William William ShakespeaShakespearere

Widely considered Widely considered to be the to be the greatest . . .greatest . . .

writer in the writer in the English language. English language.

playwright of all playwright of all time.time.

William William ShakespearShakespearee

Shakespeare’Shakespeare’s 37 Playss 37 Plays

Romeo Romeo and and JulietJuliet Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

HamleHamlett

OthelloOthello

Shakespeare: A Brief BioShakespeare: A Brief Bio Born in 1564 in Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England At the age 18, he married Anne Hathaway, 26.At the age 18, he married Anne Hathaway, 26. 3 Children: Susanna and twins, Hamnet and 3 Children: Susanna and twins, Hamnet and

Judith (Hamnet died in 1596, at age 11.) Judith (Hamnet died in 1596, at age 11.) By 1592: established reputation as a London By 1592: established reputation as a London

playwrightplaywright By 1595: an actor, writer and part-owner of a By 1595: an actor, writer and part-owner of a

playing company, known as the Lord playing company, known as the Lord Chamberlain's MenChamberlain's Men

Wrote most of his works between 1586 &1612Wrote most of his works between 1586 &1612 Retired in 1613 to Stratford-upon-Avon Retired in 1613 to Stratford-upon-Avon Died in 1616 at the age of 52, unknown causes Died in 1616 at the age of 52, unknown causes

Elizabethan EraElizabethan Era Reign of Reign of

Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) (1558–1603)

golden age in golden age in English history -- English history -- Renaissance, or a Renaissance, or a birth of new ideasbirth of new ideas

Queen Elizabeth was Queen Elizabeth was a writer and a poet.a writer and a poet.

Her support of the Her support of the arts allowed arts allowed playwrights to playwrights to flourish. flourish.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater located in located in

Southwark, the , the “sporting district” “sporting district” of London of London

Popular “sports”: Popular “sports”: rooster fighting, rooster fighting, bear baiting bear baiting

Theaters were not Theaters were not held in high held in high regard – regard – considered places considered places of low moralsof low morals

Actors & Actors & playwrights also playwrights also looked down uponlooked down upon

Three Types of PlaysThree Types of Plays Tragedies Tragedies

Advertised with Advertised with blackblack flagflag Many deathsMany deaths Often a tragic hero with flaw leading to deathOften a tragic hero with flaw leading to death

Comedies Comedies Advertised with Advertised with white white flagflag Humor, fewer deathsHumor, fewer deaths Often featured mistaken identities & Often featured mistaken identities &

humorously looked at human faultshumorously looked at human faults Histories Histories

Advertised with Advertised with redred flag flag Based on historical figures and events Based on historical figures and events

Bear BaitingBear Baiting Arenas called Arenas called

bear-gardens:bear-gardens: Circular high fenced Circular high fenced

area (pit)area (pit) Raised seating for Raised seating for

spectators spectators Post towards the Post towards the

edge of pitedge of pit Event:Event:

Bear chained to Bear chained to post, by leg or neckpost, by leg or neck

Well-trained hunting Well-trained hunting dogs set on bear dogs set on bear

Spectators would Spectators would bet on whether the bet on whether the dogs or bear would dogs or bear would survivesurvive

Shakespeare’s AudienceShakespeare’s Audience All economic statuses All economic statuses

Balcony Seats: 2¢ Balcony Seats: 2¢ Floor Seats: 1¢Floor Seats: 1¢

““Groundlings”Groundlings” Often packed in tight, Often packed in tight,

pushed up to stagepushed up to stage Shakespeare’s plays Shakespeare’s plays

appeal to this appeal to this economically economically diverse groupdiverse group lewd and suggestive lewd and suggestive

material (supposedly to material (supposedly to appeal to groundlings)appeal to groundlings)

Shakespearean ActorsShakespearean Actors Profession held in Profession held in

disregarddisregard

Unthinkable position for Unthinkable position for femalesfemales

All roles played by malesAll roles played by males

Boys often played Boys often played women’s roles women’s roles (sometimes took up (sometimes took up men’s roles as they men’s roles as they matured)matured)

Women were allowed to Women were allowed to be in the audience.be in the audience.

