The Life and Times

ofWilliam Shakespeare

Let me introduce…Will

The Bard

William Shakespeare is generally thought to be the playwright of all times. His works explore universal problems and emotions. In addition, his characters show an astonishing understanding of human nature.

A Mysterious Man

Shakespeare’s plays, even four hundred years later, are familiar to lovers of literature worldwide. But many of the most basic facts of his life are unknown.

He remains a mysterious figure with regards to personal history. There are just two primary sources of information on the Bard: his works, and various legal and church documents that have survived from Elizabethan times.

Biography

Born~ April 23, 1564 (based on baptism) Stratford-Upon-Avon (small town in England) Baptized at the Holy Trinity Church on April 26, 1564. Third of eight children

Schooling

Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford. He never proceeded to university schooling.

Family Tree Shakespeare married Anne

Hathaway on November 28, 1582

William was 18 when he got married; Anne was eight years his senior.

1st daughter: Susanna-born May 25, 1583

They had a set of twins: Hamnet and Judith- born February 2, 1585.

Hamnet died in early childhood at the age of 11, on August 11, 1596.

The Lost Years

Disappears for seven years from all records

Rumors: Soldier Sailor Traveled Italy School Master

Estimated arrival in London-around 1588 (began to establish himself as an actor and playwright)

Shakespeare wrote:Comedies

Histories

Tragedies

He wrote 37 plays 154 sonnets

Death

He wrote his will in 1611 He departed on April 23, 1616

Even in death, he leaves a final piece of verse as his epitaph:

Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,To dig the dust enclosed here!

Blessed be the man that spares these stones,And cursed be he who moves these bones.

Elizabethan Era

Good and evil; nothing in between: If something bad happened, it was a sign that God was punishing them.

The church and its leaders were representatives of God on Earth.

The king was king because God intended him to be and everyone else existed at lower social levels.

London grew 400% in population during this time, because of this, sanitation was lacking and outbreaks of the bubonic plague struck the lower class.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater

EntertainmentEntertainment

A visit to the theater in A visit to the theater in Shakespeare’s day was an Shakespeare’s day was an exciting, lively, life-enhancing exciting, lively, life-enhancing experience for a receptive experience for a receptive individual.individual.

Grand OpeningGrand Opening

Shakespeare produced most of his plays Shakespeare produced most of his plays in the The Globe and became part owner. in the The Globe and became part owner.

Patrons of the theatre used the flag on Patrons of the theatre used the flag on top of the Globe to determine the type of top of the Globe to determine the type of play being performed that day.play being performed that day.

Red-HistoryRed-History Black-Tragedy Black-Tragedy White-ComedyWhite-Comedy

The Globe burned down in 1613 during a The Globe burned down in 1613 during a production of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, production of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, but was then rebuilt in 1614.but was then rebuilt in 1614.

The TheaterThe Theater The theater The theater

building was building was open air.open air.

Performances Performances started at 2:00 to started at 2:00 to make the most of make the most of daylight.daylight.

Held Held approximatelyapproximately

2,500 people.2,500 people.

AudienceAudience

Cost:Cost: The groundlings or pennystinkers The groundlings or pennystinkers paid one penny. As you paid additional paid one penny. As you paid additional money, you could ascend to higher money, you could ascend to higher galleries.galleries.

Seating:Seating: First come, first served basis. First come, first served basis. There were no reserved seats. There were no reserved seats.

Comfort:Comfort: Your padded clothes would have Your padded clothes would have provided some comfort, but as there was provided some comfort, but as there was no limit on the number of people, it no limit on the number of people, it probably got rather cramped.probably got rather cramped.

LimitedLimited The actors were limited in many The actors were limited in many

aspects. There was no elaborate aspects. There was no elaborate lighting and scenery like you see today.lighting and scenery like you see today.

The stage was usually bare.The stage was usually bare.Actors would usually tell you where Actors would usually tell you where

they were and what time of day it was they were and what time of day it was in their lines.in their lines.

This is also why plays were performed This is also why plays were performed mid afternoon.mid afternoon.

No Women AllowedNo Women Allowed

Women were not allowed to perform Women were not allowed to perform on stage, so young boys would on stage, so young boys would perform all female parts, including perform all female parts, including Juliet and the Nurse in Juliet and the Nurse in Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet. .

Boys were apprenticed to the acting Boys were apprenticed to the acting companies between the ages of 6 companies between the ages of 6 and 14.and 14.

