Great writer of England Plays translated into 100s of languages, musicals, ballets Born Stratford-upon-Avon Well-to-do, affluent while alive Most quoted, other than the Bible Well-known Facts about Will

Lesser-known Facts Teen father: married pregnant 26 year old Anne Hathaway when he was 18 Deadbeat dad: Left wife and children for London stage career Father of twins Elizabethan rapper: uses rhythm and rhyme “Plagiarism” ?

The Competition Bear-baiting Races Gambling Music Drinking/socializing Prostitution Public executions

Conditions in London-BAD! Thames River polluted with raw sewage Trees used up for fuel Poverty

Personal hygiene/health Bathing considered dangerous Body odor strong Childhood diseases Children often died before 5 years Small Pox Bubonic Plague

Living Conditions No running water Chamber Pots Open Sewers Crowded

Clothes One set used all year long, rarely washed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Clothes handed down from rich to poor

Theater in London Performed in courtyards of inns The Theater-first public theater-1576 Daytime/open air Limited set design Relied on music, sound, costumes, props and great description

The Globe Built in 1599 Across the Thames- “Wrong side of town” King’s Men - Shakespeare’s company Penny admission

Actors All men Female parts played by young boys No actual kissing or hugging on stage

The groundling Poor audience member Stood around stage in “the pit” Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

Queen Elizabeth Daughter of King Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn (2nd of 6 wives) Henry had Ann beheaded for “treason” Younger sister of “Bloody Mary.” A tease and a player

Her “loving” parents

The Renaissance “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science Discovery of “New World” Copernicus: Sun-centered Universe (1543) King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) Reformation of Catholic Church

Romeo and Juliet: A Brief Introduction Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare in 1594 or Romeo and Juliet was an experimental stage piece, featuring several radical departures from long-standing conventions. The themes of the play include the antithesis between love and hate, the use of a light/dark polarity, the use of time, and the use of Fate in the dreams, omens and forebodings that foreshadow the play’s tragic conclusion.

The Montagues Lord and Lady Montague – Romeo’s parents Benvolio – cousin of Romeo Romeo Montague Balthasar and Abram – servants to the Montagues Mercutio – Friend of Romeo and relative of the Prince

The Capulets Lord and Lady Capulet – Juliet’s parents Juliet Capulet Nurse – Juliet’s attendant Tybalt – cousin to Juliet Sampson and Gregory – servants to the Capulets