William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

““He is the most famous writer He is the most famous writer in the world, but he left us no in the world, but he left us no journals or letters—he left us journals or letters—he left us

only his poems and his plays.”only his poems and his plays.”11

RenaissanceRenaissance 14th-1614th-16thth century century

Started in ItalyStarted in Italy ““Rebirth”—renewed interest in classical Rebirth”—renewed interest in classical

learning (ancient Greece and Rome)learning (ancient Greece and Rome)Humanists - Focus on human reason, not Humanists - Focus on human reason, not

just strict faithjust strict faith Philosophy, history, languages, and the arts could Philosophy, history, languages, and the arts could

teach us truths too. Not just the Bible!teach us truths too. Not just the Bible! Protestant Reformation – reformed Catholic Protestant Reformation – reformed Catholic

Church and instituted the Church of EnglandChurch and instituted the Church of England King Henry VIII wants to divorce wife, daughter King Henry VIII wants to divorce wife, daughter

Mary takes overMary takes over Queen Elizabeth – re-establishes English ChurchQueen Elizabeth – re-establishes English Church22

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Shakespeare: ChildhoodShakespeare: Childhood15641564: William Shakespeare : William Shakespeare

born in Stratford Upon Avon.born in Stratford Upon Avon.One of 8 siblings. One of 8 siblings. Attended grammar Attended grammar

school.school.Studied Latin grammar, Studied Latin grammar,

Latin literature, and rhetoric.Latin literature, and rhetoric.

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Shakespeare: Early LifeShakespeare: Early Life

Married Anne Hathaway at 18 years old.

Had three children.A daughter and two twins.

Left family to move to London.

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Shakespeare: CareerShakespeare: Career

Becomes an actor and playwright by 1592.Employed by “King’s

Men.”Officially

“professional” playwright.

Massive plague causes theaters to close down (1592-1594).Shakespeare turns to

poetry.

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Shakespeare’s SuccessShakespeare’s Success Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet one of his earlier plays.one of his earlier plays.

Written between 1594 and 1596.Written between 1594 and 1596. Retired in 1612Retired in 1612..

Had written 37 plays.Had written 37 plays. Masterpieces include: Masterpieces include: Julius CaesarJulius Caesar,,

HamletHamlet,, Othello Othello,, King Lear King Lear andand Macbeth. Macbeth.

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Shakespeare’s Success Shakespeare’s Success (cont.)(cont.)

During a Broadway season of Othello, one critic remarked that Shakespeare would be making $25,000 a week in royalties for each performance.

Shakespeare’s Success TodayShakespeare’s Success Today

““Indeed, so absolute is Shakespeare’s Indeed, so absolute is Shakespeare’s achievement that he has himself achievement that he has himself come to seem like great creating come to seem like great creating

nature: the common bond of nature: the common bond of humankind, the principle of hope, the humankind, the principle of hope, the symbol of the imagination’s power to symbol of the imagination’s power to

transcend time-bound beliefs and transcend time-bound beliefs and assumptions, peculiar historical assumptions, peculiar historical

circumstances, and specific artistic circumstances, and specific artistic conventions.” conventions.”

––Stephen GreenblattStephen Greenblatt88

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Shakespeare’s Theater: Shakespeare’s Theater: OriginsOrigins

1576: James 1576: James Burbage builds the Burbage builds the first permanent first permanent theater in England.theater in England. Plays typically Plays typically

performed in performed in courtyards.courtyards.

1599: Theater is 1599: Theater is torn down and torn down and rebuilt by rebuilt by Shakespeare and Shakespeare and his actors.his actors.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater

Large, round building three stories Large, round building three stories high.high.

Large platform stage under an open Large platform stage under an open sky.sky.

Curtained off “inner stage.”Curtained off “inner stage.”Trapdoors were placed in the floor of Trapdoors were placed in the floor of

main stage.main stage.Very few sets.Very few sets.

Sets established by the language.Sets established by the language. 1010

The Globe TheaterThe Globe TheaterAll social classes present.All social classes present.Plays performed by all-male casts.Plays performed by all-male casts.Not a proscenium stage.Not a proscenium stage.

No outer stage, only the inner stage; like No outer stage, only the inner stage; like looking in a window.looking in a window.

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1313

1414

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Shakespeare: End of Life Shakespeare: End of Life

1616: 1616: William William Shakespeare Shakespeare becomes ill and becomes ill and dies. dies.

In his will, he In his will, he leaves his wife his leaves his wife his second best bed. second best bed.

Strange or Strange or thoughtful? You thoughtful? You decide!decide!

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The Magic of TheatreThe Magic of Theatre

““Playwrights have been tempted to Playwrights have been tempted to write plays that imitate the style of write plays that imitate the style of

movies. But this imitation rarely movies. But this imitation rarely works. Theater and movies are works. Theater and movies are

different media. A theater audience different media. A theater audience does not necessarily want to be does not necessarily want to be

whisked form place to place… The whisked form place to place… The theater is a medium of theater is a medium of wordswords. When . When

we go to see a play, it is the we go to see a play, it is the movement of the words rather than movement of the words rather than

the scenery that delight us.”the scenery that delight us.”1717