1. Hamlet: Prince of denmark
A Tragedy

2. William shakespeare Exact date of birth is unknown
During Elizabethan times, however, since the infant mortality rate was so high, babies were baptized within several days of being born
Shakespeare’s estimated date of birth is April 23, 1564 (date of baptism: April 26, 1564)
Born in Stratford-on Avon, England
Died in 1616

3. Family background
His father, John, was a prosperous textile and grain merchant and town official
His mother, Mary, was the daughter of a gentleman farmer
William was their first child (of three) to live past infancy

4. Family
Married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior, in 1582: He was 18 and she was 26!
Anne and William had three children: a daughter and twins Hamnet and Judeth
Hamnet died at age 11

5. Big plans…
He later moved to London to become a playwright and an actor.
In 1594, Shakespeare helped to create the acting company called Lord Chamberlain’s Men
This company later became known as the King’s Men because King James I became patron after Elizabeth I’s death

6. The globe theatre
Built in 1599 and was a group effort involving Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, whom he met and worked with at the The Theatre in London
Shakespeare was a shareholder and part owner
Sadly, the Globe burnt down in 1613

7. The plague
Theatres were closed from in an attempt to stop the spread of disease (bubonic AKA black plague)
The Puritans didn’t like theatres and closed all theatres in 1642

8. accomplishments Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets (published in 1609)
3 types of plays: Histories, Comedies and Tragedies

9. Verse versus prose The plays are written in poetic form: verse
Iambic pentameter
However, most of the time, verse is spoken by characters with elevated status while characters with lower status speak in prose

10. Tragedies
almost everyone dies!!

11. Plot structure of a tragedy
Act I: Exposition, Exciting Force, Rising Action
Act II: Rising Action
Act III: Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action
Act IV: Falling Action
Act V: Falling Action, Catastrophe

12. exposition
The general atmosphere (setting: time and place), main characters, and opening conditions of the play
Exposition: an explanation of present or past events which is necessary to understanding the plot development
Ex: Feud between the Montagues and the Capulets

13. Exciting force AKA Complication
Something happens to get the action of the play moving, usually in the first act
For example: Romeo and Juliet meet at the masquerade ball

14. Rising action
A series of actions/events that continues over the course of more than one act.
This builds the action/suspense leading to the climax.
The hero (protagonist) tries to actively make things work in the way he or she intends
Ex: Romeo professes his love for Juliet beneath her window, and marries her…

15. climax
At the peak of his or her power, the protagonist experiences a significant change that changes the direction of the action
things start to go wrong for the protagonist, continuing in a downwards spiral
Ex: Romeo gets in a fight with Tybalt and kills him. He’s Juliet’s cousin!!

16. Falling action
Shows the ways the main events are going against the main character
The antagonist gains power
Conflict between the protagonist and antagonist becomes the focus
Ex: Romeo is banished from Verona and Juliet is told she must marry Paris… the letter does not find its way to Romeo…

17. Moment of final suspense
Usually takes place in Act V
The protagonist briefly believes that things will go the way the protagonist intended, and that tragedy will be avoided
Ex: Romeo sees that Juliet has not changed (she looks alive) but she doesn’t wake up

18. catastrophe
The complete downfall of the protagonist through death or other devastating circumstance
If protagonist is a villain, then his or her death is viewed as a positive thing
Ex: Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Juliet wakes and sees that Romeo is dead and stabs herself

19. Anticipation activity
Work independently to answer the questions then go through each one with the members of your group

20. Character map
See document

21. Major topics Revenge Loyalty and betrayal Appearance versus reality
Action versus inaction
Family relationships
The supernatural

22. Focus questions Is revenge ever justified?
Is an eye for an eye the right way to get even?