“As an unperfect actor on the stage”

 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon (England), baptized April 26, 1564  Married Anne Hathaway at age of 18. She was at least five years older than he and pregnant with Susanna. Twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585  Hamnet died at age 11  Lost years  Well known in theatre by 1592  Didn’t return to live in Stratford until about 1613  Died April 23, 1616 (Feast of St. George)  Wrote 37 plays, 152 sonnets, and several long poems  Died around April 23, 1616

 Soliloquy  Aside  Objective correlatives  Foils  Freytag’s Pyramid

 As You Like It at the Globe As You Like It at the Globe  Audience?  Best seats?  Type of sets?  Type of costumes?  Props?  Amplification?  Music?  Time of day for performances  Vomitorium  Heavens  What is different from 1592?

 37+ plays, including a couple with co- authors  154 sonnets  2 long poems, Rape of Lucrece and Venus and Adonis  A few other middle- length poems

 Lyric (short) poem  Rhymes  Metered  14 lines  Usually there is a turn, either between the 8 th and 9 th lines (Petrarchan/ Italian) or between the 12 th and 13 th lines (Elizabethan/ Shakespearean)

 Sonnets written , 2 published in 1599, rest published as we read them in 1609, dedicated to “the only begetter of these ensuing sonnets, Mr. W. H.”  Usually read as the most biographical of WS’s writings  Sonnets to fair young man (poet’s dear friend and patron)  Sonnets to dark lady, mistress for a time  were translations  BUT mistress steals affection of the friend  Rival poet does, too

 As an unperfect actor on the stage, Who with his fear is put beside his part, Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage, Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart; So I, for fear of trust, forget to say The perfect ceremony of love's rite, And in mine own love's strength seem to decay, O'ercharged with burthen of mine own love's might. O! let my looks be then the eloquence And dumb presagers of my speaking breast, Who plead for love, and look for recompense, More than that tongue that more hath more express'd. O! learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.