Shakespeare Background Elizabethan Theater Elizabethan Theater Shakespeare’s Background and Works Shakespeare’s Background and Works Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing

Elizabethan Theater: Basic Information Performed wherever they could find space, usually in court yards Performed wherever they could find space, usually in court yards First permanent theater First permanent theater built in 1576 built in 1576 outside of London outside of London built by James Burbage built by James Burbage named “The Theater” named “The Theater”

“The Theater” Changed 1599 “The Theater” moved across River 1599 “The Theater” moved across River Moved because of raised rent Moved because of raised rent Renamed “The Globe Theater” Renamed “The Globe Theater”

Audience Information Audience stood; seats for only paying customers Audience stood; seats for only paying customers Officials tried to close theaters due to “waste of time” Officials tried to close theaters due to “waste of time” London closed theaters to help prevent the spread of the plague London closed theaters to help prevent the spread of the plague

Physical Aspects of the Globe “Wooden O” “Wooden O” open space - 65’ in diameter open space - 65’ in diameter surrounded by a circular building surrounded by a circular building 30’ high with 3 tiers of seats 30’ high with 3 tiers of seats stage 5’ high, 40’X30’ rectangle stage 5’ high, 40’X30’ rectangle

New Globe Theatre Stage Picture

Globe Theater

Globe Performance

Balcony Seats – The Globe

The Sets and Effects Bare stage, but used flags, banners and musicians Bare stage, but used flags, banners and musicians Actors lowered from “heavens” by cranes Actors lowered from “heavens” by cranes Torches used to make night Torches used to make night Sound Effects- Cannon Sound Effects- Cannon (sparks from cannon set fire to Globe and destroyed it)

The Elizabethan Actor Fencing: Audience loved duels Fencing: Audience loved duels Tumbling: Lots of movement Tumbling: Lots of movement Dancing Dancing Elocution: Words were very important Elocution: Words were very important Acting: Many young boys played female roles with wigs and makeup Acting: Many young boys played female roles with wigs and makeup Music Music

ACTORS All actors were male (played both roles) All actors were male (played both roles) considered “rogues, vagabonds, sturdy beggars, and common players” considered “rogues, vagabonds, sturdy beggars, and common players”

Shakespeare’s Life Lived days of Queen Elizabeth Lived days of Queen Elizabeth Greatest and most famous playwright/poet Greatest and most famous playwright/poet Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon 1 of 8 kids 1 of 8 kids

Family Life he married Anne Hathaway he married Anne Hathaway first child born, Susanna first child born, Susanna twins born, Hamnet and Judith twins born, Hamnet and Judith

Shakespeare Married His wife, Anne, was the daughter of a local doctor in Stratford. His wife, Anne, was the daughter of a local doctor in Stratford. This was William and Anne’s home in Stratford. This was William and Anne’s home in Stratford.

The Playwright Rival was Robert Greene Rival was Robert Greene Was an actor for 20 years from Was an actor for 20 years from Charter Member of Lord Chamberlain’s Men Charter Member of Lord Chamberlain’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men became the King’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men became the King’s Men

His Works 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book length narratives poems 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 2 book length narratives poems Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies Great Tragedies: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Romeo and Juliet Great Tragedies: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Romeo and Juliet

More Info. on Works All plays written for Kings; paid $40 per play All plays written for Kings; paid $40 per play His plays were published 7 years after his death His plays were published 7 years after his death 1623 the First Folio was published-this is a collection of the supposed “true original copies” of Shakespeare’s plays 1623 the First Folio was published-this is a collection of the supposed “true original copies” of Shakespeare’s plays

What Inspired him? characters were REAL people (some historical people) characters were REAL people (some historical people) other plays and poems other plays and poems

Caesar Inspiration (we’ll be reading parts of this play later!) (we’ll be reading parts of this play later!) 1599 Julius Caesar was written; it was inspired by Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans 1599 Julius Caesar was written; it was inspired by Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans

What was his Genius? Understanding of the people Understanding of the people Commoners Commoners Rich Rich Human nature Human nature Skilled with words Skilled with words Charismatic Charismatic

Why does he appeal to us? People are always quoting him. People are always quoting him. “It was Greek to me” “It was Greek to me” “A sorry sight” “A sorry sight” “In a pickle” “In a pickle” “To be or not to be” “To be or not to be” “All that glitters is not gold” “All that glitters is not gold” “elbow room” “elbow room” “downstairs” “downstairs” “The long and short of it” “The long and short of it”

Appeal? He is serious, funny, angry, ironical… He is serious, funny, angry, ironical… He does not make moral judgments He does not make moral judgments He captures in words and actions all the great problems that have tormented human beings throughout the ages. We take comfort in the fact that the hero has flaws and is not perfect. He captures in words and actions all the great problems that have tormented human beings throughout the ages. We take comfort in the fact that the hero has flaws and is not perfect.

Much Ado About Nothing Genre: Comedy (which has the potential to turn into a tragedy) Genre: Comedy (which has the potential to turn into a tragedy) Deals with the “battle of the sexes” (between Beatrice and Benedick) Deals with the “battle of the sexes” (between Beatrice and Benedick) Includes friends playing tricks on each other Includes friends playing tricks on each other Has dilemmas about love, family responsibility, and relationships Has dilemmas about love, family responsibility, and relationships

MAAN Characters Don Pedro (Prince of Aragon) Don Pedro (Prince of Aragon) Don John (Don Pedro’s bastard brother) Don John (Don Pedro’s bastard brother) Leonato (Governor, setting takes place at his house) Leonato (Governor, setting takes place at his house) Hero (Leonato’s daughter, loves Claudio) Hero (Leonato’s daughter, loves Claudio) Beatrice (Hero’s cousin, loves Benedick but doesn’t know it— and won’t admit it!) Beatrice (Hero’s cousin, loves Benedick but doesn’t know it— and won’t admit it!) Claudio (young lord, now that the war is over, plans to woo Hero; needs other’s approval of her) Claudio (young lord, now that the war is over, plans to woo Hero; needs other’s approval of her) Benedick (young lord, has tangled with Beatrice in the past, secretly loves her, as well) Benedick (young lord, has tangled with Beatrice in the past, secretly loves her, as well) Antonio (Leonato’s brother) Antonio (Leonato’s brother) Borachio and Conrade (followers of Don John) Borachio and Conrade (followers of Don John) Margaret and Ursula (attendants/servants to Hero) Margaret and Ursula (attendants/servants to Hero) Dogberry (a constable) Dogberry (a constable)