William Shakespeare Shakespeares Birth Shakespeare was born in
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Birth Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April of 1564 in
Shakespeare…the facts Parents were John—glovemaker, local politician and Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner Shakespeare had 7 brothers and sisters
King’s New School – Shakespeare’s school From: http: //perso. wanadoo. fr/danielle. esposito/
Married Life • Married in November, 1582, to Anne Hathaway • First daughter Susanna born in May 1583 • Twins (Hamnet and Judith) christened on February 2, 1585 • Hamnet died from the plague at age 11 • No documentary evidence between 15851592 – known as “The Lost Years” • Sometime in this period, he moved to London and began working in theatre.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage From: http: //perso. wanadoo. fr/danielle. esposito/
Elizabethan Playwrights Christopher Marlowe Thomas Kyd And William Shakespeare was the original “New Kid on the Block”
The Plays Throughout the middle ages plays were performed by workers in towns and were religious based, often retelling stories from the Bible. Elizabethan writers introduced theatre audiences to horror, the supernatural and GORE
Theater Career • Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men • Theaters in London closed from 15931594 due to the plague
Theater Career v After the succession of James I in 1603 to the throne, the company was granted permission to change its name to the King’s Men v London theatres: Blackfriars, Rose, Swan, Curtain, Globe v Wrote during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I Queen Elizabeth
The Globe Theatre v. Globe built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, with Shakespeare as a primary investor v. Burned down in 1613 during a production of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII when a cannon misfired and a spark landed on the thatched roof
The Globe The most expensive seats were directly behind the stage, called the gallery. Though the people sitting there could only see the actors from behind, they themselves could be seen by everyone in the audience.
The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London
The Globe Theater
The Plays 38 plays firmly attributed to Shakespeare Possible wrote three others • 14 COMEDIES – ends in marriage s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Much Ado about Nothing… • 10 HISTORIES – Richard III, Richard II. . • 10 TRAGEDIES – ends in death s Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Othello… • 4 romances – Pericles, Cymbeline, Winter’s Tale, Tempest
The Poetry v. Two major poems v 154 Sonnets v. Numerous other poems v. Poetry usually dedicated to a patron
Shakespeare’s Language v. Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English” v. Old English is the language of Beowulf: Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunon Hu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon! Hey! We have heard of the glory of the Spear. Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!
Shakespeare’s Language v. Shakespeare did not write in “Middle English” v. Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory: We redeth oft and findeth y-write— And this clerkes wele it wite— Layes that ben in harping Ben y-founde of ferli thing… (Sir Orfeo)
Shakespeare’s Language v. Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English” v. EME was not very different from “Modern English, ” except that it had some old holdovers. v. Beginning about 200 years before Shakespeare, and largely complete by his day, long vowel pronunciation shifted: ex: good, name, life
Shakespeare’s Language v. Shakespeare coined many words we still use today: • Critical • Majestic • Dwindle v. And quite a few phrases as well: • One fell swoop • Flesh and blood • Vanish into thin air See http: //www. wordorigins. org/histeng. htm
Shakespeare’s Death Shakespeare died on April 23 rd, 1616 He is buried in Holy Trinity Church in his birth village of Stratford His grave is covered by a flat stone that bears an epitaph warning of a curse: "Good Friends, for Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the bones enclosed here! Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones. "
Shakespeare Today Elizabethan theatre still plays a part in our day to day lives, mostly through the influence of Shakespeare. You can find references to his work in films, novels, plays, musicals, songs, poetry, artwork, satire…Even today his characters and storylines continue to inspire…
The End Died April 23, 1616 - 52 * Actor * Poet * Playwright
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