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A Brief Introduction William Shakespeare

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A Brief Introduction. William Shakespeare. Where to start?. He’s been dead for over 400 years but he’s still the name on all the cool kids’ lips! He’s a playwright....a poet....keen on tragedy....but also comedy. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: A Brief Introduction

A Brief

Introduction

William Shakespeare

Page 2: A Brief Introduction

WHERE TO START? He’s been dead for over 400 years but he’s

still the name on all the cool kids’ lips! He’s a playwright....a poet....keen on

tragedy....but also comedy. He never left England but you can see his

plays on stage in places like Tokyo and on screen in places like New Delhi.

Plenty is known about his work, but his life story is full of pot holes and dead ends....some people even (gasp) suggest he didn’t even write the plays and poems we know as his work (double gasp).

Page 3: A Brief Introduction

WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

Page 4: A Brief Introduction
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Page 7: A Brief Introduction

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – CHILDHOOD Date of birth thought to be April 23

1564. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, about

150kms north west of London. Brought up in fairly comfortable

circumstances (i.e. good education, access to theatrical performances).

Page 8: A Brief Introduction

WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREShakespeare’s house from his childhood – Stratford Upon Avon

Page 9: A Brief Introduction

FAMILY Married Anne Hathaway in 1582….at

only 18! Three children: Susanna and twins

Hamnet (boy with odd name) and Judith (another girl).

Wife and children lived in Stratford in a mansion called New Place, bought from his earnings.

Page 10: A Brief Introduction

ANNE HATHAWAYAnne’s cottage from her childhood – Stratford Upon Avon

Page 11: A Brief Introduction

ANNE HATHAWAY It is not clear if Shakespeare and Ms Hathaway married for love or

because they were obligated to. Some of his poetry may give us a clue about their relationship

(Sonnet 130):

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

Page 12: A Brief Introduction

DISCUSSION What do you think that the poem

means?

Page 13: A Brief Introduction

WORK 1587 – Moved to London, may have

become an apprentice actor. Became involved with a foremost

theatrical company ‘The Chamberlain’s Men’.

1592 – Began to write (adapting scripts, taking stories from other sources and putting into scripts).

Page 14: A Brief Introduction

WORK CONTINUED Became main playwright of company,

producing an average of two full length works per year…this earned him about 200 pounds a year (which was a healthy amount).

Wrote comedies, tragedies and histories.

Romeo and Juliet was his tenth play, written before the age of 30.

1596 – Granted a coat of arms, officially became a ‘gentleman’.

Page 15: A Brief Introduction

GLOBE THEATRE 1598 – put up money to build the

company’s own theatre. Built not far from London Bridge, on the

River Thames. Holds up to 2 500 people. Opened February 1599 with

performance of Julius Caesar. Burnt down in 1613

Page 16: A Brief Introduction

THE GLOBE TODAY

Page 17: A Brief Introduction

THE GLOBE TODAY

Page 18: A Brief Introduction

THE GLOBE TODAY

Page 19: A Brief Introduction

THE GLOBE TODAY

Page 20: A Brief Introduction

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Page 21: A Brief Introduction

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT HIM? Famous in his own time (not just after

death). Used more English words than any other

writer before or since. Conjured up phrases still used in

everyday life (‘quick as a flash, blinking idiot’).

Created great literary masterpieces…yes, they really are masterpieces!

Page 22: A Brief Introduction

POLITICS Many great political upheavals in

England during the previous two centuries.

Henry VIII (1509-1547) – notorious problems created by attempts to have a male heir.

Succeeded by Queen Mary – wanted to restore Catholicism, ‘Bloody Mary’.

Page 23: A Brief Introduction

POLITICS CONTINUED Queen Elizabeth I succeeded her –

Protestant. Consolidated her power and by shrewd policies built England into the foremost nation of the time. The period she ruled (1558-1603) is referred to as the Elizabethan period.

James I (James VI of Scotland) succeeded in 1603 as only legitimate successor.

Perceived as weak, rebellion a real possibility (Guy Fawkes plot to kill the King).

Page 24: A Brief Introduction

EXCITEMENT AND APPEAL! (YES, IT IS APPEALING)

Created many of the words we use today (bandit, green-eyed monster, bloodstained, numb, scuffle, fitful, dwindled….I could go on for days!)

The ultra cool use of blank verse (poetic form) – no one really spoke that way!

Rhythmic pattern of iambic pentameter (most lines contain five feet, with each foot containing a stressed and an unstressed syllable).

Many of his characters hurled some awesome insults – there are as many as 10 000 insults in his plays


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