William Shakespeare “Storyteller Extraordinaire” By: Ms. Ritter By: Ms. Ritter

“We do not understand Shakespeare from a single reading, and certainly not from a single play. There is a relation between the various plays of Shakespeare, taken in order; and it is work of years to venture even one individual interpretation of the pattern in Shakespeare’s carpet.” T. S. Elliot, Dante, 1929 “We do not understand Shakespeare from a single reading, and certainly not from a single play. There is a relation between the various plays of Shakespeare, taken in order; and it is work of years to venture even one individual interpretation of the pattern in Shakespeare’s carpet.” T. S. Elliot, Dante, 1929

Quick Write: Please take a minute to write down all the Shakespearean plays you have heard of or read. Please take a minute to write down all the Shakespearean plays you have heard of or read.

All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline Love's Labours Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona Winter's TaleAll's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline Love's Labours Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona Winter's Tale All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline Love's Labours Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona Winter's Tale All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline Love's Labours Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona Winter's Tale Henry IV, Part I Henry IV, Part I Henry IV, Part II Henry IV, Part II Henry V Henry VI, Part I Henry VI, Part II Henry VI, Part III Henry VIII King John Richard II Richard III Henry V Henry VI, Part I Henry VI, Part II Henry VI, Part III Henry VIII King John Richard II Richard III Antony and Cleopatra Coriolanus Hamlet Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Coriolanus Hamlet Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus

“The Bard” Shakespeare’s nickname Shakespeare’s nickname BARD: A poet, especially an exalted (elevated in rank or status) national poet. BARD: A poet, especially an exalted (elevated in rank or status) national poet. Fact: The Bard lost a play. Cardenio was performed during his lifetime, but now has been completely lost to time. Today we have no written record of its story whatsoever. Fact: The Bard lost a play. Cardenio was performed during his lifetime, but now has been completely lost to time. Today we have no written record of its story whatsoever.

Typical Images of Shakespeare

Atypical Images…

Fact. We don’t know that much about Shakespeare. We don’t know that much about Shakespeare. Here’s what we do know… Here’s what we do know…

The Early Years William Shakespeare was born in Stratford- upon-Avon to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford- upon-Avon to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. Records show that the date of Shakespeare’s baptism was April 26, Because baptisms usually took place three days after birth, William is assumed to have been born on April 23. Records show that the date of Shakespeare’s baptism was April 26, Because baptisms usually took place three days after birth, William is assumed to have been born on April 23.

Marriage and Children W.S. married a older woman, Anne Hathaway, 26, who was carrying his first child, when he was W.S. married a older woman, Anne Hathaway, 26, who was carrying his first child, when he was Daughter Susanna Daughter Susanna Twins Hamnet and Judith Twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare, literature’s greatest figure, never attended university. Shakespeare, literature’s greatest figure, never attended university.

William Shakespeare Anne Hathaway

Q: What do the following words have in common? AddictionAdvertisingBedroomChampion DruggedElbowEyeballGossip HintLonely Skim milk Tranquil

A: They were all coined by Shakespeare. William Shakespeare invented over 1700 words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words that were never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising original words. William Shakespeare invented over 1700 words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words that were never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising original words.

His Work (25) Wrote first of 37 plays, Henry VI, Part One (25) Wrote first of 37 plays, Henry VI, Part One The Lost Years The Lost Years (29) Started writing the first of his 154 sonnets. Of the 154 sonnets, his first 26 were said to be directed to an aristocratic young man who did not want to marry. Sonnets talk about a dark woman that W.S. seems to have had mixed feelings for (29) Started writing the first of his 154 sonnets. Of the 154 sonnets, his first 26 were said to be directed to an aristocratic young man who did not want to marry. Sonnets talk about a dark woman that W.S. seems to have had mixed feelings for. ARISTOCRATIC: Member of nobility- having tastes, opinions, and manners of a ruling class. ARISTOCRATIC: Member of nobility- having tastes, opinions, and manners of a ruling class.

Playwright Produced a steady stream of plays. Invented words. Continued as a principal actor and manager in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Prospered financially and made investments in Stratford, assembling a solid estate. In 1599, he became part-owner of a public playhouse in London, the Globe Produced a steady stream of plays. Invented words. Continued as a principal actor and manager in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Prospered financially and made investments in Stratford, assembling a solid estate. In 1599, he became part-owner of a public playhouse in London, the Globe.