Impact on the English Impact on the English LanguageLanguage

It is widely assumed that Shakespeare It is widely assumed that Shakespeare introduced more words into English than all introduced more words into English than all the other writers of his time combined.the other writers of his time combined.

bloodstained

bloodsucking

cold-blooded coldhearted

discontent

eyeball flawed

hint

hunchbacked

lonely moonbeam

torture

tranquil

Adaptations, Inspirations, & Adaptations, Inspirations, & Allusions:Allusions:

Shakespeare Today Shakespeare Today Ten Things I Hate About You ≈

Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew

West Side Story ≈ Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

The Lion King ≈ Shakespeare’s Hamlet

There are a numerous allusions to Shakespeare in popular culture. See if you can find one.

Styles of ClothingStyles of Clothing

The way people dressed The way people dressed depended very much depended very much on their status. on their status.

Wealthy women’s clothes Wealthy women’s clothes were elaborate and were elaborate and

ornate. ornate.

Sporting EventsSporting Events Often violentOften violent

Bear Baiting Bear Baiting Bull BaitingBull Baiting

Fencing popularFencing popular Early version of Early version of

football also football also popular popular

JoustingJousting In Elizabeth’s age, jousting was on the In Elizabeth’s age, jousting was on the

decline since it was no longer a skill decline since it was no longer a skill necessary in war. However, jousting necessary in war. However, jousting still took place at tournaments. still took place at tournaments.

Torture and PunishmentTorture and Punishment Harsh by today’s Harsh by today’s

standardsstandards Public humiliation Public humiliation

commoncommon

The Brank / Gossip’s Bridle> The Brank / Gossip’s Bridle> Punishment for women who Punishment for women who

gossiped with no purpose gossiped with no purpose other than to offend, other than to offend,

ridicule, or lieridicule, or lie Sharpened mouthpiece, sometimes covered with spikes

The PlagueThe Plague a.k.a. the Black a.k.a. the Black

DeathDeath first came to London first came to London

in 1348in 1348 A serious outbreak A serious outbreak

during during Shakespeare’s life Shakespeare’s life led to the closing of led to the closing of London theaters.London theaters.

Music and EntertainmentMusic and Entertainment

Stringed instruments Stringed instruments grew in popularity grew in popularity during Queen during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. She Elizabeth’s reign. She even played the lute. even played the lute.

Music during this Music during this period became more period became more expressive overall.expressive overall.

ReligionReligion

Religion divided many people in Religion divided many people in England during this time period. England during this time period. Elizabeth I encouraged religious Elizabeth I encouraged religious tolerance, but this was by no tolerance, but this was by no means a religiously diverse means a religiously diverse society. society.

ArchitectureArchitecture

This picture, taken on This picture, taken on a street in Warwick, is a street in Warwick, is an example of the an example of the Tudor style of Tudor style of architecture that architecture that flourished in flourished in Shakespeare’s day. Shakespeare’s day.

FoodsFoods

Potatoes and modern Potatoes and modern chocolate – not yet in chocolate – not yet in EnglandEngland

Breads popular Breads popular Foods like the tomato Foods like the tomato

considered potentially considered potentially poisonouspoisonous

Marriage RitualsMarriage Rituals

Legal marriage ageLegal marriage age Boys: age 14 Boys: age 14 Girls: age 12. Girls: age 12.

Nobles often married Nobles often married later.later.

Every woman Every woman expected to marry expected to marry

Family LifeFamily Life

Daily activities varied a great Daily activities varied a great deal, depending on location.deal, depending on location. London – hub for cultural and London – hub for cultural and

political activitypolitical activity Country – work demandsCountry – work demands

Wealth also determined daily Wealth also determined daily activities.activities.

Heraldry (Coats of Arms)Heraldry (Coats of Arms) Coats of Arms Coats of Arms

were first used as were first used as military status military status symbols, but their symbols, but their popularity spread popularity spread in tournaments, in tournaments, where knights where knights trained. trained.

Family names and family honor were Family names and family honor were of utmost importance. To dishonor the of utmost importance. To dishonor the family name was worse than dying, family name was worse than dying, and frequently people died to preserve and frequently people died to preserve and protect the honor of the family.and protect the honor of the family.