Shakespeare

Facts About William Shakespeare Widely considered to be the greatest writer and playwright in the English language of all time Widely considered to be the greatest writer and playwright in the English language of all time His career began during the Elizabethan Age His career began during the Elizabethan Age He was a master of dramatic language and a great experimenter with spoken English He was a master of dramatic language and a great experimenter with spoken English

Facts Continued Shakespeare has contributed more words, phrases, and expressions to the English language than any other writer Shakespeare has contributed more words, phrases, and expressions to the English language than any other writer The expressions include The expressions include “Dead as a doornail” Henry VI Part 2 “Dead as a doornail” Henry VI Part 2 “Laughingstock” The Merry Wives of Windsor “Laughingstock” The Merry Wives of Windsor “For goodness sake” Henry VIII “For goodness sake” Henry VIII

More Shakespeare Facts Not much is known about Shakespeare’s personal life, but here are some facts It is believed he was born on April 23, 1564 and died April 23, 1616 He was from Stratford-on-Avon, England At age 18, he married Anne Hathaway In 1583 they had a daughter named Susanna

Yep, you guessed it…more facts Two years later in 1585 they had twins. Hamnet (boy) and Judith (girl) In 1599 he became part owner of London’s Globe Theatre The King’s Men was the name of his theatre company

Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragedy Tragic Hero Tragic Hero Is the protagonist, or central character-the one with whom the audience identifies Is the protagonist, or central character-the one with whom the audience identifies Usually fails or dies because of a character flaw or a cruel twist of fate Usually fails or dies because of a character flaw or a cruel twist of fate Often has a high rank or status; shows strength while facing his or her destiny Often has a high rank or status; shows strength while facing his or her destiny Exhibits extraordinary abilities but also a tragic flaw, a fatal error in judgement or weakness of character, that leads directly to his or her downfall Exhibits extraordinary abilities but also a tragic flaw, a fatal error in judgement or weakness of character, that leads directly to his or her downfall

More Characteristics Antagonist is the force working against the protagonist can be another character, a group of characters, or something nonhuman, such as nature or society Foil is a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character highlights both characters’ traits-for example, a timid character can make a talkative one seem even chattier

The Plot The Plot Involves a conflict between the hero and a person or force, called the antagonist, which the hero must battle. Inevitably the conflict adds to the hero’s downfall Involves a conflict between the hero and a person or force, called the antagonist, which the hero must battle. Inevitably the conflict adds to the hero’s downfall Is built upon a series of causally related events that lead to the catastrophe, or tragic resolution. This final stage of the plot usually end with the death of the hero Is built upon a series of causally related events that lead to the catastrophe, or tragic resolution. This final stage of the plot usually end with the death of the hero Is resolved when the tragic hero meets his or her doom with courage and dignity, reaffirming the grandeur of the human spirit Is resolved when the tragic hero meets his or her doom with courage and dignity, reaffirming the grandeur of the human spirit

The Theme Is the central idea conveyed by the work and usually focuses on an aspect of fate, ambition, loss, defeat, death, loyalty, impulse or desire. Tragedies, such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth, may contain several themes Is the central idea conveyed by the work and usually focuses on an aspect of fate, ambition, loss, defeat, death, loyalty, impulse or desire. Tragedies, such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth, may contain several themes

Soliloquy and Aside Soliloquy Soliloquy is a speech that a character gives while alone on stage, to reveal his or her thoughts to the audience Aside Aside is a remark that a character makes in an undertone to the audience or another character but that others on stage are not supposed to hear

Irony Irony Irony is based on a contrast between appearance or expectation and reality Dramatic Irony Dramatic Irony is what appears true to one or more characters in a play is seen to be false by the audience, which has a complete picture of the action

Academic Vocabulary Tragedy: a story in which the noble main character fails or dies because of a personal flaw or a twist of fate Tragedy: a story in which the noble main character fails or dies because of a personal flaw or a twist of fate Paradox: a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless suggest an important truth (“Less is more.”) Paradox: a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless suggest an important truth (“Less is more.”) Oxymoron: a special kind of concise paradox that brings together two contradictory terms (“brawling love,” “loving hate,” “bright smoke”) Oxymoron: a special kind of concise paradox that brings together two contradictory terms (“brawling love,” “loving hate,” “bright smoke”) Monologue: a long speech made by one person that prevents others from talking Monologue: a long speech made by one person that prevents others from talking

More Vocabulary Word play: any clever use of the double meanings or matching sounds of words (“Bathing a stinky dog makes good scents.”) Word play: any clever use of the double meanings or matching sounds of words (“Bathing a stinky dog makes good scents.”) Pun: an example of word play that uses a word’s multiple meanings or a word’s sound (“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”) Pun: an example of word play that uses a word’s multiple meanings or a word’s sound (“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”) Blank verse: unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter Blank verse: unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter

More Vocabulary Iambic Pentameter: 10 syllables in one line, with the following beat: ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM (each “foot” consists of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed; there are five feet in one line of iambic pentamater) (“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?”) Iambic Pentameter: 10 syllables in one line, with the following beat: ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM, ta TUM (each “foot” consists of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed; there are five feet in one line of iambic pentamater) (“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?”) Comic Relief: humorous scenes that break up the seriousness in a dramatic performance Comic Relief: humorous scenes that break up the seriousness in a dramatic performance Synopsis: a brief summary of the most important information about something Synopsis: a brief summary of the most important information about something

Did you know that William Shakespeare…… Is often referred to as “the Bard” an ancient Celtic term for a poet who composed songs about heroes? Introduced more than 1,700 new words into the English language? Has had his work translated into 118 languages, including sign language?