Shakespeare and the Globe TheatreComedy of Errors

Outline

1. Backgroundinformation: Comedy of Errors

2. Backgroundinformation: Shakespeare‘slanguage

3. Summary: The Comedy of Errors

4. Quiz

1. Backgroundinformation:

Comedy of Errors• Shakespeare's earliest comedy• exact date of writing is unknown• shortest play less than half the size of Hamlet which has over 4,000 lines

• play’s premiere was at an Inn in 1594 • first performance at court in 1604• the only play other than The Tempest, which sets the action

over a single day and a single place, in this case the city of Ephesus

• Shakespeare drew inspiration from classical tales and the plot line for The Comedy of Errors comes from a Roman comedy, Menaechmi, written by the dramatist Plautus

2. Background information: Shakespeare‘s

language

What are you laughing at?

Photo by Joan MarcusThe cast of The Shakespeare Theatre's 1992- 1993production of William Shakespeare's’The Comedy of Errors.

''high'' and ''low'' comedy

'' high comedy'':

• Satire/ ''biting humor''; making fun of people and their way of living often has an underlying political message

• Word play/ verbal wit

pun: a play on words; the humorous use of a word that has two meanings or the use of different words that sound the same

The two Dromios often reply to a question or command by their master with a pun

The two masters respond by creating a quick exchange of wordplay

ex.: Act 2, Scene 2, lines 42- 54

Syracuse Antipholus: Shall I tell you why?

Syracuse Dromio: Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say, every why hath a wherefore.

Syracuse Antipholus: Why, first, for flouting me, and then wherefore, for urging it the second time to me.

Syracuse Dromio: Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season,

When in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor reason.

Well, sir, I thank you.

Syracuse Antipholus: Thank me, sir, for what?

Syracuse Dromio: Marry, sir, for this something that you gave me for nothing.

Syracuse Antipholus: I'll make you amends next, to give you nothing for something (...)‏

''low comedy''

• farce; dirty jokes, exaggerated characters, characters in

embarrassing and humiliating situations

• mistaken identity

• slapstick/ physical comedy

from Italian commedia dell' arte

The twp Dromios are beaten by their masters – recurrent

slapstick beating

other comedic elements:

• incongruity and surprise

Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse in Ephesus

foreign environment, strange situations, surprise about

what will happen next

The Comedy of Errors combines elements of high and low

comedy.

3. Summary: The Comedy of Errors

Characters

Antipholus ofSyracuse

Dromio ofSyracuse

Antipholus ofEphesus

Dromio ofEphesus

Emilia (Mother of both Antipholi)

Egeon (Father ofboth Antipholi)

Adriana (Wife ofAntipholus of Ephesus) Luciana (Sister of

Adriana)

Duke ofEphesus

Officer

Angelo the Goldsmith

Courtesan

Story

In Ephesus Egeon is arrested because he is from Syracuse. He tells his story…

…A journey with the whole family, the parents, their sons (Antipholus ² -twins), the slaves (Dromio² - some more twins).

A shipwreck – damaged exactly in the middle, 3 on the left, 3 on the right.

In search of his brother – Antipholus of Syracuse tries to find Antipholusof Ephesus

Antipholus S. arrives is Ephesus. He gives money to HIS Dromio S.

Antipholus S. meets the wrong Domio E. and asks for the money.

The wrong house, the wrong wife…Antipholus S. dines with Adriana (wife of his brother).

While eating inside, the right husband, (Antipholus E.) is waiting at the door –but Adriana won’t let him in.

Inside: Antipholus S. tells Luciana that he is in love with her (sister of Adriana) – she is not amused.

Outside again: Antipholus S. is angry about his wife. He decides to dine at the Courtesan’s house.

Later: Antipholus S. meets Angelo (the goldsmith) on the street. He gives Antipholus E. (the wrong twin) a golden chain (which was ordered by his

brother).

Antipholus E. meets Angelo (the goldsmith). Angelo wants the money forthe chain. Antipholus E. is confused.

Antipholus E. is arrested.

Antipholus E. and Dromio E. are brought to Adriana‘shouse, in chains.

Antipholus S. and Dromio S. meet Angelo (the goldsmith). They start to fight.

Adriana and Luciana appear.

Antipholus S. and Dromio S. …

… flee into…

… an abbey. The abbessdoes not allow Adriana and Luciana to come in.

Adriana and Luciana ask the Duke ofEphesus to help them.

Antipholus E. and Dromio E. arrive at the setting.

The duke asks the abbess tocome out. When she comesout she brings Antipholus S.

and Dromio S. with her. Everyone is even more

confused.

The situation clears up when Egeon says that both Antipholi are hissons. Finally the abbess says that she is Emilia, Egeons wife and the

mother of the two Antipholi.

4. Quiz

1. The Comedy of Errors is set in the city of:

(A) Epidaurus

(B) Syracuse

(C) Ephesus

(D) Corinth

2. Egeon will be executed because

(A) He is a citizen of Corinth.

(B) He is a citizen of Syracuse.

(C) He has stolen a gold bracelet from the Duke.

(D) He is a Christian.

3. In order to avoid execution, Egeon must:

(A) Find his missing sons

(B) Find someone willing to pay a ransom of a thousand marks

(C) Save the Duke's life

(D) Recover a missing gold chain

4. Egeon lost his family in:

(A) A flood

(B) A war between Syracuse and Ephesus

(C) A plague

(D) A shipwreck

5. In Ephesus, Antipholus of Syracuse is mistakenfor:

(A) His twin brother

(B) The Duke

(C) His father

(D) His slave, Dromio

6. After dining at his brother's home, Antipholus of Syracuse declares his love for:

(A) Adriana

(B) The Courtesan

(C) The maid, Luce

(D) Luciana

7. Antipholus of Ephesus is locked out of his ownhome because:

(A) His wife believes he is already inside.

(B) The Duke ordered him kept out.

(C) His wife believes him to be unfaithful.

(D) Dromio of Syracuse falls asleep and doesnot hear the knock.

8. In fact, the object ends up in the possession of:

(A) The Courtesan

(B) Antipholus of Syracuse

(C) Balthasar

(D) Dromio of Syracuse

9. Seeking safety, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse flee into:

(A) The Duke's castle

(B) The Abbey

(C) Adriana's house

(D) Angelo's house

10. The Abbess is really:

(A) Egeon's long-lost sister

(B) The twins' long-lost sister

(C) Egeon's wife and the twins' long-lost mother

(D) Egeon's wife, now married to the Duke

References:

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/errors/quiz.html (viewed 20.06.2010)

Thank you for your attention

and participation