StructureStructure 3 floors of galleries and a central yard3 floors of galleries and a central yard Stage: “Apron Stage” It was raised 3 or 4 Stage: “Apron Stage” It was raised 3 or 4

feet above the ground and was surrounded feet above the ground and was surrounded on three sides by the audience.on three sides by the audience.

Rain Check?Rain Check?Groundlings got wet when it rained, unless Groundlings got wet when it rained, unless they could afford to pay twopence instead of they could afford to pay twopence instead of the one penny they paid to stand in the yard. the one penny they paid to stand in the yard. Also, the front of the stage was open to the Also, the front of the stage was open to the elements; if it rained the actors, like the elements; if it rained the actors, like the groundlings, got wet.groundlings, got wet.

The Globe TodayThe Globe Today

Elizabethan English

A brief introduction to Elizabethan English and Shakespearean Language

Elizabethan English

English spoken in Queen Elizabeth's day (1558-1603) was a different language, nothing like the English spoken in England today.

Elizabethans were a literate, inventive people, which was all  reflected in their language.

A Generation of Listeners

Language was important to the Elizabethans; they spoke slower than we do and they used more words. They enjoyed a person with a "ready wit" who could tell a good story or pass on the local news in an interesting manner. Of course, they had no television or radio, so the majority of their free time was spent talking or reading. This is why Elizabethans would go to "hear" a play rather than go to "see" a play.

Pronunciation

The words were pronounced differently then, which explains why some rhymes do not make sense to us today. For example, head would sound like "haid;" thus bread becomes " braid" and dead becomes "daid." The "er" in mercy would be pronounced like "maircy."

Some tips: Thou = You Hello = Good Day!, Good Morrow!, Well Met, How

Now! Goodbye = I shall see thee anon, God save thee, God

keep thee No kidding—really = Forsooth (sooth means truth). In

good sooth. Go to! Wow = Marry! (A contraction of By Saint Mary), l'faith.

Now by my faith Excuse me = I cry you mercy Please = Prithee, I pray you, pray, (If) it please you Thank you = I thank thee. Many thanks, good sir. Darn it = Alack, Alackaday, Alas, Fie, Out upon it!

Other words of frequent use

Prating = Babbling, talking too much Bawcock = fine lusty fellow Cutpurse = thief Recreant = Coward, traitor Carouse = Party Hap = Fortune or luck Divers = Various Choler = Wrath Perchance = Maybe (also belike) Nonpariel = a beauty Cupshot = Drunk Slug-a-bed = lazy, sleepy Antic = Bizarre, crazy Anon = soon

Insults – so much more creative!

To a constable—You blue-bottle rogue, you filthy famished correctioner, you starved bloodhound.

To a fat man— Thou globe of sinfill continents. Standest thou there the lyingst knave in

Christendom. Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed

carbuncle. Whoreson cullionly barbermonger! Swearing (not insults or abuse, but actual oaths)

was widely practiced. Men swore by: God's death (S'death) God's wounds (S'wounds) God's teeth (S'teeth) Other parts of God's anatomy

More swearing…

Men also swore by the Roman gods, by their beards, their swords, their honor, or by the tools of their trade. For example, a smith might swear, "By my hammer and tongs!"

A woman might swear by her modesty, chastity, or maidenhead. (If her character is obviously lacking these, it was always sure to produce a humorous effect.)

Elizabethan Cursing

Whoreson = literally means "son of a whore," but used also as a mild emphasis, the way we'd use

"darned." (This whoreson cup!) Tosspot = Drunkard Cozener = Con Artist Scurvy = Wretched Forswear = To lie or cheat Malapert = Rude or impudent

Terms coined by Shakespeare

It’s Greek to me Vanished into thin air Tongue-tied Too much of a good thing The game is up Your own flesh and blood Foul play Without rhyme or reason Dead as a doornail For goodness’sake

Shakespearean Insults

Choose two adjectives and one noun to create an insult fit for hurling at your worst enemy.

You may add a suffix to an adjective if you wish. 

Write your insult at the top of a clean sheet of computer paper, then create a color illustration that literally depicts the insult.

Make sure that you understand what the words all mean!

Be sure to begin your insult with “Thou…”

Examples

Thou…

sanctimonious, monkey-faced scourge!

spotted and slimy ox!

Examples from Romeo and Juliet

“You blunt monster with uncounted heads!”

“Away you bottle-ale rascal, you basket hilt stale juggler!”

“You cowardly, giant like ox-beef!” “You wretched, bloody, usurping

boar!” “Thy face is vizard like!”