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William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet: Author Background.

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Presentation on theme: "William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet: Author Background."— Presentation transcript:

1 William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet: Author Background

2 What do you already know?

3 Shakespeare: Biographical Information 1564: Born in England 1582: Married Anne Hathaway (rumored to be 3 months pregnant) 1583: First child born (Susanna) 1585: Twins born (Hamnet*died at age 11 and Judith) 1616: Death

4 Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

5 Shakespeare: The Lost Years 1586-1592 Where was Billy? Living in London? Writing sonnets? Traveling?

6 Shakespeare: London 1592: Critiqued in a pamphlet by Robert Greene Published 154 sonnets, epic poems, and 37 plays Director of his own plays and others Actor (small, important roles): ghost of Hamlet’s father

7 Shakespeare: “It’s all in the details…” Ann Hathaway was 8 years older than Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s family was illiterate. The majority of his plays were published 7 years after his death. We do not know what Shakespeare looked like…not a single portrait was painted during his life. There were no dictionaries during Shakespeare’s life.

8 Shakespeare: Plays

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13 The Plays His early plays (1590s) were mostly comedies ▫In Shakespeare’s world a comedy is a play that usually ends in marriage or some type of unification. ▫In short—it has a happy ending. Shakespeare began writing tragedies in the early 1600’s. In a tragedy the hero as some sort of tragic flaw, which leads to his downfall. Tragedies always end in death.

14 Comedies Comedy of Errors 1592 The Taming of The Shrew 1592-1594 Love’s Labor’s Lost 1594-1595 Two Gentleman of Verona 1594-1595 A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1595-1596 The Merchant of Venice 1596- 1597 As You Like It 1599-1600 Twelfth Night 1599-1600 And so many more..

15 Tragedies Titus Andronicus 1593- 1594 Romeo and Juliet 1594-1595 Hamlet 1600-1601 Othello 1604-1605 The Tragedy of King Lear 1605-1606 Macbeth 1605-1606 And many more…

16 Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) “golden age for English literature” Ruled England for 45 years Nicknamed “the virgin queen” ▫Produced no heir to the throne During her reign, the economy was weakened by food shortages and high rent. Elizabethan Era

17 Queen Elizabeth Portrait

18 Elizabethan Fashion

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21 During the Elizabethan period many people were convicted of witchcraft. Shakespeare’s acting troupe was known as “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” at this time. Elizabethan Era Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

22 King James I (1603-1628) Renamed Shakespeare’s acting troupe “The King’s Men” He was pretty fascinated by all this witchcraft and demonology stuff. He was religious, but he believed in supernatural evil.

23 Just Playin’ Only men were permitted to perform during Shakespeare’s time! ▫Young boys or effeminate men were used to play women’s roles. Costumes were expensive, and usually the most valuable part of a play’s production. ▫Costumes were either made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers. Plays were most often performed on outdoor stages, and would take place during the day because of the natural light.

24 Shakespeare: Plays Plays had to be approved by the government. Playwrights could be imprisoned for morally or politically offensive work. Shakespeare’s plays were performed at: inns courtyards royal palaces private residences playhouses 1599: Old Globe Theater

25 Old Globe Theater Like most theaters at the time: Wooden structure Tiered seats in horseshoe formation 2,000-3,000 people One to two pennies to attend Could pay extra to sit on the stage Could pay less to sit in the uncovered “pit” All characters played by male actors Burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII (cannon sparked a fire)

26 Facts about the Globe Built in 1599 Shakespeare owned 1/5 of the theatre Shakespeare earned 10% of the Globe’s profit.

27 Globe Seating

28 Shakespeare Controversy Many scholars and Shakespearian aficionados have argued back and forth about whether one man, Shakespeare, could have been so prolific as to write all the plays and sonnets attributed to his name. The Oxfordian’s, as they are called, argue that several other people may have been responsible for the genius often attributed to Shakespeare. Some of the contenders include: Edward de Ver, Christopher Marlowe (another famous playwright of Shakespeare’s time), and Queen Elizabeth herself! For arguments sake we are going to forge ahead with the thought that Shakespeare himself, did indeed write all of his plays and sonnets, because most of the evidence leans towards this theory. Of course you are welcome to explore the conspiracy on your own time. There are many books written about it, and I can point you to a few of the more interesting if you want to know more…

29 Why read Shakespeare? Almost four hundred years after Shakespeare's death there are 15 million pages referring to him on Google. There are 132 million for God, 2.7 million for Elvis Presley, and coming up on Shakespeare's heels, George W Bush with 14.7 million.

30 Why read Shakespeare? Macbeth is thought to be one of the most produced plays ever, with a performance beginning somewhere in the world every four hours.

31 “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” Why read Shakespeare?

32 Romeo and Juliet Tragedy!!! Written 1594-1595 Based on a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke, “The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet” (1562). The poem was based on an Italian folktale: “Romeo and Giulietta” by Luigi da Porta—this may have been based on a true story, but nobody knows for sure.

33 More R&J Romeo is 16 when the play begins; Juliet, 13 (younger than you!) A play of opposites: love and hate, delicate emotions and intense passion, tender youth and obstinate (stubborn) adults, innocence and deceit, humor and tragedy “Wherefore art thou Romeo…” does not mean, where are you Romeo? “wherefore” actually means why. Many people make this mistake, but now you won’t…more on Shakespeare’s language tomorrow.

34 "My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" “Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine” FAMOUS Romeo and Juliet QUOTES “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!”

35 Pre-Reading Quick-Write 1. Re-write one quote in your own words. 2. Do you agree or disagree? 3. Give a real-life example to support your answer. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!” “Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine”

36 Romeo and Juliet inspired artwork…

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39 Literature Terms Sonnets

40 Sonnet= Poem with 14 lines that rhyme Elizabethan (Shakespearean SONNET) Three groups of four lines called quatrains. ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG Concludes with a couplet (two rhymed lines) 1.Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? 2.Thou art more lovely and more temperate: 3.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May; 4.And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. 5.Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, 6.And often is his gold complexion dimmed; 7.And every fair from fair sometime declines, 8.By chance, or Nature’s changing course, untrimmed: 9.But thy eternal summer shall not fade, 10.Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest, 11.Nor shall Death brag thou wand’rest in his shade, 12.When in eternal lines to Time thou growest. 13.So long as men can breathe or eyes can see 14.So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

41 Iambic Pentameter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6gxaL5wtLo Identify the following on the given sonnet: Couplet Quatrain Iamb Iambic pentameter Run-on line/enjambment


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