Introducing: Introducing: Mr. William Mr. William

ShakespeareShakespeare

The Poet and Playwright The Poet and Playwright Born: April 23, 1564Born: April 23, 1564 1571: Enters Grammar School 1571: Enters Grammar School 1582: Marries Anne Hathaway; she 1582: Marries Anne Hathaway; she

is 8 years his senioris 8 years his senior 1583: Daughter Susanna is born1583: Daughter Susanna is born 1585: Twins Hamnet & Judith are 1585: Twins Hamnet & Judith are

born; Hamnet dies at age 11born; Hamnet dies at age 11 1592: Shakespeare in London 1592: Shakespeare in London

working as an actor and playwrightworking as an actor and playwright 1593: Begins writing the sonnets 1593: Begins writing the sonnets

(154)(154) 1599: Shakespeare’s company 1599: Shakespeare’s company

builds the Globe Theatre (he builds the Globe Theatre (he owned 1/10)owned 1/10)

Dies: April 23, 1616Dies: April 23, 1616

Shakespeare: has “great-souled” Shakespeare: has “great-souled” insight insight

He has been called the most He has been called the most influential writer in all of English influential writer in all of English Literature.Literature.

He gets this description because all He gets this description because all of his plays and poems are universal of his plays and poems are universal in theme.in theme.

Mr. Shakespeare’s ResumeMr. Shakespeare’s Resume

Fun FactsFun Facts What is What is

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s longest play?longest play?

Hamlet, Hamlet, with 4,042 with 4,042 lines.lines.

What is What is Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s shortest play?shortest play?

The Comedy of The Comedy of Errors, Errors, with 1,787 with 1,787 lines.lines.

Fun FactsFun Facts

884,647 Words

118,406 Lines

Fun FactsFun FactsShakespeare’s complete works consist Shakespeare’s complete works consist

of:of:

884,647 Words

118,406 Lines

Fun FactsFun Facts

Unlike many famous 16th c. poets and artists, Shakespeare not only did not die penniless but was a frequent performer before the Court of Queen Elizabeth I (The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1596, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream in 1603). He bought one of the largest properties in Stratford called The New Place and penned 9 plays by 1595.

Words, Words, WordsWords, Words, Words

Today, an average person’s Today, an average person’s vocabulary might include 2000 vocabulary might include 2000 words in everyday conversation. words in everyday conversation.

Shakespeare is said to have had a Shakespeare is said to have had a vocabulary of some 29,066 words.vocabulary of some 29,066 words.

Words, Words, WordsWords, Words, Words In Brush Up Your Shakespeare!, author Michael

Macrone explains that it’s not always easy to determine who first coined  a word, but notes that the Oxford English Dictionary attributes all of the bold-faced words below  (and some 500 more) to Shakespeare.

  From the spectacled pedant to the schoolboy, all

gentlefolk recognize Shakespeare as a fathomless fount of coinages. The honey-tongued Bard had no rival, nor could he sate his never-ending addiction to madcap, flowery or foul-mouthed [new words]. Even time-honored exposure cannot besmirch our amazement at the countless and useful words that lend radiance to our lackluster lives. All in a day’s work!

2121stst Century Shakespeare Century Shakespeare

A Google search of “Shakespeare” will A Google search of “Shakespeare” will return over 52 million web pages for return over 52 million web pages for browsing pleasure. browsing pleasure.

Macbeth is thought to be one of the most Macbeth is thought to be one of the most produced plays ever, with a performance produced plays ever, with a performance beginning somewhere in the world every beginning somewhere in the world every four hours!four hours!

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre opened in 1599 and The Globe Theatre opened in 1599 and later burned to the ground in 1613; it later burned to the ground in 1613; it

reopened a year later in 1614.reopened a year later in 1614.

Present Day Globe Theatre: In Present Day Globe Theatre: In 1997 a group of theater buffs 1997 a group of theater buffs

opened it back up.opened it back up.

Shakespeare On Screen

Over 300 film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, dating from as

early as the 1930s, have been recorded.

Shakespeare On ScreenAntony and Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra As You Like It As You Like It Hamlet Hamlet Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V Julius Caesar Julius Caesar King John King John King Lear King Lear Love's Labour's Lost Love's Labour's Lost Macbeth Macbeth The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing Othello Othello Richard III Richard III Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet The Taming of the Shrew The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest The Tempest Titus Andronicus Titus Andronicus Twelfth Night Twelfth Night The Winter's Tale The Winter's Tale

The EndThe End

Shakespeare facts cited from the Shakespeare facts cited from the

Folger Shakespeare Library Folger Shakespeare Library

at at http://www.folger.edu/http://www.folger.edu/ and and

A Reader’s Guide to Shakespeare A Reader’s Guide to Shakespeare edited by edited by

Joseph RosenblumJoseph Rosenblum

Final ThoughtsFinal ThoughtsFinally, tell me about your past Finally, tell me about your past

experience with Shakespeare. experience with Shakespeare. What have you read of What have you read of

Shakespeare’s works in the past? Shakespeare’s works in the past? What did you find most enjoyable What did you find most enjoyable

about reading/studying about reading/studying Shakespeare? Shakespeare?

Was there anything you found Was there anything you found particularly difficult in the past? particularly difficult in the past?

If so, what would make your If so, what would make your experience more enjoyable with experience more enjoyable with MacbethMacbeth??