William Shakespeare April 23 1564 April 23 1616

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William Shakespeare April 23, 1564? April 23, 1616 Background Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07

William Shakespeare April 23, 1564? April 23, 1616 Background Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 1

William Shakespeare • • Baptized 3 days after his birth, Not sure on actual

William Shakespeare • • Baptized 3 days after his birth, Not sure on actual birthday Stratford-on-Avon Where was he born? _________ His father’s name was John Shakespeare His father was a glover (made leather goods) Sold them in the town market He was also the mayor, and he was active in politics • Shakespeare’s had a good early upbringing Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 2

William Shakespeare • • Scandal occurs, his father is no longer the mayor The

William Shakespeare • • Scandal occurs, his father is no longer the mayor The family faces hard times Decline of fortunes He had to quit school (around age 13 or 14) in order to help support his family • I visited his school, the school is still open today • In school he would have learned Greek, Latin, History, and Math • He would have spent most of his time translating ancient works from one language to another Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 3

William Shakespeare • The years following his quitting school, historians are not sure what

William Shakespeare • The years following his quitting school, historians are not sure what he did • However, he did get in trouble hunting on Thomas Lucy’s ground (he was poaching) • When he was 18 he married Anne Hathaway • His wife’s name was _______ • She was 26 years old Susanna • And six months later they had a baby girl ____ • A year later they had a set of twins _______ Hamnet and Judith Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 4

William Shakespeare • Now he is approximately 21 years old • He leaves Stratford

William Shakespeare • Now he is approximately 21 years old • He leaves Stratford and he goes to London to become an actor • A lot of theories – Some say he ran away because he was caught poaching again – Others say a group of players came to his town during the summer (Acting troops) Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 5

 • William Shakespeare If you asked “Master Will, what did you do in

• William Shakespeare If you asked “Master Will, what did you do in your lifetime? ” –He would have said –“I was an actor who wrote plays and not the world’s greatest playwright. ” • Why did Shakespeare never publish his plays during his lifetime? –No copyright laws, he wouldn’t have received any money –He didn’t want the other actors to have access to his works Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 6

William Shakespeare • He would have thought it is crazy that people are reading

William Shakespeare • He would have thought it is crazy that people are reading his plays, 400 years after his death • Also, he would believe plays are to be performed and not read • We have cast lists to prove he was an actor • He was not a leading man, but more a character actor • He played Kings, Princes, and parts for older men Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 7

William Shakespeare • Sometime during the late 1500’s he tried to write plays as

William Shakespeare • Sometime during the late 1500’s he tried to write plays as a way to earn extra money • There was a high demand for new plays • How long were plays performed in Shakespeare’s time? ______ Only 3 or 4 times • So he decides to write plays Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 8

William Shakespeare • What helps guarantee the success of a play? • A playwright

William Shakespeare • What helps guarantee the success of a play? • A playwright would look at what is already successful • He would have been influenced by current events and historical events • He would also want to give the people what they want • Blood, Gore, Action, Revenge, and Romance • When Shakespeare was writing his first play, a very popular play at the time was being performed called The Spanish Tragedy Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 9

William Shakespeare • So he wrote his first play • Titus Andronicus • It

William Shakespeare • So he wrote his first play • Titus Andronicus • It is about a retired Roman General, – – – He goes homes and want a nice simple life He has a daughter who is out picking flowers She is raped by two men The men cut her tongue and hands (end of Act I) The rest of the play is revenge The general find the two men and tortures them, he cuts out their eyes and kills them – Then the General and his wife invite the rapists parents over to eat – His wife bakes them in a pie and serves them to their parents Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 10

William Shakespeare • Titus Andronicus provided him moderate success • This is Shakespeare who

William Shakespeare • Titus Andronicus provided him moderate success • This is Shakespeare who eventually wrote Romeo and Juliet • He became a better playwright • He wrote 3 types of plays: – 1. Tragedies – 2. Comedies – 3. Histories Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 11

William Shakespeare- Tragedies • What is the difference between Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories: •

William Shakespeare- Tragedies • What is the difference between Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories: • ***Tragedies always end in death • Name a few tragedies: Airplane crashes, tragic accidents- 911 (World Trade Center, Monumental- Earthquakes, Katrina • ***Shakespeare’s Tragedies – A person at the beginning is highly thought of and has one tragic flaw in his character – And that one thing brings him down Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 12

William Shakespeare- Tragedies • The movie O is based on Othello • A high

William Shakespeare- Tragedies • The movie O is based on Othello • A high school star tragic flaw (jealousy) • In the play Othello– a general, a great guy, married to a beautiful woman – He should be happy, but his friend who is really his enemy, makes him jealous – Kills his wife w/a scarf, and then finds out the truth – What is the flaw? Jealousy Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 13

William Shakespeare - Hamlet • There is something strange going on, a ghost warns

William Shakespeare - Hamlet • There is something strange going on, a ghost warns • The ghost looks likes his father- and tells him he was murdered by his brother (uncle), you have to avenge me • His mother marries the uncle • Evil being is in disguise • He tries to test his uncle • His actors put on a play depicting the murder • His uncle looses it • He stabs the wrong person through a curtain • He kills his girlfriend’s father by mistake • Girlfriend commits suicide • Flaw? He does not act he withholds his action Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 14

Hamlet Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 15

Hamlet Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 15

William Shakespeare- Comedies • If Tragedies end in death, • How do comedies end?