The Globe Theatre Although Shakespeare's plays were performed at other venues during the playwright's career, the Globe Theatre in London was the venue at which the Bard's best known stage works were first produced. The Globe was built in 1599 and had a total capacity of 2,000 -3,000 spectators. Because there was no lighting, all performances at the Globe were conducted between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.. Acoustics were poor and the actors had to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures. Productions were completely devoid of background scenery. Changes of scene were indicated in the speeches and narrative situations that Shakespeare wrote into the text of the plays. The Globe was destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt, and remained active until It was demolished in Excavation was begun in Although Shakespeare's plays were performed at other venues during the playwright's career, the Globe Theatre in London was the venue at which the Bard's best known stage works were first produced. The Globe was built in 1599 and had a total capacity of 2,000 -3,000 spectators. Because there was no lighting, all performances at the Globe were conducted between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M.. Acoustics were poor and the actors had to shout their lines, stress their enunciation, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures. Productions were completely devoid of background scenery. Changes of scene were indicated in the speeches and narrative situations that Shakespeare wrote into the text of the plays. The Globe was destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt, and remained active until It was demolished in Excavation was begun in

The End of an Era Died April 23, 1616 (birthday) at age 52. Died April 23, 1616 (birthday) at age 52. W.S. died of unknown causes. W.S. died of unknown causes. Unlike most famous writers of his time, W.S. did not die in poverty. He was a wealthy landowner with properties in Stratford and London upon death. Unlike most famous writers of his time, W.S. did not die in poverty. He was a wealthy landowner with properties in Stratford and London upon death.

The Will The Bard's will gave most of his property to Susanna, his first child and not to his wife Anne Hathaway. Instead his wife received his "second-best bed".

The Cursed Grave Good friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbear To dig the dust enclosed here; Blest be the man that spares these stones And curst he that moves my bones.

Publishing William never published any of his plays. William never published any of his plays. We read his plays today only because seven years after his death, fellow actors posthumously recorded his work as a dedication to Shakespeare in We read his plays today only because seven years after his death, fellow actors posthumously recorded his work as a dedication to Shakespeare in This collection, The First Folio, is the source from which all published Shakespeare books are derived and is proof that he authored his plays. This collection, The First Folio, is the source from which all published Shakespeare books are derived and is proof that he authored his plays. FOLIO: The largest common size of a book or manuscript, usually about 38 cm (or 15 in.) in height and made up of folded sheets. FOLIO: The largest common size of a book or manuscript, usually about 38 cm (or 15 in.) in height and made up of folded sheets.

The First Folio

When Shakespeare was writing, plays were not really considered Literature were not published with the care that his poems were. But in 1616, Ben Jonson published his complete Works --and included his plays (which he called "poems"). When Shakespeare was writing, plays were not really considered Literature were not published with the care that his poems were. But in 1616, Ben Jonson published his complete Works --and included his plays (which he called "poems"). Seven years later, the First Folio was published. In the dedication, Heminge and Condell wrote, "To the great variety of readers, Seven years later, the First Folio was published. In the dedication, Heminge and Condell wrote, "To the great variety of readers, It had been a thing, we confess, worthy to have been wished, that the Author himself had liv'd to have set forth, and overseen his own writings... “ Had the First Folio not been published, we would have lost three of Shakespeare's last plays ( Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest ), four tragedies ( Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus ), and two of the mature comedies ( As You Like It and Twelfth Night ). Had the First Folio not been published, we would have lost three of Shakespeare's last plays ( Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest ), four tragedies ( Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus ), and two of the mature comedies ( As You Like It and Twelfth Night ).

Multi-Talented Fact: Few people realize that aside from writing 37 plays and composing 154 sonnets, William was also an actor who performed many of his own plays as well as those of other playwrights (such as Ben Jonson).

The Greatest Writer of All Time “Only one thing seems strangely certain: that no writer will surpass Shakespeare. To say that Shakespeare is not only the greatest writer who has ever lived, but who will ever live, is a perfectly rational statement. But it is, in the deepest sense, a shocking statement. It outrages the instinctive forward motion of human expectation. It sets a defiant limit to the hopes of any poet, any [one] who seeks to master and render life on the written page. It insinuates into the study and criticism of literature a constant backward glance. There is a mustard-seed of truth in the slogan of the surrealists that if poetry is to be made new, if we are to grow innocent again before the magic of speech, the works of Shakespeare must be burned. We do him honor, also, if we recognize how heavy is the burden of his glory.” George Steiner