Shakespeare: An Introduction Introduction Review of Standard Deviants DVD

William Shakespeare Born in 1564 Born in 1564 Died 1616 Died 1616 English Renaissance English Renaissance Elizabethan Era, Queen Elizabeth I Elizabethan Era, Queen Elizabeth I Creativity in culture and the arts Creativity in culture and the arts Classic world, especially Roman Classic world, especially Roman Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon

Theatre Acting wasn’t a respectable position Acting wasn’t a respectable position Lord Chamberlain’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men Globe Globe O 3 story wooden theatre with open roof 3 story wooden theatre with open roof Gallery Gallery Pit, groundings Pit, groundings

Theatre continued Extended stage Extended stage Covered stage Covered stage Tower Tower Thatched roof Thatched roof King’s Men King’s Men No women No women

Shakespeare Shakespeare, writer, actor, shareholder Shakespeare, writer, actor, shareholder Francis Bacon, author, philosopher, nobleman Francis Bacon, author, philosopher, nobleman Comedies, histories, romances, tragedies Comedies, histories, romances, tragedies 1592: plague, book-length poetry 1592: plague, book-length poetry 1590’s: sonnets 1590’s: sonnets 1603: King James 1603: King James

Shakespeare’s Language Poetry: concentrated language with rhythm and sound; verse Poetry: concentrated language with rhythm and sound; verse Prose: language of everyday speech Prose: language of everyday speech Poetry: A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse. Poetry: A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse. Prose: I need a horse Prose: I need a horse Meter: regular rhythmic pattern Meter: regular rhythmic pattern Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter

Blank Verse Unrhymed: end of lines don’t rhyme Unrhymed: end of lines don’t rhyme iam: 1 unstressed syllable followed by 1 stressed syllable. iam: 1 unstressed syllable followed by 1 stressed syllable. Iambic: means the poetry contains iambs Iambic: means the poetry contains iambs Pent= 5 Pent= 5 Meter: reg. rhythmic pattern in lang. Meter: reg. rhythmic pattern in lang. 5 iams 5 iams

Why? Why blank verse? Not every line is in perfect i. p. Not all written in poetry. Why blank verse? Not every line is in perfect i. p. Not all written in poetry. He just did. It was common. The rhythm most closely resembles natural speech. He just did. It was common. The rhythm most closely resembles natural speech. How important is it? It will naturally be pleasing to the ear. How important is it? It will naturally be pleasing to the ear.

Elizabethan Drama 1. Importance of words 1. Importance of words Real life vs stage life Real life vs stage life Symbolic art Symbolic art

Importance of Words Theatre was different Theatre was different No movies, surround sound, pop corn No movies, surround sound, pop corn Not many props or scenery Not many props or scenery Stock costumes Stock costumes No elaborate lighting No elaborate lighting Audiences listened; they were used to listening to long stories and sermons Audiences listened; they were used to listening to long stories and sermons

Importance of Words Stock scenery Stock scenery No special effects No special effects Plays are primarily verbal and not visual and the words are used to convey to the audience the mood and tone. Plays are primarily verbal and not visual and the words are used to convey to the audience the mood and tone. Modern audiences are more used to visual elements. Modern audiences are more used to visual elements. Common Elizabethans didn’t speak this way. Common Elizabethans didn’t speak this way.

Real life vs Stage life We realize that the play is a fantasy. We realize that the play is a fantasy. Modern theatre has blurred the lines. Modern theatre has blurred the lines. Movies suggest everything is real. Movies suggest everything is real. Shakespeare’s play are always understood to be characters—not real people. Shakespeare’s play are always understood to be characters—not real people. They’re just figures that represent real people They’re just figures that represent real people It must be in the play to be part of the character. It must be in the play to be part of the character.

How to know a character Analysis: Analysis: 1. What the character says 1. What the character says 2. What other characters say about them 2. What other characters say about them 3. What the characters do. 3. What the characters do. Stick to the text Stick to the text Theatrical companies interpret the play by changing setting and dropping lines or characters. Theatrical companies interpret the play by changing setting and dropping lines or characters.

Aristotle Tragedy: imitation of an action Tragedy: imitation of an action 4 th century BC, studied under Plato 4 th century BC, studied under Plato Developed logic, wrote about ethics, politics Developed logic, wrote about ethics, politics The Poetics: drama, including tragedy, is just an imitation of action (not real!) The Poetics: drama, including tragedy, is just an imitation of action (not real!)

Symbolic Art Influenced by medieval art Influenced by medieval art The halo on the saints’ heads represents goodness/holiness. The halo on the saints’ heads represents goodness/holiness. The villain in the play represents all evil, he’s not just a bad person. The villain in the play represents all evil, he’s not just a bad person. Truth, beauty, justice, purity (universal themes) Truth, beauty, justice, purity (universal themes)