William William ShakespeareShakespeare

His era and writingHis era and writing

To understand a difficult To understand a difficult literary work, it’s helpful to literary work, it’s helpful to

know about…know about…Life of the writerLife of the writerHistory of the eraHistory of the eraHow the author used How the author used

languagelanguageGenre(s) of the writingGenre(s) of the writing

Who was William Who was William Shakespeare?Shakespeare?

A husband and fatherA husband and fatherAn actorAn actorA poetA poetA playA playwrightwright

Shakespeare’s EraShakespeare’s Era

Born 1564, died Born 1564, died 1616 1616

The Elizabethan EraThe Elizabethan Era

Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan TheatrePopular with Popular with allall classes classesFew props or costumesFew props or costumesPerformed in daylightPerformed in daylightNo female actors No female actors

The NEW Globe TheatreThe NEW Globe Theatre

Shakespeare’s WritingShakespeare’s Writing

Stages of English:Stages of English: OldOld MiddleMiddle Early ModernEarly Modern ModernModern

What stage of English do you think What stage of English do you think Shakespeare wrote in? Shakespeare wrote in?

Old, Middle, Early Modern, or Old, Middle, Early Modern, or Modern?Modern?

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I'll no longer be a Capulet.And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

--William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, c.1594

The Language ofThe Language ofShakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

EarlyEarly Modern English Modern EnglishPoetic Poetic

Figurative languageFigurative languageIambic pentameter (10 syllables per line) Iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line) Syntax is often inverted (like Yoda Syntax is often inverted (like Yoda

speaks)speaks)

The PlaysThe Plays

38 plays 38 plays (37 alone, 1 collaborated)(37 alone, 1 collaborated)

Four genres:Four genres:History History TragedyTragedyComedy Comedy RomanceRomance

History PlaysHistory PlaysEnglish kingsEnglish kingsBattlesBattlesEmbellished the Embellished the

truthtruth10 plays10 playsHenry V, King John, Henry V, King John,

Richard IIIRichard III……

TragediesTragedies

End in End in death (a lot of it)death (a lot of it)Show a great man’s downfallShow a great man’s downfallDark magic, insanity, ghosts, Dark magic, insanity, ghosts,

superstitionssuperstitions10 plays10 plays Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, HamletHamlet……

ComediesComediesEnd with End with marriagesmarriagesRelationship problemsRelationship problemsLight magic/trickeryLight magic/trickeryFunnyFunny13 plays13 playsTwelfth Night, As You Like It, A Twelfth Night, As You Like It, A

Midsummer Night’s Dream…Midsummer Night’s Dream…

Romance PlaysRomance PlaysNOT like romance NOT like romance

novels!novels!Like fairy talesLike fairy talesCharacters separate Characters separate

and reuniteand reunite5 plays5 playsCymbeline, Pericles, The Cymbeline, Pericles, The

Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, The Two Noble KinsmanThe Two Noble Kinsman

When you read or see work When you read or see work by William Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare,

what facts from this what facts from this presentation are helpful to presentation are helpful to

keep in mind?keep in mind?