Shakespeare in London: The 1590s - early 1600s

Success in London

By 1590-91, Shakespeare has written at least one play: Henry VI, Part One.

According to a diary entry by The Rose Theatre owner Phillip Henslowe, the play was performed in March of 1592 and was widely successful; it was performed 15 times and earned more than most plays performed that year.

Success in London

After being criticized by Robert Greene in 1592, Shakespeare builds a reputation for himself as a writer.

In 1593, the theatres close due to the plague, so Shakespeare focuses on writing poetry for the next year.

Tragedy - 1596Shakespeare's son Hamnet dies at age 11;

At the time, Shakespeare was writing mainly comedies. Many say Hamnet's death was the influence for writing tragedies, especially Hamlet.

By 1597, Shakespe

are...Had written several plays:

Romeo and JulietMerchant of VeniceA Midsummer Night's DreamThe Taming of the ShrewHenry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3Titus AndronicusRichard III

Shakespeare's Last Years

His will, which he revised a month before dying, left the bulk of his estate to his oldest daughter, and the second-best bed to his wife.

He dies April 23, 1616, of unknown causes, at the age of 53.

Shakespeare's Literary Legacy

Love of the Language In Shakespeare's time,

everyone loved the English language.

There were no grammar rules, punctuation keys, OR spelling rules.

The language was evolving; everyday new words were being borrowed from other languages, were made up, or used in unique ways.

Shakespeare's language reflects this freedom and experimentation.

Is a sound pattern

IAMB: one unaccented (or unstressed) syllable with one accented syllable

It's like a heartbeat: ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum

Five "ba-bum"s in a row make one line of iambic pentameter (10-syllable lines)

Example: he WENT to TOWN toDAY to BUY a CAR

OR: In SOOTH / I KNOW / not WHY / I AM / so SAD

Style of Writing: Iambic Pentameter

Using iambic pentameter kept things moving in the play (like a drum beat)

It made the words & play more interesting

It helped the actors remember their lines (like a song)

Why go to all the trouble?

Iambic Pentameter

Where Did It Come From?The Greeks and Romans started combining drama

& poetry.

The English experimented with it, using verse and prose in their plays.

In the 1590s "Blank Verse" (poetry that doesn't rhyme) was the new craze.

The English language is harder to rhyme than French or Italian, and English is more heavily accented, making it easier to write in blank verse.

Iambic Pentameter

The first full collection of Shakespeare's work was published in 1623, seven years after his death.

It was called "First Folio."

It contained 36 plays (compiled by John Heminge and Henry Condell--friends and fellow actors from Shakespeare's troupe The King's Men)

"First Folio" contained multiple errors--for example, there was no indication where Acts or Scenes began or ended.

Today's Act and Scene divisions are based on shrewd "guesses" by generations of editors.

There are many uncertainties, so even today's editions have variations in the text.

Why Study Shakespeare?

Why Study Shakespeare?

Shakespeare has had a profound influence on our

daily lives.

Chances are, you've quoted Shakespeare without even knowing it!

Have you ever said the

following...

"in a pickle"

"It's Greek to me."

"too much of a good thing""full circle"

"break the ice"

"as luck would have it"

"good riddance""dead as a door-nail"

"foul play""up in arms"

"wild goose chase"

"a laughing stock""an eyesore"

"send me packing""without rhyme or

reason""flesh and blood""seen better days"

"lie low""hot-blooded"

"heart of hearts""mum's the word""kill with kindness""fight fire with fire"

"leapfrog" or"What the dickens?"

"method to my madness"

"Once more into the breach."

If you've said or heard any of these phrases,

you're quoting

Shakespeare!

Even today, Shakespeare lives

on.

We can relate to Shakespeare's tales of love, hatred, revenge, courage, trust and

deception.

Even today, Shakespeare lives

on.

His work is still being performed and adapted...

Presentation © T. Orman, 2002-2003, updated 2015

All's Well That Ends Well