William Shakespeare- Comedies • If Tragedies end in death, • How do comedies end? Love Marriage • A lot of mistaken identity • Women who dress up as men • Twins, Shakespeare was fascinated by Twins • Separated at birth---Storms/Shipwrecks • And they grow up not knowing the other exists • Physical Comedy- Slapstick • Happy endings, • Comedy of Errors, has 2 sets of twins Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 16

Romeo & Juliet • Starts off as a comedy • But ends as a

Romeo & Juliet • Starts off as a comedy • But ends as a tragedy. Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 17

William Shakespeare- Modern History Plays • Ex. George Bush II • What would the

William Shakespeare- Modern History Plays • Ex. George Bush II • What would the play be about? • Iraq War, Twin Towers • Ex. Richard Nixon- Watergate Scandal • Ex. Ronald Reagan- Berlin Wall • Bill Clinton- Monica Lewinsky Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 18

William Shakespeare- History Plays • In general Histories are not put on much •

William Shakespeare- History Plays • In general Histories are not put on much • Shakespeare was inspired by past kings: – Henry II – Richard III is often put – Henry IV (hero of the 100 Year War) – Julius Caesar • **History plays dramatize the most important points that occurred Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 19

William Shakespeare- History Plays • Richard III it is about a hunchback prince who

William Shakespeare- History Plays • Richard III it is about a hunchback prince who is 12 th in line for the throne • He murders everyone ahead of him to be king • He was sneaky • He even murdered a 4 and a 5 yr old • He is dethroned • A famous saying “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse” • Bugs Bunny Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 20

William Shakespeare- History Plays • • Another history play Henry IV Part I and

William Shakespeare- History Plays • • Another history play Henry IV Part I and Part II (Hero of the 100 Year War) It was so popular he had to do two parts (sequel) • Young prince becomes the king • Famous character Sir John Falstaff, comic character, old knight, a bragger • So popular was the character brought back into two other plays Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 21

 • • William Shakespeare **In all he wrote 37 plays and 2 long

• • William Shakespeare **In all he wrote 37 plays and 2 long poems **And 154 Sonnets (that was his entire work) He retired young He made a lot of money He invested in Real Estate He was one of the first to go in and buy his own theater. When putting on a stage production, who makes the money? Theater owner- guaranteed return Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 22

Famous Expressions • Now is the winter of our discontent…” (Richard III) • “…parting

Famous Expressions • Now is the winter of our discontent…” (Richard III) • “…parting is such sweet sorrow…” (Romeo and Juliet) • “…it was Greek to me” (Julius Caesar) • “All the world’s a stage…” (As You Like It) Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 23

William Shakespeare • What was the name of William Shakespeare’s theater? ______ Globe Theater

William Shakespeare • What was the name of William Shakespeare’s theater? ______ Globe Theater • He invested in real estate and became a landlord • He retired and returned to Stratford • He returned to his wife, he might have seen her only three times in 25 years • He bought the biggest house in town • His father was still alive, and he bought his father a title, (Sir John Shakespeare), in order to restore his father’s reputation • In the remainder of his days he became a tax collector • To become a tax collector you bidded on the job • He very successful and made a lot of money Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 24

Exterior of the New Globe Theater Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 25

Exterior of the New Globe Theater Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 25

Globe Theater Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 26

Globe Theater Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 26

William Shakespeare • As for Shakespeare’s wife, (Anne Hathaway), she inherited his second best

William Shakespeare • As for Shakespeare’s wife, (Anne Hathaway), she inherited his second best bed • Historians question how close Shakespeare and his wife were • He only saw her approximately 3 times in 25 years • In Stratford, Shakespeare was buried inside his church, which was a very high honor Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 27

William Shakespeare • April 23, 1616 a group of actor friends came to visit

William Shakespeare • April 23, 1616 a group of actor friends came to visit him from London • Shakespeare ate some oysters • He died of food poisoning • By that time, his son (Hamnet) had died when he was only 13, Shakespeare was in London, and he felt guilty about the loss • Susanna married a doctor, Dr. Hall • Judith married a tavern owner, and she was considered unrespectable • When he died, Susanna received most of his estate, because she was very respectable Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 28

Bust at Shakespeare's burial place in Stratford Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 29

Bust at Shakespeare's burial place in Stratford Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 29

What is the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in

What is the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14 th century and ending in the 17 th century called? The Renaissance Mrs. Billet 10 -1 -07 30