William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

The Bard of Avon was The Bard of Avon was born on 23 April, 1564.born on 23 April, 1564. This is Shakespeare's official birthday in This is Shakespeare's official birthday in England.England.

The exact date and the precise cause of The exact date and the precise cause of Shakespeare's death are unknown: one local Shakespeare's death are unknown: one local tradition asserts that the Bard died on 23 tradition asserts that the Bard died on 23 April, 1616, of a chill caught after a night of April, 1616, of a chill caught after a night of drinking with fellow playwrights Ben Jonson drinking with fellow playwrights Ben Jonson and Michael Drayton. Shakespeare was, in and Michael Drayton. Shakespeare was, in fact, buried three days later, exactly 52 years fact, buried three days later, exactly 52 years after his baptism. after his baptism.

ShakespeareShakespeare

Shakespeare was born and raised in Shakespeare was born and raised in the picturesque Tudor market town the picturesque Tudor market town of Stratford-on-Avon.of Stratford-on-Avon.

In November of 1582, at the age of In November of 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway (a woman eight years his senior), and (a woman eight years his senior), and that she gave birth to a daughter, that she gave birth to a daughter, Susanna, six months later. Two years Susanna, six months later. Two years after that, the Shakespeare's had after that, the Shakespeare's had twins: Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, twins: Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, Shakespeare's only son, would die at Shakespeare's only son, would die at the age of eleven. the age of eleven.

Between the early 1590s (Between the early 1590s (The Comedy of The Comedy of ErrorsErrors) and the second decade of the ) and the second decade of the seventeenth century (seventeenth century (The TempestThe Tempest written written in 1611), Shakespeare composed the most in 1611), Shakespeare composed the most extraordinary body of works in the history extraordinary body of works in the history of world drama. of world drama.

His works are often divided into periods, His works are often divided into periods, moving roughly from comedies to histories moving roughly from comedies to histories to tragedies and then to his final to tragedies and then to his final romances. romances.

Retreating from London in the plague Retreating from London in the plague years of 1592 through 1594, Shakespeare years of 1592 through 1594, Shakespeare briefly left playwriting aside to compose briefly left playwriting aside to compose long poems like long poems like Venus and AdonisVenus and Adonis and at and at least some of his sonnets. But during this least some of his sonnets. But during this period, Shakespeare garnered the support period, Shakespeare garnered the support of his first major sponsor, the Earl of of his first major sponsor, the Earl of Southampton. Soon, as a leading figure in Southampton. Soon, as a leading figure in the Chamberlain's Men company he would the Chamberlain's Men company he would garner even greater patronage from the garner even greater patronage from the courts of Queen Elizabeth and her courts of Queen Elizabeth and her successor, King James. successor, King James.

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.enotes.com/william-http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-an-shakespeare/shakespeare-an-introductionintroduction

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England

Most of Shakespeare's career unfolded Most of Shakespeare's career unfolded during the monarchy of Elizabeth I, the Great during the monarchy of Elizabeth I, the Great Virgin Queen from whom the historical period Virgin Queen from whom the historical period of the Bard's life takes its name as the of the Bard's life takes its name as the Elizabethan Age Elizabethan Age

Under her reign, not only did England prosper Under her reign, not only did England prosper as a rising commercial power at the expense as a rising commercial power at the expense of Catholic Spain, Shakespeare's homeland of Catholic Spain, Shakespeare's homeland undertook an enormous expansion into the undertook an enormous expansion into the New World and laid the foundations of what New World and laid the foundations of what would become the British Empire. would become the British Empire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mtzbR2eKDUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mtzbR2eKDU

Julius Caesar Julius Caesar The historical contextThe historical context

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAblvgTGzwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAblvgTGzw

Julius Caesar Julius Caesar by William Shakesepareby William Shakesepare

Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the conspiracy against the Roman dictator of the same name, his assassination and its aftermath. It is one of several Roman plays that he wrote, based on true events from Roman history.

Although the title of the play is Although the title of the play is Julius CaesarJulius Caesar, Caesar is not , Caesar is not the central character in its action; he appears in only three the central character in its action; he appears in only three scenes, and is killed at the beginning of the third act. The scenes, and is killed at the beginning of the third act. The protagonist of the play is Marcus Brutus, and the central protagonist of the play is Marcus Brutus, and the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting

demands of honour, patriotism, and friendship.demands of honour, patriotism, and friendship.

