Renaissance Theater:Renaissance Theater:Shakespeare and the Shakespeare and the

GlobeGlobe

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare 1564-16161564-1616

Regarded as greatest writer in English Regarded as greatest writer in English languagelanguage

Born in Stratford-on-Avon Born in Stratford-on-Avon

Married Anne Hathaway in 1582Married Anne Hathaway in 1582 Had three childrenHad three children

Has no living descendentsHas no living descendents

Moved to LondonMoved to London Started as an actor, then became a writerStarted as an actor, then became a writer

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Wrote 3 types of playsWrote 3 types of playsComedyComedy

HistoricalHistorical

TragedyTragedy

Renaissance Drama Renaissance Drama

Often called “Elizabethan” Often called “Elizabethan” Named after Queen Elizabeth INamed after Queen Elizabeth I

Strong financial supporter of Strong financial supporter of

the theater and of Shakespeare’s playsthe theater and of Shakespeare’s plays

Actors of the AgeActors of the AgeOnly male actors; no females allowedOnly male actors; no females allowed

actors were thought to be vulgar and actors were thought to be vulgar and inappropriateinappropriate

The Plays The Plays

Engaging the audienceEngaging the audience Extravagant costumesExtravagant costumes Intense fight scenesIntense fight scenes Sound effectsSound effects Strong dialogue and Strong dialogue and

choreographed gestureschoreographed gestures ***not very many props, ***not very many props,

not elaborate settingnot elaborate setting

The GlobeThe Globe Built in 1599Built in 1599 Most of Shakespeare’s plays were Most of Shakespeare’s plays were

performed hereperformed here Held 2500-3000 peopleHeld 2500-3000 people Made of woodMade of wood Burned down in 1613Burned down in 1613

RebuiltRebuilt Torn down by Puritans in 1640s Torn down by Puritans in 1640s

Reconstructed in 1988Reconstructed in 1988

Theater LayoutTheater Layout

Three levels or galleriesThree levels or galleriesRich at topRich at topPoor, called “groundlings,” stood in the Poor, called “groundlings,” stood in the

“pit”“pit”

Stage jutted out into the Stage jutted out into the courtyardcourtyard

http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/virtualtour/http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/virtualtour/

Shakespearean Drama Shakespearean Drama Terms Terms

Blank VerseBlank Verseunrhymed iambic pentameterunrhymed iambic pentameter

Fatal FlawFatal FlawTragic HeroTragic HeroActs and ScenesActs and ScenesPlebeianPlebeian

townspersontownsperson

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar Background Background

Setting: Rome, 44 BCSetting: Rome, 44 BC

Opens after Caesar’s Opens after Caesar’s victory over Pompey’s victory over Pompey’s armyarmy Pompey was former military Pompey was former military

leader, widely loved by the leader, widely loved by the peoplepeople

Caesar is not yet crownedCaesar is not yet crowned Senate runs government of Senate runs government of

RomeRome

Important CharactersImportant Characters

The ConspiratorsThe Conspirators BrutusBrutus CassiusCassius CinnaCinna CascaCasca TreboniusTrebonius LegariusLegarius DeciusDecius MetellusMetellus

Characters, cont.Characters, cont.

The TriumverateThe TriumverateAntonyAntonyOctaviusOctaviusLepidusLepidus

The WomenThe WomenPortia (Brutus’ wife)Portia (Brutus’ wife)Calphurnia (Caesar’s wife)Calphurnia (Caesar’s wife)