William Shakespeare

Why Shakespeare?

• Considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English language.

• Aside from Greek and biblical allusions, Shakespeare’s work is one of the most widely alluded to.

• Because of the complex syntax and diction, it affects your brain differently than modern reading.

Life of Shakespeare • Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford on Avon • Father - John Shakespeare • Mother - Mary Shakespeare • Married at age 18 to Anne Hathaway • Anne was 8 years older • 3 kids - Susanna, Hamnet and Judith

(Twins)

Shakespeare’s Career • The “Lost Years” • Nicknamed “the Bard” • Moved to London

– 1st English Playhouse “The Theater”

– Later “The Globe” – Actors :

• Expert fencers • Acrobats • Singers and dancers • All male

Shakespeare Theater • Elizabethan Era

• Queen Elizabeth loved the theater

Shakespeare Theater • Flag was raised during performances.

Black for tragedy, white for comedy, and red for historical.

• Pit - peasants (1/2 penny) • Objective - to make money • Puritans hated the theater - “Chapels of

Satan”

The Globe

• Shakespeare helped to start The Globe theater in 1599.

• The first play performed there was Julius Caesar.

• It was shut down by the Puritans in 1642.

The Globe

• They leveled the building 2 years later to build tenements.

• It was reconstructed in 1997 on the original foundation.

Globe Theater

Stage and Balcony

Interior View

Interior - Pit

Shakespeare’s Death

• Died in 1616 on his birthday • Cause of death is debated • Epitaph:

– “Blest be the man that spares these stones And curst be he that moves my bones”

His Legacy

• His son died as a child from the plague. • His daughter Susanna had a daughter,

but that granddaughter didn’t have children.

• There are no living direct decedents of Shakespeare.

Legacy

• Some estimates at the number of words coined by Shakespeare number in the several thousands.

• Warren King clarifies by saying that, "In all of his work – the plays, the sonnets and the narrative poems – Shakespeare uses 17,677 words: Of those, 1,700 were first used by Shakespeare."

Shakespeare's Legacy

• He wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. • He created many of the expressions we

use today.

Shakespeare Sayings

• “Knock, knock! Who’s there?” • “Lie low” “Heart of gold” • “Love is blind” “So-so” • “Good riddance!” “Fight fire with fire” • “Seen better days” “Send him packing.” • “Too much of a good thing.”

Shakespeare Sayings

• “Come what may” “not slept a wink” • “Wear your heart on your sleeve.” • “Laughing Stock” “For goodness’ sake” • “The game is up” “What’s done is done” • “Full circle” “Dead as a doornail” • “Green eyed monster” • “Vanish into thin air”

Shakespeare Sayings

• “A piece of work” “A sorry sight” • “Wild goose chase” “break the ice” • “In a pickle” “breathed his last” • “makes your hair stand on end” • “off with his head”