William Shakespeare Grade 10 Drama

Who was William Shakespeare? Probably the world’s most famous poet playwright A writing genius Lived in the Elizabethan period (1558-1603) Limited forms of entertainment: plays and bear baiting

Shakespeare’s Genius His understanding of people His skill with words His sense of drama

Shakespeare’s Life (as we know it) Born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford –upon- Avon Well-off family Dad was a glovemaker, shopkeeper, landowner and mayor of Stratford 7 brothers and sisters Studied Latin in school

Shakespeare’s Life (as we know it) Married Anne Hathaway in 1582 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet & Judith Lived in London most of his life Retired in Stratford Great actor and playwright Wrote at least 36 plays

Shakespeare’s Life (as we know it) Retired between 1611 and 1613 Returned to Stratford where he owned land Died April 23, 1616 and was buried at the Church of Holy Trinity

Shakespeare the Poet Intellectual elite and nobility would hire poets to write poems for them Wrote “Venus and Adonis” and many other poems for the Earl of Southampton Wrote sonnets that immortalized women loved by the patron he wrote for

Shakespeare the Actor 1585-1605 – actor and part owner of Chamberlain’s Men and King’s Men Made his money as an actor and producer 1592-1594 and 1612 – London plagues closed theatres so troupes travelled and performed around the country

Elizabethan Actors All male Female roles played by young boys Actors were experts in Fencing Tumbling Dancing Elocution Acting Music

Shakespeare the Playwright Wrote plays from 1592-1611 Paid about $40 per play Famous plays: Romeo and Juliet Macbeth Hamlet

The Plays and the Theatre Audiences were finicky and easily distracted Lots of action like duels, murders, clowns, and ghosts Witty to appeal to intellectuals and bawdy to make people laugh 2 ½ hours long Sun lit the stage No scenery Elaborate props Trap doors and balconies for entrances and exits

Theatres The Theatre, The Swan, The Globe (Shakespeare’s theatre), The Fortune, The Rose, The Curtain Blackfriar’s - the only indoor theatre lit by gas lamps Flags indicated a show to be performed White – comedy Black – tragedy Red – history

Theatres Audience members paid a penny to stand on the ground – “groundlings” First level of gallery had benches Second level had chairs Third level had cushioned chairs Nobility was sometimes allowed to sit in the balcony above the stage or on the stage

Globe Theatre Sketch

Globe Theatre Sketch

Globe Theatre Now