William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Warm UpWarm Up

Before we start today’s lesson, you Before we start today’s lesson, you have 3 minutes to write down have 3 minutes to write down anything you remember from last anything you remember from last year about Shakespeare himself, his year about Shakespeare himself, his plays, the way he writes, etc. plays, the way he writes, etc.

Shakespeare's Shakespeare's birthplace.birthplace.

Stratford - on - AvonStratford - on - Avon

Facts About Shakespeare!Facts About Shakespeare!

Born on April 23,1564.Born on April 23,1564. By 1594 he had a reputation By 1594 he had a reputation

of being an actor, had written of being an actor, had written many plays, and became many plays, and became principle playwright of Lord principle playwright of Lord ChamberlainChamberlain’’s men.s men.

1599, They built the globe 1599, They built the globe theater.theater.

1603, he took control over 1603, he took control over Lord ChamberlainLord Chamberlain’’s Men.s Men.

More Facts…More Facts…

In 1610, Shakespeare retired and In 1610, Shakespeare retired and invested in grain and farmland. invested in grain and farmland.

On April 23,1616, Shakespeare died.On April 23,1616, Shakespeare died. Shakespeare was regarded as the Shakespeare was regarded as the

greatest author in the English greatest author in the English Language--400 years after his death. Language--400 years after his death. Why so long after his death??? Why so long after his death???

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, and Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, and they are still frequently read they are still frequently read throughout the world.throughout the world.

The Globe Theater The Globe Theater

Top view of Shakespeare's Globe Theater

Entrance of The Globe Theater

Original Theaters

Plays took place during the day because there was no artificial lighting. There were also no elaborate sets.

New Globe TheaterNew Globe Theater

Re built Globe Theater in Thames, England. Built on September 19, 1999.

Main CharactersMain CharactersMacbeth – A Scottish thane who is Macbeth – A Scottish thane who is

tempted to murder the king for personal tempted to murder the king for personal gain.gain.

Lady Macbeth – A pushy wife who seeks to Lady Macbeth – A pushy wife who seeks to benefit from her husband’s rise to power.benefit from her husband’s rise to power.

Three Witches – Evil hags who plant the Three Witches – Evil hags who plant the seed of murder in Macbeth’s mind.seed of murder in Macbeth’s mind.

Banquo – Macbeth’s friend who is loyal to Banquo – Macbeth’s friend who is loyal to the king.the king.

Main Characters ContinuedMain Characters Continued

MacDuff - A thane who is loyal to the MacDuff - A thane who is loyal to the king who opposes Macbeth.king who opposes Macbeth.

King Duncan – A benevolent Scottish King Duncan – A benevolent Scottish king who has been generous to king who has been generous to Macbeth.Macbeth.

Malcolm – Duncan’s son and a Malcolm – Duncan’s son and a prince.prince.

Major themes: Major themes: MacbethMacbethFate vs. Free Will

Violence and bloodshed result when the prescribed social order is tampered with.Violence and bloodshed result when the prescribed social order is tampered with.Good vs. Evil

The qualities of good and evil, strength and weakness, are often combined in a The qualities of good and evil, strength and weakness, are often combined in a single individual.single individual.

Appearance vs. RealityThings/People arenThings/People aren’’t always what they seem to be.t always what they seem to be.Internal desires and fears can be more influential than exterior reality.Internal desires and fears can be more influential than exterior reality.

Ambition vs. MoralityBrave, honest, and noble persons can be seduced by power and ambition, and so Brave, honest, and noble persons can be seduced by power and ambition, and so

turned into tyrants.turned into tyrants.

Violence and bloodshed result when the prescribed social order is Violence and bloodshed result when the prescribed social order is tampered with.tampered with.

ShakespeareShakespeare’’s Verse: s Verse: DefinitionsDefinitions

MeterMeter: The basic rhythmic structure of verse: The basic rhythmic structure of verse IambIamb:: An unstressed syllable, followed by a An unstressed syllable, followed by a

stressed syllable stressed syllable Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter: : Iambic pentameterIambic pentameter is is

a type of meter that is used in poetry and a type of meter that is used in poetry and drama, consisting of an unrhymed line with drama, consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented unaccented syllable and an accented syllable. Iambic Pentameter creates a syllable. Iambic Pentameter creates a particular rhythm and is 10 syllables.particular rhythm and is 10 syllables.

weakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakweakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRONSTRONGweakSTRONGweakSTRON

GG““I AM…I AM…””I AM I AM I AM I AM I AMI AM I AM I AM I AM I AM““ I a m a p i r a t e w i t h a I a m a p i r a t e w i t h a

w o o d e n l e g . w o o d e n l e g . ””I AM a PI rate WITH a WOOD en LEGI AM a PI rate WITH a WOOD en LEGMark the following lines with a Mark the following lines with a

if the syllable is unstressed, and a if the syllable is unstressed, and a , if the syllable is stressed. , if the syllable is stressed.

Practice TimePractice Time

But soft: what light through But soft: what light through yonder window breaks?yonder window breaks?

So foul and fair a day I have not So foul and fair a day I have not seen.seen.

II ’’m hungry. Is it almost time for m hungry. Is it almost time for lunch?lunch?

Not yet – the soup is heating on Not yet – the soup is heating on the stove.the stove.

Shakespeare wrote his plays Shakespeare wrote his plays in in Blank Verse(mostly)Blank Verse(mostly)

Blank Verse is:Blank Verse is:

Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter:Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter:

Iamb = unstressed syllable, then a stressed syllable (Iamb = unstressed syllable, then a stressed syllable (ˇ ˇ ) = foot) = foot

Iambic Pentameter consists of five feet to each line Iambic Pentameter consists of five feet to each line (10 syllables)(10 syllables)

Example: Methought I heard a voice cry, Example: Methought I heard a voice cry, ““Sleep no Sleep no more!more!”” (2.2.34). (2.2.34).

LetLet’’s Look…s Look…

Shakespeare Example:Shakespeare Example:

"But "But SOFTSOFT, what , what LIGHTLIGHT through through YONderYONder

WINdow BREAKS.WINdow BREAKS.””daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM

daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM 

Dr. Seuss Example:Dr. Seuss Example:

i DO not LIKE green i DO not LIKE green EGGS and HAMEGGS and HAM

i DO not LIKE them, SAM i DO not LIKE them, SAM i AMi AM

Key Terms for Act 1Key Terms for Act 1

ParadoxParadoxa statement whose two parts seem a statement whose two parts seem

contradictory yet make sense with more contradictory yet make sense with more thoughtthought

““They have They have earsears but but hearhear not” not”““I can I can seesee I’m going I’m going blindblind””Macbeth is the protagonist, but often seen Macbeth is the protagonist, but often seen

as evilas evilWhy would an author include something Why would an author include something

like this???like this???

Key Terms for Act 1Key Terms for Act 1

Dramatic IronyDramatic Ironythe audience knows more than the the audience knows more than the

characters in the playcharacters in the playTherefore, words and action have Therefore, words and action have

additional meaning for the audienceadditional meaning for the audienceWhat examples of dramatic irony do you What examples of dramatic irony do you

remember from remember from Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet??Prologue tells us at beginning that R & J will Prologue tells us at beginning that R & J will

die, but the characters do not know thisdie, but the characters do not know this