1. Introduction to Shakespeare
A Genius from Stratford
William Shakespeare
There aren’t any pictures of him just depictions.

2. William Shakespeare’s childhood
Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April of 1564
Parents, John and Mary, were middle-class. John was a glove maker.
(left) The Shakespeare gardens in Stratford. (below) Depiction of John and Will making gloves. (bottom left) The front of the Shakespeare house.

3. William Shakespeare’s childhood
(left) King Edward’s Grammar School (right) Depiction of young Elizabethans during a lesson at King Edward’s
Attended King Edward’s Grammar School in Stratford right around the corner from his childhood home.
Shakespeare left school at 14.
He never had any other formal schooling.

4. William Shakespeare’s family
Married Anne Hathaway in Will was 18.
They had three children: Susanna, and twins Judith and Hamnet
Sonnet 145 was written to Anne
(left) Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Shottery, a town near Stratford. This was her childhood home. (below) The room in the Shakespeare house where little Will was born.

5. William Shakespeare in London
From 1585 to 1592, not much is known about Shakespeare’s life.
He had established himself as a writer and actor by age 27.
Sometime from age 18 to 28, he traveled to London.
His plays demonstrated knowledge of law, politics, history, the Bible and Greek mythology.
During the time Will lived in London, it is thought that he probably stayed in taverns and wrote at the bar.

6. William Shakespeare’s later years
Will left London and returned to Stratford in 1610.
He was widely known as an accomplished actor and playwright.
They lived at what is now called “New Place” in Stratford.
He spent his time with his wife Anne and Susanna’s daughter, Elizabeth.

7. William Shakespeare’s supporter
Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled England from 1558 to 1603, was a fan of Will’s plays.
The arts flourished under her reign.
Catherine
of Aragon
Anne
Boylyn
King Henry 8
Mary
Tutor
Elizabeth
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I after her ascension to the throne in 1558.

8. Understanding the 1500s Elizabethans =
people who lived during the reignof Queen Elizabeth I (1558 to 1603).
The thought patterns of Elizabethans are similar to modern ideas, but dissimilar in enough ways that we need to study their beliefs about life…

9. Elizabethan Chain of Being
God
Angels
Humankind
Soul
Understanding
Reason
Sensory
Passion
Lust
Animals
Plants
Stones
The “Free Will line”
(This is our ability to make choices.)
The “chain of life” stands as one of the most important and long-lasting ideas in the history of humankind. It can still be seen today.
This is the “key” to understanding Shakespeare!
Draw the chain of being!

10. The “ECB” – body talk The human form fits into the ECB: Compliment:
God
Angels
Humankind
Soul
Understanding
Reason
Sensory
Passion
Lust
Animals
Plants
Stones
The “Will line”
The human form fits into the ECB:
Compliment:
Wisdom comes from brain, not from passion or the lower part of your body.
Insult:
“By my heal I care not!”

11. Shakespeare’s tragedies as a form:
Tragedy: a play in which there is an ethical violation (“moral law”)
Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Hamlet
Character violates the law and becomes isolated from his/her society
This disrupts the community’s order (ECB!)
Write down the term tragedy!

12. Understanding Shakespeare’s plays
Soliloquy: “to speak alone”
The audience can see into a character’s mind
Often used in times of great stress
Aside: short, quick comment to one’s self
Comic relief: characters low on the ECB are used to make audience laugh after stressful scenes
Write down Soliloquy and Aside!

13. Understanding Shakespeare’s plays
Prologue: spoken piece before the play
Actor who speaks is called the chorus
Usually asks audience to forgive or accept the playwright’s “poor efforts.”
Summarizes entire play!
Epilogue: spoken piece after the play
Write down prologue and epilogue

14. Understanding Shakespeare’s plays

15. Works Cited
Thrasher, Thomas. The Importance of William Shakespeare. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1999