1. An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Julius Caesar
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
An Introduction to the Playwright and his Play, Julius Caesar 1

2. Biographical Information
Born: Stratford-Upon Avon, England April 23,
Died on: April
Parents, John and Mary (Arden)
Married Anne Hathaway, November, 1582
Three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith
Shakespeare’s Birthplace 2

3. The Bard
Playwright, Poet, Actor
Sometime in the 1580's William Shakespeare left his family to pursue a career as a playwright, poet, and actor in London.
His success was immense. Shakespeare is known to have written 154 sonnets and 37 plays.
In fact, so prolific was Shakespeare as a writer of sonnets, that a sonnet form has been named for him. The Shakespearean sonnet is 14 lines long with a rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef,gg. 3

4. Shakespeare’s Theatre
“The Globe Theatre, also known as the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, was not only one of most famous playhouses of all time, but the play house where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays. Built from oak, deal, and stolen playhouse frames, the 3 story, 3000 capacity Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare has become almost as famous as the playwright himself.” ( Absolute Shakespeare) 4

5. The Stage In Shakespeare’s Time
A show lasted about 2 ½ hours, usually in open air theatres during the afternoon.
There were no acts, but frequent intermissions.
There was no scenery, but elaborate props and costumes to give reality.
Devices such as trap doors and scaffolds were used to make gods, witches, etc. disappear. 5

6. The Stage In Shakespeare’s Time (continued)
There were no actresses. All parts were played by men or boys.
There were no programs.
In front of stage was a big open area where the "penny-public" stood to watch as they could not afford seats. 6

7. The Globe Theatre
Flags were used to advertise the type of play currently showing :
Black= tragedy White= comedy
First performance in Julius Caesar by Lord Chamberlain’s Men
Performances were held in the afternoon
All actors were male-- young boys played the female roles
Groundlings- commoners/general public paid 1 c to stand in the Pit
in front of the stage on the ground
Gentry- sat in the galleries on cushions for 2 c
Rich nobles- watched from a chair set on the side of the
stage for 3 c 7

8. Devices used in Shakespeare's Work
1. Metaphorical language– a comparison of unlike things
Deepens meaning, and expresses feelings and emotions in a way that ordinary language often cannot
Example:
Cassius says that the shadow of the birds prey is a canopy, suggesting how dark and dense the shadow is. 8

9. 2A. Soliloquies A type of Dramatic Speech
Usually a longer speech given by characters when alone on stage– e.g. a person talking to himself out loud.
Allows audience to see inner thoughts and feelings of characters
Addressed to audience - not other charactesr 9

10. 2B. Monologues
A lengthy, uninterrupted speech addressed to other characters (rather than the audience)
It may or may not reveal what the speaker really thinks or feels
A long speech from one character to other characters 10

11. 3. Asides
Character says something to the audience, but other characters on stage cannot hear it
Audience gains information, but other characters do not
Character who says the aside is often speaking to him or herself 11

12. 4. Sonnets
A very rigid poetic style of writing. Fourteen lines consisting of three sets of four line quatrains and a two line rhyming couplet at the end. Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, e.g. 12

13. 5. Puns
Use of puns– humourous plays on words indicating different meanings.
i.e. the Cobbler says, "A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed a mender of bad soles.” A cobbler is a mender of shoes or a bungler. 13

14. Dramatic and Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony: a device whereby an audience’s understanding of a character;s words or actions is different from the characters understanding. The audience knows info the character does not, and thus gives the audience a superior understanding
Verbal Irony: when one character intentionally says something with a meaning that another character is unaware of 14

15. Style of Writing: Blank Verse vs. Prose
Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter (10 syllable lines with unstressed, then stressed syllables)
Used in a wide range of situations because it comes close to the natural speaking rhythm of the English
Conversations
Passionate, lofty or momentous occasions
May suggest a refinement of character
Many famous speeches are written in blank verse
Often a speech written in blank verse will end with a single rhyming couple called a “capping couplet” 15

16. Prose
Prose: ordinary speech with no regular pattern of accentual rhythm
Used:
A. Whenever verse would seem bizzare
B. Serious letters, speeches, proclamations
C. Speeches of characters pretending to be mad v
D. Cynical commentary
E. When the rational is contrasted with the emotional (will see this with Brutas vs. Antony in Caesar) 16

17. TRAGIC HERO
This play involves what is referred to as a “tragic hero.” At the conclusion of this play, we will debate who we think is the tragic hero of the play.... Caesar? Brutas?
What is a “tragic hero?”
-->A person with mostly good qualities, whose tragic character flaw leads to his/her desmise 17

18. Citing Plays To cite a play: (Act One, Scene Two, lines 57-58)
(I.ii, 57-58)
YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS! 18

19. And Now. Background Information for “Julius Caesar”
And Now.. Background Information for “Julius Caesar”... see next Powerpoint 19