William Shakespeare

A WRITER FOR ALL TIME

TOTUS MUNDUS AGIT HISTRIONEM

Latin words literally mean, “All the world plays the actor.”

Globe Motto:

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Shakespeare• Born April 23, 1564• Stratford-on-Avon, England• Married Anne Hathaway• Wrote about 154 sonnets, 37 plays• Had the globe theater built (Queen

Elizabeth funded), on Thames river• Died 1616 on his 52 birthday

• Actor for “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (acting company.)

• Later, the company was renamed

“The King’s Men.”

*Known as the Renaissance Man

*Known as the Bard (lyric poet)of Avon

Shakespeare wrote:

• Comedies-white flag at the Globe

• Histories –red flag at the globe

• Tragedies-black flag at the globe

Romeo and Juliet

Considered a tragedy

West Side Story (Movie) based on R&J

TRAGEDY

• main character, or protagonist, has a fatal flaw which causes disaster, or death at the end.

• There is a catastrophe at the end (resolution)• Usually has dramatic irony, which purpose is to

build suspense. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows what the characters do not know

• Fate plays a part in the downfall of the protagonist.

The Theater• Plays produced for the general

public

• Roofless>open air

• No artificial lighting

• Tiring house

• The Heavens

Spectators• Wealthy sat on benches under a thatched

roof

• “Groundlings” or “stinklings”-participated in the action of the play by yelling, sneering, or throwing food. Cost to stand in courtyard floor: a penny

• All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate, yet all enjoyed.

Staging Areas*Stage extended into the pit

*second-level gallery where the famous balcony scene in R & J took place

*Trap door>ghosts or witches

• No scenery

• Elaborate, detailed, and colorful costumes and props

• Theater would hold 3000 spectators

DETAILS

Actors

• Only men and boys

• Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles

• Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

Elizabethan Words

• Anon: Soon• Aye: Yes• But: Except for• E’en: Even• Livery: A distinctive uniform

or look

• Haply: Perhaps

• Hence: Away, from here

• Hie: Hurry

• Marry: Indeed

More words to translate

…and more• Morrow – morning

• Prithee – please

• Sirrah – servant

• Hither – here

• Wanton (not just an Elizabethan word, but FYI)- willful, unrestrained

Blank Verse

• Much of R & J is written in blank verse:–unrhymed –iambic (unstressed, stressed)–pentameter( 5 “feet” to a line)

• ends up to be 10 syllable lines

But the prologue…

Is a

SONNET

Plot

•The sequence of events in a literary work

Exposition• The introductory information

for the story. Root word: expose

setting

characters

basic situation

Inciting Moment

• Often called “initial incident”–the first bit of action that occurs

which begins the plot

–Romeo and Juliet “lock eyes” at the party

Conflict• The struggle that develops

–man vs. man

–man vs. himself

–man vs. society

–man vs. nature

–-man vs technology

Act One

The exposition

Act two

The rising action

Climax - Act III

• The turning point of the story-the point at which the plot (story) actually changes course.

• There is an event which changes the direction of the story. Then the plot begins to unravel.

ACT IV

• The story unravels, or the action begins to fall. Conflict all but disappears.

• Characters respond to what has happened.

Resolution – ACT V

•The end of the central conflict

•In a tragedy, the resolution is called the catastrophe

Denouement

• The final explanation or outcome of the plot–If this is included in

literature, it will occur after the resolution.

Theme

•Central lesson or idea

•Insight about life

•Theme of R&J

Dramatic Foil

• A character whose purpose is to show off another character through contrast–Benvolio for Tybalt

Round characters

•Characters who have many personality traits, like real people. Example: Romeo, Friar, Juliet

Flat Characters

• One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait–Shakespeare often uses them to

provide comic relief even in a tragedy

–Example: Mercutio, Nurse

Static Characters

• Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

• Example: Tybalt, Prince

Dynamic Character• Characters that change

somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better. Example: Juliet changes from an immature girl to a mature young woman

Monologue

• One person speaking on stage - may be another character on stage too–Ex: the Prince of Verona

commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding

Soliloquy

• Long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. In R & J, Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died.

Aside• Words spoken, usually in an

undertone not intended to be heard by all characters

• Can be directed toward another character or to the audience

• Think Zack from “Saved by the Bell.”

Stage Directions Notes in a play that describe how the work should be performed, or staged. These instructions are for the player and director.

When performing the play, stage directions are never spoken

Dialogue - A conversation between two or more characters. Dialogue reveals the personalities of the characters and advances the action of the play.

PunShakespeare loved to use them!!!

– Humorous use of a word with two meanings.

– Ex: Sole and soul; Dreamers often lie.

– Don’t be shellfish. Share Your Shrimp—Outback Restaurant

– Grin and Bare it—Body lotion from Bath and BodyWorks

OXYMORONA figure of speech that brings together two contradictory terms

•Bipartisan cooperation

•“cheerful pessimist”

•“wise fool”

•“jumbo shrimp”

•“sweet sorrow”- Shakespeare

•“loving hate” – Shakespeare

•Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

ALLUSIONS• You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings

and soar with them…

• “Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud,

Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies.”

• From forth day’s path and Titan’s burning wheels.

Direct Address• Words that tell the reader who is being

addressed:

• “A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.”

• The word “ho” is not a noun of direct address. LOL!

Dramatic Irony

• A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

Verbal Irony

• Words used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

• Sarcasm is verbal irony, though verbal irony is not always sarcasm

Situational Irony

• An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

Comic Relief• Use of comedy within literature to

provide “relief” from seriousness or sadness. “Lightens up” the moment.

• In R & J, look for moments of comic relief that help “relieve” the tragedy of the situation