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Shakespeare.pptxShakespeare
He was not of an age but for all time ~Ben Johnson
Quiz
What do Gertrude, Lady Ann (Richard III) and Jocasta (Oedipus) have in common as women “of their time”? How would that impact your approach to these characters as an actor/director?
Shakespeare : The Man behind the plays
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford Upon Avon in England. He was born to relatively well-off parents who
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http://www.ent.iastate.edu/sip/2008/social
Historical Context
When Shakespeare was born Elizabeth was Queen. England was in the midst of a time, as we have discussed, of great expansion.
The symbol of Brittania was used and there was also an emerging and new sense of national pride and identity (connected to the expansion).
The arts and the English language became a vital part of this national pride and identity.
Death and the Plague
This was also a time of great instability and death.
People regularly died of the plague at the time, particularly babies that were more susceptible to disease.
People were killed if they were suspected of going against the Queen, the church, etc.
The plague as we will discuss later continued to be a major issue/theme in Shakespeare’s life.
Shakespeare’s Early Years
In school Shakespeare would have learned Latin and would have read “the classics” including Greek tragedies, The Ovid, etc.
These influences can be seen throughout his plays.
He also would have seen theatrical entertainments both via touring companies and elaborate events that took place at the castles of the aristocracy in Stratford Upon Avon.
Early Years, Contd.
His parents fell on hard times and he dropped out of school and became an apprentice to his father.
At 18 he married Anne Hathaway and soon after (less than nine months) they had a child.
Immediately after are the “unknown years” of Shakespeare’s life. He might have been a soldier, a sailor, a school master. He might have traveled.
Shakespeare arrives in London
In 1592 we know Shakespeare is in London as a writer and actor.
“But if it was a time of hope and ambition it was also filled with conflict and contradiction. . .The Globe and The Bear Garden were near neighbors. The spiked heads of traitors on London Bridge grinned down at crowds homeward bound from Hamlet”. (Burton 65)
When Shakespeare was writing there theatres were well established and a popular form of entertainment.
Shakespeare joined the company the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and his first plays were a great success
Life as a playwright
Plays were in high demand at that time and theaters were “greedy” for new texts
Shakespeare also acted in his own plays and wrote poetry including the Sonnets, The Rape of Lucrece and Venus and Adonis.
One of his more famous patrons was the Earl of Southampton. The Earl was close to the Queen, provided Shakepseare with money and was the noted inspiration of much of Shakepeare’s poetry (it is speculated that the men were lovers).
His Plays
His plays often focused on historical events (the Henry plays, (The Henry plays, Richard III).
They were often adaptations of other plays/stories : The Comedy of Errors is based on a Roman play Two Gentlemen of Verona on an Italian tale.
He wrote 37 plays in 20 years as a playwright.
The Theater
Shakespeare’s plays were performed for people spanning all classes, levels of education, etc. The peasant classes as well as they Queen needed to be entertained by his plays.
There was very little scenery or elaborate costumes – so these descriptions had to be placed into the plays (read the opening lines of the play).
Men and boys played all the roles, including female roles.
The Plague Once More
In the 1590’s London was threatened by the plague and people died by the thousands.
The theaters were often shut down during bad outbreaks. (Why do you think this was the case)?
And Shakespeare’s 11 year old son, Hamnet, died of the plague leaving Shakespeare without a male heir.
Last ten years. . .
In 1603 King James I was crowned King and Shakepeare’s group became The King’s Men.
In 1613 the Globe burned down to the ground and Shakespeare retired to Stratford Upon Avon where he enjoyed “the good life” he had worked so hard to obtain.
Hamlet
What happens in this play?
What excited you about the play?
What impression does it give you about Shakespeare?
Break into groups: your interpretation of the play.
