William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare&&

A Midsummer Night’s A Midsummer Night’s DreamDream

Meet William ShakespeareMeet William Shakespeare

Actor, director, writer and partner in a Actor, director, writer and partner in a successful play companysuccessful play company

Born in Stratford Upon Avon in 1564 Born in Stratford Upon Avon in 1564 (Died 1616)(Died 1616)

Third of eight childrenThird of eight children1582 married Anne Hathaway who 1582 married Anne Hathaway who

was eight years older than was eight years older than ShakespeareShakespeareThree children: Susanna, Judith & Hamnet Three children: Susanna, Judith & Hamnet

(who died in childhood)(who died in childhood)

Meet William ShakespeareMeet William Shakespeare

Although he was a commoner, Although he was a commoner, Shakespeare became very famous Shakespeare became very famous and made a great deal of moneyand made a great deal of money

A literary genius whose plays at The A literary genius whose plays at The Globe Theatre became very popular Globe Theatre became very popular with people of all walks of lifewith people of all walks of life

Meet William ShakespeareMeet William Shakespeare

Spent a lot of time away from his Spent a lot of time away from his family but always sent money to family but always sent money to them them Had to live in LondonHad to live in London

There are many rumors surrounding There are many rumors surrounding his writinghis writingChristopher MarloweChristopher MarloweAnne HathawayAnne HathawayWrote parts of the King James BibleWrote parts of the King James Bible

The TheatreThe Theatre

Every troupe needed a royal patronEvery troupe needed a royal patronScenery is minimalScenery is minimalNo womenNo women““Groundlings” – cheap ticketsGroundlings” – cheap ticketsFood and drink can be purchased Food and drink can be purchased

throughout the performancethroughout the performance

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

Shakespeare never published his Shakespeare never published his own plays-only wrote scriptsown plays-only wrote scripts

Comedy-main character learns a Comedy-main character learns a lesson and falls in love; the villain is lesson and falls in love; the villain is usually caught and the hero marries usually caught and the hero marries (18)(18)

Tragedy-main character learns a Tragedy-main character learns a lesson and dies; protagonist is lesson and dies; protagonist is usually of high rank and a character usually of high rank and a character flaw causes their ruin (10)flaw causes their ruin (10)

History-depicts a story from History-depicts a story from England’s royal past; depicts what England’s royal past; depicts what constitutes a good king, full of action constitutes a good king, full of action (10)(10)

Sonnets (154)Sonnets (154)Created 2,000 words which means Created 2,000 words which means

that he has a great impact on that he has a great impact on contemporary societycontemporary society

FairiesFairies

Forget Tinkerbell and cute winged Forget Tinkerbell and cute winged creaturescreatures

In Shakespeare's time, fairies were In Shakespeare's time, fairies were magical but often meanmagical but often mean

Usually deformed in some wayUsually deformed in some wayDelight in playing cruel tricks on Delight in playing cruel tricks on

humans (tunnels collapse, sour milk, humans (tunnels collapse, sour milk, turning humans into animals)turning humans into animals)

Important in the World of Important in the World of ShakespeareShakespeare

ReligionReligionNatural Order-do not mess with the Natural Order-do not mess with the

bossbossExpected behavior based on social Expected behavior based on social

statusstatusHealth determined by 4 main body Health determined by 4 main body

fluidsfluidsRacial Prejudice Racial Prejudice

VocabularyVocabulary

Anon- soonAnon- soonBrave- courageous or showyBrave- courageous or showyConceit- conception, imagination or Conceit- conception, imagination or

thoughtthoughtCousin (coz)- a good friendCousin (coz)- a good friendCuckold- husband of an unfaithful Cuckold- husband of an unfaithful

wife-the butt of jokeswife-the butt of jokes

VocabularyVocabulary

Cur – dog (insult)Cur – dog (insult)Fain- gladlyFain- gladlyForsooth – in truthForsooth – in truthGaol- jailGaol- jailHap, Haply- perhapsHap, Haply- perhapsHence- away from hereHence- away from hereHither- hereHither- here

VocabularyVocabulary

Mistress- a womanMistress- a womanSirah- term used to address a boy or Sirah- term used to address a boy or

man of low stationman of low stationTarry- waitTarry- waitThence- away from hereThence- away from hereWench- girl or young womanWench- girl or young womanWhither- where to?Whither- where to?

Playing With WordsPlaying With Words

Puns- have a double meaningPuns- have a double meaningMalapropisms- using a word Malapropisms- using a word

incorrectly on purpose – to show incorrectly on purpose – to show stupiditystupidity

Innuendo- sexual pun-Shakespeare’s Innuendo- sexual pun-Shakespeare’s favorite kind of jokefavorite kind of joke

Stage DirectionsStage Directions

Exeunt – Plural of exitExeunt – Plural of exitFlourish – fanfare of drums/trumpets Flourish – fanfare of drums/trumpets

FormatFormat

Iambic pentameter – verses in which Iambic pentameter – verses in which every other syllable is stressed and every other syllable is stressed and each line contains 5 stressed each line contains 5 stressed syllablessyllables

Quatrain- four line stanza; usually Quatrain- four line stanza; usually alliteration and rhymealliteration and rhyme

Soliloquy- monologue that reveals a Soliloquy- monologue that reveals a characters thoughts & feelingscharacters thoughts & feelings

People in the PlayPeople in the Play

Kings/RoyaltyKings/RoyaltyCommon FolkCommon FolkFools & ClownsFools & ClownsFairies, Witches, GhostsFairies, Witches, GhostsLovers & WarriorsLovers & Warriors

Drama Drama 5 Act Structure5 Act Structure

1-introduces the characters and sets 1-introduces the characters and sets up the story, characters, themes up the story, characters, themes Rising Rising ActionAction

2-Complications & difficulties 2-Complications & difficulties introduced, tells more about the introduced, tells more about the characters (in a comedy, there is characters (in a comedy, there is usually some confusion) usually some confusion) Rising ActionRising Action

3-the pivotal act; confusion is at a 3-the pivotal act; confusion is at a maximum but you can see how it will maximum but you can see how it will be resolved be resolved ClimaxClimax

Drama Drama 5 Act Structure5 Act Structure

4-the action unfolds and the heroes 4-the action unfolds and the heroes plans collide with the villains, plans collide with the villains, resolution resolution Falling ActionFalling Action

5-brings all the pieces together, 5-brings all the pieces together, lessons are learned and lovers get lessons are learned and lovers get married married Falling ActionFalling Action

Why is Shakespeare Still Being Why is Shakespeare Still Being Read?Read?

The struggles of Shakespeare’s The struggles of Shakespeare’s characters are still relevant todaycharacters are still relevant today

People still fall in and out of lovePeople still fall in and out of lovePeople still scheme for powerPeople still scheme for powerPeople still betray their friendsPeople still betray their friendsPeople still wonder what might have People still wonder what might have

beenbeen

William Shakespeare is the William Shakespeare is the greatest writer in the history of greatest writer in the history of the English language. So….Why the English language. So….Why does everyone talk so weird?! does everyone talk so weird?!