William Shakespeare

International Man of Mystery?

Issue #1 – The Portrait

Shakespeare1. Shakespeare lived to 52. •born in April 23rd 1564 •died on 23rd April 1616. •married to Anne Hathaway

2.Wrote 37 plays (tragedies, comedies, and histories) and 154 sonnets

3.Shakespeare was also an actor who performed many of his own plays.

Shakespeare4. Some scholars have maintained that Shakespeare did not write the plays,with at least fifty writers having been suggested as the real author.

5. In records with his signature he spelled his name differently and never as Shakespeare- He spells it Shakespe; Shakspe; Shakspere and Shakespear.

6. There are over 157 Million Google Hits for Shakespeare

This might just be your slice of pie!

The Shakespearean Comedy

(Birth of the sit-com)

Comedic ConventionsShakespearean comedies are characterized by:

1. A clash between the young and old generations

2. Themes of separation and unification, journey to new lands

3. Mistaken identities

4. The presence of a clever servant, or a ‘clown’

Comedic ConventionsShakespearean comedies are characterized by:

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5. Resolution of tension through marriage(s)

6. Multiple, intertwining plots, love triangles (Confusion = comedy)

7. And they are pregnant with plays on words (i.e. they always have a ‘pun’ in the oven).

Take out a sheet of paper, and for each of the following videos, identify all of the comedic conventions that you can find.

With each new video, write down a title (Video #1, etc….), and indicate, in point form, what conventions are being used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32WeiH4TrIY

Your Task:Your Task:

In Groups of Four:Come up with a list of as many movies as possible which deal directly with the ‘mistaken identity’ convention.

The group with the biggest (verifiable) list will win a prize.

All other groups will be forced to watch endless Rob Schneider comedies.

Submit your lists at the end of the period. The winners will be announced in our next class.

Winner!Winner!

Loser!Loser!