William Shakespeare

William ShakespeareThe greatest dramatist in English Literatureindeed , in all the world.Shakespeare wrote:ComediesHistoriesTragediesRomeo and JulietWritten about 1595Considered a tragedyWest Side Story (Movie) based on R&JThe TheaterPlays produced for the general publicRoofless, open airNo artificial lightingCourtyard (ground in front of the stage) was surrounded by three levels of galleries where the wealthy satSpectatorsWealthy sat in cover benches of Groundlings: poor people stood and watched from the ground or pit.All but the wealthy were uneducated/illiterateMuch more interaction between the actors and audience than todayStaging AreasStage was aplatform that extended into the pitDressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stageSecond-level gallery with upper stage, as used in famous balcony scene in Romeo and JulietTrap door for ghostsHeavens for angelic beingsDifferent from todayNo scenerySetting was established by references in dialogueElaborate costumes, not necessary historical thoughPlenty of propsFast-paced, colorful (2 hours)

ActorsOnly men and boysYoung boys whose voices had not changed play womens rolesWould have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stageElizabethan WordsAn,and: IfAnon: SoonAye: YesBut:Except forEen:EvenEer: EverWords (cont.)Haply:PerhapsHappy:FortunateHence:AwayHie:HurryMarry:Indeed

Words (cont.)Whence:WhereWilt:Will, will youWithal:In addition toWould:WishBlank VersePlays were predominantly in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter.1. no end rhyme2. Beat is iambic (every other syllable gets a beat) 3. Pentameter (five beats in a line) ProseProse is ordinary writing, anything that is not poetry.Only characters in the lower social classes, such as servants, speak in prose Shakespeares plays.Why do you suppose that is?Slide 22 starts tragedy PlotThe sequence of events in a literary workExpositionThe plot usually begins with this:introduces>>>>settingcharactersbasic situationInciting MomentOften called initial incidentthe first bit of action that occurs which begins the plotRomeo and Juliet lock eyes at the partyConflictThe struggle that developsman vs. manman vs. himselfman vs. societyman vs. natureCrisisThe point where the protagonists situation will either get better or worseprotagonist>good guyantagonist>bad guyClimaxThe turning point of the story; everything begins to unravel from here, so the falling action begins after the climaxResolutionThe central conflict is resolved, or endsDenouementThe final explanation or outcome of the plotIf this is included in literature, it will occur after the resolution. Tragedy ShakespeareanThe tragic world is one of action. Thoughts quickly turn into reality and their actions ultimately lead to their own destruction.Tragedy ShakespeareanThe ultimate power in the tragic world is moral order, where good and social order dominateThe struggle is between good and evil. Evil is the main source of problems and produces death and suffering.Evil disturbs the moral order of the world.

Tragedy ShakespeareanThis evil is eventually destroyed and the moral order of the world is re-established.Tragedy ShakespeareanThe central impression of the tragedy is one of waste.Tragedy Shakespearean The cycle of a tragedy:Good / Order >Evil >Chaos >Death >Good / Order reestablishedTragedy ShakespeareanReading Shakespeare: Pay attention to first scenesWatch for parallel characters and scenes (last scene brings the play full circle)Be attuned to subtle irony Understand use of images, symbols and motifs Be knowledgeable of common themes Tragedy ShakespeareanReading Shakespeare cont.: Remember that it is poetry, so read sentences not lines; it is drama, so visualize and note who is or is not on stage, especially if a character is alone and thus giving a soliloquy which reveals his thoughts and motives. Keep track of charactersFive Acts (Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, catastrophe (resolution/conclusion)ThemeCentral idea or insight about life Metaphorical LanguageComparison of unlike things >Paris standing over the lifeless body of Juliet, Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strewThou detestable mawGorged with the dearest morsel of the earth RomeoFoilA character whose purpose is to show off another characterBenvolio foil for TybaltRound charactersCharacters who have many personality traits, like real people.Flat CharactersOne-dimensional, embodying only a single traitShakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedyStatic CharactersCharacters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

Dynamic CharacterCharacters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better. MonologueOne person speaking on stage; other character on stage tooexample-the Prince of Verona commanding the Capulets and Montagues to cease feudingSoliloquyLong speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage. Romeo gives a soliloquy after the servant has fled and Paris has died. Aside A characters speech not intended to be heard by all characters. The character often turns aside and speaks as to himself or to the audience, and other characters freeze or pantamine. Pun Shakespeare loved to use them!!!Humorous use of a word with two meanings.Often used by lower class to mock upper class or by clowns Sometimes missed by the readers because of Elizabethan double entendre, or sexual innuendoDirect AddressWords that tell the reader who is being addressed:A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.Ah, my mistresses, which of you all/ Will now deny to dance?Dramatic IronyA contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be trueVerbal IronyWords used to suggest the opposite of what is meantSituational IronyAn event or situation occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audienceThe opposite of what is expected happens Comic Relief Use of comedy within a drama that is NOT comedy to provide relief from seriousness or sadness in the plot.