Introduction to Shakespeare “He was not of an age, but for all time.” ~ Ben Johnson

Mrs. Wilson

English 1

Unit: Shakespeare Objectives: RL3.9/W3.9 - I can discuss how Shakespeare treats themes, and I can explain the treatment using textual evidence.

Topic / Objective: Shakespeare

Name:

Class/ Period:

Date:

Essential Question: How has Shakespeare influenced the world? How is Shakespeare important to me today? Why do I need to know Shakespeare?

Questions/Cues

Notes:

RL3.9/W3.9 - I can discuss Shakespeare’s themes and characters and cultural significance using textual evidence.

•Born in 1564 – raised during the Renaissance

•Wrote 36 plays ( Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories) and 154 sonnets (poems) – strong connection to emotion

•Died in 1616

What is known about Shakespeare that connects his works to today?

How is Shakespeare still important today, 400+ years after his death?

What is one major difference between acting during The Renaissance and acting today?

•Known as “The Bard”; Married to Anne Hathaway, not the Anne Hathaway of Les Misérables, Alice in Wonderland

•Coined 500 new words and phrases – many of which are still used today! Included are: amazement, bump, lonely, countless, useful, radiance and lackluster.

• Actors in The Bard’s time were only men

•Plays were understandable by all – The Bard had a great understanding of human emotions.

Summary:

Questions/Cues:

Notes: Renaissance

•Early 1500s – Mid 1600s – a time of progress

•Other famous Renaissance people: •Leonardo Da Vinci – artist and inventor – The Vitruvian Man, Mona Lisa, first helicopter, armored car, and machine gun •Galileo – astronomer– proved the earth revolves around the Sun •Joan of Arc – French peasant who became a military leader before being burned at the stake •Johannes Gutenberg – Invented the printing press •Michelangelo – sculptor and artist – Sistine Chapel, The David

What are some simple facts about The Renaissance?

Besides Shakespeare and his plays, what are some Renaissance Era discoveries, events, people, and art that are still important today?

•Mass printing became possible making classical literature accessible to many

•Art and literature became accepted and encouraged, especially by Queen Elizabeth I

• Martin Luther and John Calvin lead the Protestant Reformation, which stirred up how people saw God and the Christian Church

What major changes regarding leisure and faith occurred during The Renaissance?

Summary:

Questions/Cues

Notes: The Globe Theater

•Completed in 1599

•The cost of attending theater: 1 penny (about $1.70 today) to stand on the floor; box seats were about ½ a crown ($50 today)

Discuss The Globe Theater

•Stage in center of polygon shaped floor, seats rose in tiers around the stage.

•Where many of Shakespeare’s plays premiered

•It was hot inside with only lighting that came through the ceiling

•To be heard and understood, actors (called players) – who were all men – had to overact - many boys died due to lead in makeup

•“All the world’s a playhouse (stage)” written above the outside entrance with Hercules holding a globe on his shoulders.

•1500 people could fit inside the theater; up to 3000 would show up

•The type of play was known by the color flag flown outside – Black = tragedy, White = Comedy, and Red = History

•Plays were performed during summer days – consider the smell!

Before Romeo & Juliet

• Please read the paper you’ve been given

• We will read this together

– AFTER WE READ, • put your name, date and class period on your paper

– Complete the paper (following the instructions)

– Complete the questions 1-3 on the

– Discuss your answers; write down the items in which your group finds the most difference of opinion; CHANGE NOTHING

• Turn in your paper

Before Romeo & Juliet House of Capulet

Lady Capulet Lord Capulet Mother of Juliet Father of Juliet

Juliet Daughter of Lady and Lord Capulet

In love with Romeo

Tybalt Petruchio

Nephew to Capulet Companion to Tybalt

Nurse Peter Sampson Gregory

Maid Servants to Capulet

Confidant

to Juliet

House of Montague

Lady Montague Lord Montague Mother of Romeo Father of Romeo

Romeo Son of Lady and Lord Montague

In Love with Juliet

Benvolio

Cousin to Romeo

Nephew to Montague

Balthasaar Abram Friar Lawrence

Blue and Red = Major Characters Black = Minor Character

Before Romeo & Juliet

House of Escalus

Paris Escalus Mercutio Kinsman to the Prince Prince of Verona BFF to Romeo

Kinsman to Prince

Green = Major Characters Black = Minor Character