Introduction to Shakespeare & The Sonnets April Marshall

SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE  Born in April, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England  Died in 1616  Father: John Shakespeare  Mother: Mary Arden  Attended a grammar school in Stratford where he learned Latin and Classical Greek

SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE  Married with 3 kids  Moved to London around 1588  The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later called The Kings Men)  Invested in building The Globe Theater in 1599  Began writing the Sonnets in late 1590’s

SHAKESPEARE'S LANGUAGE  Shakespeare wrote in Elizabethan English – which we know as Early Modern English  Accessible language to all classes of society  Shakespeare invented/introduced about 32,000 written words to the English language  5,000 of which we still use today. PHRASES COINED BY SHAKESPEARE: “Bear a charmed life” “Be-all and the end-all” “Come what may” “All's well that ends well” “As good luck would have it” “Dead as a doornail” “Every dog will have his day” “Give the devil his due”

THE SONNETS  A sonnet is a type of poetry invented in Italy  Uses 14 lines & Rhyme Scheme  Shakespearian sonnets derive from Petrarchan sonnets  Shakespearian sonnets use 3 quatrains and a couplet  Quatrains set up a theme  Couplet develops/answers/explains it  Lines written in Iambic Pentameter  Iamb = unstressed / stressed (heartbeat: da DUM)  Pentameter = 5 iambic feet:  (da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM)

THE SONNETS  First sonnet was published in 1609  At least 154 were written, total  Contrast to Petrarchan Sonnets  First 126 sonnets written to a very good looking, very intelligent man  Love and admiration or sexual passion?  Last 25 sonnets written to a mysterious “dark lady”  Secret mistress or prostitute?

Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. SONNET 116

YouTube - Shakespeares Sonette: Sonnet 29 Sonnet 29: (Pride and Prejudice) Sonnet 116: Blue 1.Choose a sonnet 2.Annotate sonnet 3.Dramatize sonnet visually 4.Present to Class