Common ThemesCommon Themes

Betrayal, ignorance, power, jealousy, Betrayal, ignorance, power, jealousy, honor, guilt, etc.honor, guilt, etc.

Main CharactersMain Characters

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar- Caesar is a hero of Rome and winner of many - Caesar is a hero of Rome and winner of many

military campaigns, but who now seeks political power and to be military campaigns, but who now seeks political power and to be the undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire.  Although he is a the undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire.  Although he is a brilliant military tactician, he is politically inept being indecisive brilliant military tactician, he is politically inept being indecisive and easily flattered and swayed.  He is assassinated at the mid-and easily flattered and swayed.  He is assassinated at the mid-point of the play, but appears as a ghost to Brutus towards the point of the play, but appears as a ghost to Brutus towards the end.end.

Mark AntonyMark Antony- He occupies the position of Caesar’s First - He occupies the position of Caesar’s First Lieutenant and it is he who offers Caesar the crown during the Lieutenant and it is he who offers Caesar the crown during the feast of Lupercal.  He has a reputation of being a reveler and feast of Lupercal.  He has a reputation of being a reveler and womanizer, but he is also a manipulator, skilled orator and has womanizer, but he is also a manipulator, skilled orator and has learnt sound military tactics from Caesar.  During his speech at learnt sound military tactics from Caesar.  During his speech at Caesar’s funeral, he sways the public to his way of thinking and Caesar’s funeral, he sways the public to his way of thinking and eventually incites them to rebellion.  He successfully brings about eventually incites them to rebellion.  He successfully brings about the downfall of Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators. the downfall of Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators. 

Main CharactersMain Characters

Cassius- Cassius- Cassius is the close friend and brother-in-law of Cassius is the close friend and brother-in-law of Brutus who organizes a conspiracy against Caesar. He is Brutus who organizes a conspiracy against Caesar. He is very persuasive and encourages Brutus to join the plot. His very persuasive and encourages Brutus to join the plot. His ruthlessness is tempered by Brutus’ influence, and part of ruthlessness is tempered by Brutus’ influence, and part of Brutus’ nobility rubs off on him as the play develops.  After Brutus’ nobility rubs off on him as the play develops.  After his defeat by Antony at Philippi, he commits suicide his defeat by Antony at Philippi, he commits suicide mistakenly believing that Brutus has been defeated. mistakenly believing that Brutus has been defeated.

Brutus- Brutus- He is a well-respected judicial magistrate of Rome He is a well-respected judicial magistrate of Rome who is persuaded by Cassius to join the conspiracy against who is persuaded by Cassius to join the conspiracy against Caesar. He fears that if Caesar takes the crown of Rome, he Caesar. He fears that if Caesar takes the crown of Rome, he will turn into a tyrant and enslave the people.  He heroically will turn into a tyrant and enslave the people.  He heroically leads his troops and defeats the armies of Octavius at leads his troops and defeats the armies of Octavius at Philippi, but loses his fight against Mark Antony and Philippi, but loses his fight against Mark Antony and commits suicidecommits suicide

Main CharactersMain Characters

CalphurniaCalphurnia- She is the wife of Julius Caesar - She is the wife of Julius Caesar who fails to dissuade her husband from going who fails to dissuade her husband from going to the Capitol on the Ides of March. She to the Capitol on the Ides of March. She foresees the death of Caesar in a dream, which foresees the death of Caesar in a dream, which shows streams of blood flowing from his body.shows streams of blood flowing from his body.

Portia- Portia- She is the daughter of Marcus Cato and She is the daughter of Marcus Cato and wife of Brutus, and is a well-educated and wife of Brutus, and is a well-educated and intuitive woman, who senses that her husband intuitive woman, who senses that her husband is involved in some sort of conspiracy. When is involved in some sort of conspiracy. When she realizes that her husband’s fortunes are she realizes that her husband’s fortunes are doomed she commits suicide by swallowing hot doomed she commits suicide by swallowing hot coals. coals.