1. William Shakespeare Widely regarded as the greatest writer in English Literature

2. Shakespeare 1564-1616 April 24th Stratford-on-Avon, England wrote 37 plays about 154 sonnets started out as an actor

3. Stage Celebrity Actor for Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) Also > principal playwright for them 1599> Lord Ch. Co. built Globe Theater where most of Sh. Play’s were performed

4. Shakespeare wrote: Comedies Histories Tragedies

5. Romeo and Juliet Written about 1595 Considered a tragedy West Side Story (Movie) based on R&J

6. The Theater Plays produced for the general public Roofless>open air No artificial lighting Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

7. Spectators Wealthy got benches “Groundlings”>poorer people stood and watched from the courtyard (“pit”) All but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate Much more interaction than today

8. Staging Areas Stage>platform that extended into the pit Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage second-level gallery> upper stage> famous balcony scene in R & J Trap door>ghosts “Heavens”> angelic beings

9. Differences No scenery Settings > references in dialogue Elaborate costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced, colorful>2 hours!

10. Actors Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed play women’s roles Would have been considered indecent for a woman to appear on stage

11. Elizabethan (QE1) Words An,and: If Anon: Soon Aye: Yes But:Except for E’en:Even E’er: Ever

12. QE1 Words (contin.) Haply:Perhaps Happy:Fortunate Hence:Away, from her Hie:Hurry Marry:Indeed

13. QE1 Words (contin.) Whence:Where Wilt:Will, will you Withal:In addition to Would:Wish

14. Round characters Characters who have many personality traits, like real people.

15. Flat Characters One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait –Shakespeare often uses them to provide comic relief even in a tragedy

16. Static Characters Characters within a story who remain the same. They do not change. They do not change their minds, opinions or character.

17. Dynamic Character Characters that change somehow during the course of the plot. They generally change for the better.