154 sonnets

Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVIII

SHALL I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;But thy eternal summer shall not fade,Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st;   So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,   So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

 

Quatrain

Couplet

Sonnet Formula

Fourteen linesEvery-other line rhymes

Quatrains: groups of four rhyming lines

Last two lines rhymeCouplet: group of two rhyming lines

10 syllables per lineIambic pentameter: Pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables

The Globe TheatreBuilt and designed by James Burbage 1599

Made of wood; shaped like an “O”“The Wooden ‘O’”

Burned to ground in 1613Spark from cannonNo one hurt

Poor seats—free; on the groundRich seats—one penny; in the balconiesSold out crowd=2000+Actors were “slimy” charactersAll parts played by men

The Globe Theatre

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Tragedy

Based on true history: Roman military hero: Julius Caesar

Written 1599

Set in Rome, 44 B.C.

Themes—betrayal, jealousy

Terms

Archaic – words that are out of use today; no longer used.

Plebian-lower class citizen of Rome; commoner

Tribune-officer of Rome; upper-class

Triumvirate-three person government

Ides of March-March 15

Soliloquy—speech on stage where actor is alone; like talking to oneself

Main Characters

Julius Caesar: Emperor of RomeRuler of most of known world Assassinated halfway through the playSpirit later returns to haunt Brutus

CalpurniaCaesar’s wifeDreams of his assassination

Main Characters Continued

Marc Antony:Caesar’s faithful follower

Reputation for fooling around and enjoying life

Powerful orator (speaker)

Famous "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech

Main Characters Continued

Marcus Brutus:Friend of Caesar

Betrays him for the good of Rome

Stays “good” until play’s end• “This was the noblest Roman of them all.”--Mark Antony

Commits suicide

PortiaBrutus’ wife

Commits suicide because of Brutus’ trouble

Main Characters Continued

CassiusConspires to assassinate Caesar Jealous of CaesarCommits suicide because Brutus is defeated

The Soothsayer Latin for “truth sayer”Fortune tellerFamous quote: “Beware the Ides of March!”

Plot

Caesar comes home from battle to a parade

Cassius plots to kill CaesarJealous!!

Soothsayer warns, “Beware the Ides of March!”Translates: March 15 is dangerous!

Caesar ignores warning

Cassius convinces Brutus to kill Caesar for the good of Rome

Plot Continued

Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay home on March 15Caesar says, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”

Casca stabs first

Brutus stabs last“Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar!”

• Caesar’s last words.

Plot ContinuedMark Antony pretends to be on conspirators’ sidesProvokes the plebians to civil war

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him!”

Fighting…Conspirators think they’re doomed and commit suicide one by oneBrutus dies last

• Convinces servant, Strato, to hold sword• Runs onto sword to kill self

Plot’s Conclusion

Mark Antony ends play over Brutus’ body“This was the noblest Roman of them all.”

Famous Quotes from Julius Caesar

“It was Greek to me.” (Casca, Act 1, Scene 2) “Beware the Ides of March!” (Soothsayer, Act 1, Scene II)“Et tu, Brute, then fall, Caesar!” (Julius Caesar, Act 2, Scene 2)“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!” (Mark Antony, Act 3, Scene 2)

Create a Dagger

Dagger that belongs to a tribune

Original quote on bladeWhy did you help to kill Caesar?

Worth 2 daily grades