This lesson contains 13 slides, with text slides and 2 videos.
Lesson duration is: 30 min
Items in this lesson
Who was William Shakespeare?
Slide 1 - Slide
William Shakespeare
- Born 1564
- Married to Anne Hathaway (not the actress)
- Acting group: The Lord Chamberlain's Men
- 1599: performing at Globe Theatre
- Performed at Queen Elizabeth I's court
Slide 2 - Slide
His plays
- Most written beginning 17th century
- Lots of historical figures in his plays - English Renaissance: looking back to ancient Rome/Greece
- First to feature many characters & storylines
- Wide range of vocabulary; innovative language
Slide 3 - Slide
Slide 4 - Video
English Renaissance Theatre
- Also known as: Elizabethan Theatre
- Blossomed between 1562-1642
- Popular under Elizabeth I's rule
Slide 5 - Slide
Theatres
- Large theatre: up to 3000 people
- Wooden structures
- Open stage, no roof
- Raised stage, pit for watching
- People cheering, booing, throwing
- Dialogue important & costumes
- Little scenery or objects
- Daytime performances: sunlight
Slide 6 - Slide
Shakespearean Tragedies
1. Tragic flaw
2. Supernatural elements
3. Revenge
4. An internal struggle
5. External pressure
6. Story ends with (mass) death
Slide 7 - Slide
Shakespearean Comedies
1. A struggle of young lovers overcoming difficulty
2. A separation and reunification
3. Mistaken identities
4. Frequent use of puns and wordplay
5. A clever servant or friend
6. Story ends with marriage(s)
Slide 8 - Slide
Acting Groups
- Shakespeare: "Lord Chamberlain's Men"
- Performed 6 or more times a week
- Travelled around
- Created their own costumes etc.
- Very skilled: singing, dancing, acrobatics, play instruments,
- Women not allowed; women's characters were played by men
Slide 9 - Slide
Language
Major role in the transformation of English. Many words and phrases were first written down in his work.
Early modern English was only about 100 years old when Shakespeare was writing; not many words were written down.
Contributed over 3000 words, approximately 1700 were used for the first time.
Slide 10 - Slide
Slide 11 - Video
The Merchant of Venice
Next class, you'll start watching the film adaptation of the Merchant of Venice, one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. It is not an easy play to follow, which is why we want you to catch up on some background information before watching the film. Click on the link in the next slide and read the blog (from ''You know..." until ''...masterful play"). Good luck!
Lesson duration is: 30 min
