An Introduction to William Shakespeare, The Globe, & Julius Caesar

Who is William Shakespeare?

• An English playwright

• “The Bard”

• 34,000,000 Google hits

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Born to John & Mary Ardon Shakespeare in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon

Baptized on April 26th

Believed to go the King’s New School in Stratford.

William Shakespeare(1564-1616)

Married Anne Hathaway.

Daughter: Susanna

Twins: Hamnet and Judith

1585-1592 1593: Robert Greene calls Shakespeare an “upstart crow.”

William Shakespeare(1564-1616)

He returned to Stratford-upon-Avon between 1610-1613 and died on April 23, 1616.

1594: a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men or King’s Men. The Globe was built in 1599 and where Shakespeare performed his plays Julius Caesar debuted at the Globe in 1599.

The English Renaissance

(1500-1660) Exploration of

religion, literature,theater,

art, &

science

The English Renaissance

(1500-1660)

Elizabethan belief in the “Natural Order” and the use of signs.

The Divine Rule of Kings

The Protestant Reformation

& The English

Reformation:literature,

art, science,

& philosophy

The Ideal Elizabethan Man

EducatedConversationalistNobleAdventurer

Queen Elizabeth I: Succession Crisis

Shakespeare could not speak directly to the political affairs of the time, but the facts were . . .

Queen Elizabeth was single.

Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne was difficult. Edward, Lady Jane Gray, Mary, and Elizabeth

The Wars of the Roses: Lancaster and York (the red and the white roses) Elizabeth’s great-grandfather, Henry Tudor, took

the throne.

Where is England Going?

Shakespeare could not speak directly to the political affairs of the time, but the facts were . . .

Queen Elizabeth I: The Succession Crisis

The Wars of the Roses:Lancaster and York (the red and the white roses)Elizabeth’s great-grandfather, Henry Tudor, took the throne.

Queen Elizabeth was single.Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne was difficult.

Edward, Lady Jane Gray, Mary, and Elizabeth

Ruled from November 1558-March 1603

Queen Elizabeth I: Succession Crisis

The Wars of the Roses: Lancaster and York (the red and the white

roses) Elizabeth’s great-grandfather, Henry Tudor,

took the throne.

Queen Elizabeth was single.

Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne was difficult. Edward, Lady Jane Gray, Mary, and Elizabeth

England Emerges as a World Power

England: English army suppressing rebellions in

Ireland England attempts to colonize the New Word

by establishing the colony of Roanoke in 1585 and then again in 1587.

The political uncertainty of the throne’s succession

What is a Roman Dictator?

The office of chief executive was divided between two Consuls, but the government allowed for an individual to have absolute power for a brief period of time.

The senate ordered one Consul to dominate as Dictator for 6 months.

Julius Caesar served 10 one-year terms, and in 44 BCE, Caesar is named dictator perpetuus or perpetual dictator and is assassinated.

Caesar Timeline

The Plot of Julius Caesar

Rome is in a state of political upheaval.

The Soothsayer warns Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.”

Cassius pulls Brutus aside to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.

Brutus is forced to make a decision. Should he betray his friend or risk the freedom every Roman citizens?

The Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle, the tragic hero was an extraordinary man who rises to a high position and then falls from the position, which results in his desolation and disillusionment and / or death.

There are two forces working against the tragic hero. The tragic hero’s flaw or hamartia and fate.

Is it the tragedy of Caesar or Brutus?

What Did You Learn?

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