Shakespearean Shakespearean BackgroundBackground

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

(1564-1616)(1564-1616)

Birth and FamilyBirth and Family

Born Stratford-upon-Avon in Born Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, which was a Warwickshire, which was a prosperous town.prosperous town.

Father, John, a merchant; Mother Father, John, a merchant; Mother – Mary from a prominent ENG – Mary from a prominent ENG family.family.

Went to Stratford Grammar Went to Stratford Grammar School – Great education in School – Great education in Latin, Bible, ENGLatin, Bible, ENG

Lost yearsLost years

Little is known about Little is known about Shakespeare from 1585-1592 – Shakespeare from 1585-1592 – No records of his whereaboutsNo records of his whereabouts

Materialized in 1593 and was Materialized in 1593 and was prominent until he retired in prominent until he retired in 1613. belonged to the same 1613. belonged to the same theater company as writer theater company as writer Richard Burbage and clown Richard Burbage and clown Willie Kemp.Willie Kemp.

Fame and FortuneFame and Fortune

1593 “Venus and Adonis” – an erotic 1593 “Venus and Adonis” – an erotic love poem; 1594 – “The Rape of love poem; 1594 – “The Rape of Lucrece” – Dedicated to a young Lucrece” – Dedicated to a young nobleman, the Earl of Southampton.nobleman, the Earl of Southampton.

1592 – play – “The Comedy of Errors” 1592 – play – “The Comedy of Errors” – mistaken identity– mistaken identity

1593 – “Titus Andronicus”; Comedies 1593 – “Titus Andronicus”; Comedies - “The Taming of the Shrew”; “The - “The Taming of the Shrew”; “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”; “Labor’s Two Gentlemen of Verona”; “Labor’s Lost Love”Lost Love”

TragediesTragedies

1594-95 – “Romeo and Juliet” – ill-1594-95 – “Romeo and Juliet” – ill-fated loversfated lovers

Plays during War of Roses: Plays during War of Roses: “Richard II”; “Henry IV”; “Henry “Richard II”; “Henry IV”; “Henry V”V”

1599 – “Julius Caesar”1599 – “Julius Caesar”1600-1601 – “Hamlet” – Used the 1600-1601 – “Hamlet” – Used the

most varied and controversial most varied and controversial interpretations from critics, interpretations from critics, scholars, and actors.scholars, and actors.

Queen Elizabeth…Queen Elizabeth…

… … asked Shakespeare to asked Shakespeare to rewrite “The Merry Wives rewrite “The Merry Wives of Windsor” so she could of Windsor” so she could see the buffoon, John see the buffoon, John Falstaff, fall in love.Falstaff, fall in love.

Under King JamesUnder King James

While waiting for the plague to leave While waiting for the plague to leave London, Shakespeare’s acting London, Shakespeare’s acting company did many private plays for company did many private plays for the king. the king.

Kings assumed the acting company Kings assumed the acting company and called it “The King’s Men” – gave and called it “The King’s Men” – gave them free reign in the kingdom, them free reign in the kingdom, places to perform, gave them special places to perform, gave them special clothing for special occasions, and clothing for special occasions, and increased their salaries.increased their salaries.

Tragic PeriodTragic Period

““Hamlet”; “Othello”; “King Hamlet”; “Othello”; “King Lear”; “Macbeth”; “Antony Lear”; “Macbeth”; “Antony and Cleopatra” – (1601-1607) and Cleopatra” – (1601-1607) – Evil, violence, and death – Evil, violence, and death were shown.were shown.

Many thought these were his Many thought these were his unhappiest years.unhappiest years.

PerspectivePerspective

Shakespeare’s works do not Shakespeare’s works do not show his private life; but his show his private life; but his genius and desire to please the genius and desire to please the audience.audience.

Globe TheaterGlobe Theater

Shakespeare’s main portal for Shakespeare’s main portal for his company to perform. It his company to perform. It burned with the firing of a burned with the firing of a cannon in “Henry VIII” in 1613 – cannon in “Henry VIII” in 1613 – The company performed at the The company performed at the Blackfriars theater until the Blackfriars theater until the Globe was reopened in 1614.Globe was reopened in 1614.

Shakespearean Plays - Shakespearean Plays - Research ProjectResearch Project

3-4 pages – ½ is background of the play 3-4 pages – ½ is background of the play and ½ of it is content (plot, and ½ of it is content (plot, characterizations, themes, motifs, characterizations, themes, motifs, literary devices) of the play. 12-font, literary devices) of the play. 12-font, double spaced. Use MLA format… No double spaced. Use MLA format… No Wikipedia(Formal)Wikipedia(Formal)

Product – Make sure the product shows Product – Make sure the product shows your research. Ex. Posters, power point, your research. Ex. Posters, power point, web sites… (Informal x 2) web sites… (Informal x 2)

Presentation – 5 min. – Verbalize your Presentation – 5 min. – Verbalize your research on any part of the play you are research on any part of the play you are assigned. (Informal x 2)assigned. (Informal x 2)

Shakespearean Plays - Shakespearean Plays - Research ProjectResearch Project

2 pages – Based on a term 2 pages – Based on a term from the Renaissance. 12-from the Renaissance. 12-font, double spaced. Use font, double spaced. Use MLA format…(6X)MLA format…(6X)Product – Make sure the Product – Make sure the prouct shows your research. prouct shows your research. Ex. Posters, power point, Ex. Posters, power point, web sites… (3x) web sites… (3x) Presentation – 3- 5 min. – Presentation – 3- 5 min. – Verbalize your research on Verbalize your research on any part of the term/play you any part of the term/play you are assigned. (3x)are assigned. (3x)

The Draft – For The Draft – For Shakespearean Plays researchShakespearean Plays research