Introduction to Introduction to ShakespeareShakespeare
The RenaissanceThe Renaissance
1500-16501500-1650 ““Rebirth” of arts, Rebirth” of arts,
culture, science culture, science Discovery of “New Discovery of “New
World”World” Copernicus: Sun-Copernicus: Sun-
centered Universe centered Universe (1543)(1543)
King Henry VIII = King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal)renaissance man (ideal)
Reformation of Catholic Reformation of Catholic ChurchChurch
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandQueen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I
reigned from 1558-reigned from 1558-1603 (45 years). 1603 (45 years). Period called Period called ElizabethanElizabethan
Govern. and Govern. and religion affected religion affected theater productionstheater productions
William William Shakespeare was Shakespeare was born in 1564born in 1564
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England
People were People were smaller smaller
Average man Average man 5’6”5’6”
Average woman Average woman 4’8”4’8”
Elizabethan Elizabethan (Shakespeare’s) England(Shakespeare’s) England
Life was not Life was not as as glamorous glamorous
No indoor No indoor plumbing.plumbing.
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home
Roofs were straw Roofs were straw “thatch.”“thatch.”
Pet dogs and Pet dogs and cats, mice, rats, cats, mice, rats, and bugs lived in and bugs lived in the roof.the roof.
If it rained the If it rained the roof got slippery roof got slippery and it rained and it rained “cats and dogs.” “cats and dogs.”
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home
Folks slept in beds Folks slept in beds cross-wisecross-wise
Anne Hathaway, Anne Hathaway, had a queen-sized had a queen-sized bed she shared bed she shared with two sisters with two sisters and six servant and six servant girls beforegirls before she she married Will married Will Shakespeare.Shakespeare.
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home
The floor of The floor of most thatched most thatched houses was houses was dirt. Only the dirt. Only the wealthy could wealthy could afford slate afford slate flooring. flooring.
Everybody else Everybody else was “dirt poor.”was “dirt poor.”
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home
Bread was Bread was divided divided according to according to status. Workers status. Workers got the burnt got the burnt bottom, family bottom, family got the middle, got the middle, and guests got and guests got the “upper the “upper crust.”crust.”
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene
People usually People usually bathed once-a-bathed once-a-year, in May. year, in May.
Men first, then Men first, then women, then women, then the kids – in the the kids – in the same water. same water.
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene
As the water got As the water got dirtier, and dirtier, dirtier, and dirtier, they had to be they had to be careful not to “ careful not to “ throw out the throw out the baby with the baby with the bathwater.”bathwater.”
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene
Most weddings Most weddings were in June, were in June, when couple and when couple and the guests were the guests were still relatively still relatively body odor-free.body odor-free.
It was believed It was believed baths caused baths caused illness.illness.
Personal hygiene/healthPersonal hygiene/health
Bathing considered dangerousBathing considered dangerousBody odor strongBody odor strongChildhood diseasesChildhood diseasesChildren often died before 5 yearsChildren often died before 5 yearsSmall PoxSmall PoxBubonic PlagueBubonic Plague
Elizabethan EntertainmentElizabethan EntertainmentFashionFashion
Fashion was a major Fashion was a major pastime. Most pastime. Most Elizabethans wore Elizabethans wore their fortunes on their fortunes on their backs. They’d their backs. They’d rather be well-rather be well-dressed and dressed and penniless than rich penniless than rich and poorly dressed.and poorly dressed.
Most folks dressed Most folks dressed in the clothing of in the clothing of the social class the social class above them.above them.
ClothesClothes
One set used all One set used all year long, rarely year long, rarely washedwashed
Underclothing slept Underclothing slept in, infrequently in, infrequently changedchanged
Clothes handed Clothes handed down from rich to down from rich to poorpoor
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William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616 In Stratford upon AvonIn Stratford upon AvonWrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnetsActor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright
Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:
Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending
Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings
Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history
Types of PlaysTypes of Plays
• The Globe Theatre:The Globe Theatre:
• Open ceilingOpen ceiling
• Three stories highThree stories high
• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting• Plays were shown Plays were shown
during daylight hours during daylight hours onlyonly
The TheatreThe Theatre
The GlobeThe Globe
Built in 1599Built in 1599Across the Thames- “Wrong side of Across the Thames- “Wrong side of
town”town”King’s Players - Shakespeare’s King’s Players - Shakespeare’s
companycompanyPenny admissionPenny admission It was closed during The PlagueIt was closed during The Plague
SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people
got to sit on got to sit on benchesbenches
The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) had “groundlings”) had to stand and watch to stand and watch from the courtyardfrom the courtyard
There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday
Threw rotten Threw rotten vegetables at bad vegetables at bad performancesperformances
ActorsActors
Only men and boysOnly men and boys Young boys whose Young boys whose
voices had not voices had not changed played changed played the women’s rolesthe women’s roles
It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage
Actors were not Actors were not highly regardedhighly regarded
Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet
Considered a Considered a tragedytragedy
Tells the story of two Tells the story of two teenagers who risk teenagers who risk everything for loveeverything for love
Shakespeare is Shakespeare is exploring which is exploring which is stronger: love or stronger: love or hatehate
““Romeo and Juliet”Romeo and Juliet”
Written in 1595Written in 1595 Set in Verona, ItalySet in Verona, Italy Themes: parental Themes: parental
control/rebellious control/rebellious teens; fate/freewill; teens; fate/freewill; impulsive impulsive behavior/self-behavior/self-control/what is control/what is love?love?
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The funeralThe funeral
Romeo and Juliet is Romeo and Juliet is one of one of Shakespeare's Shakespeare's earliest tragedies earliest tragedies and was probably and was probably written in 1594 or written in 1594 or 1595. It was 'often 1595. It was 'often played publicly played publicly before it was before it was printed in 1597. printed in 1597.
RomeoRomeo
- Is a MontagueIs a Montague- 16 years old16 years old- Cute, smart, Cute, smart,
sensitivesensitive- Impulsive and Impulsive and
immatureimmature- He doesn’t care He doesn’t care
about the feudabout the feud- Romantic heartRomantic heart
Lady MontagueLady Montague
Romeo’s MomRomeo’s Mom Dies of grief after Dies of grief after
Romeo’s deathRomeo’s death
Lord MontagueLord Montague
Romeo’s dadRomeo’s dad Worries about Worries about
Romeo’s sadnessRomeo’s sadness Patriarch (head Patriarch (head
man) of the man) of the MontaguesMontagues
BalthasarBalthasar
Romeo’s servantRomeo’s servant He goes to tell He goes to tell
Romeo that Juliet Romeo that Juliet is dead (he is dead (he doesn’t know that doesn’t know that it is a fake death)it is a fake death)
AbrahamAbraham
Montague’s Montague’s servantservant
Fights Sampson Fights Sampson and Gregory in and Gregory in the beginningthe beginning
BenvolioBenvolio
Romeo’s cousin & Romeo’s cousin & friendfriend
Tries to break-up Tries to break-up fights. Keep the fights. Keep the peace.peace.
Counsels Romeo about Counsels Romeo about love and make him feel love and make him feel better.better.
MercutioMercutio
Related to the princeRelated to the prince Good friends W/ RomeoGood friends W/ Romeo Bad temperBad temper Doesn’t like emotional Doesn’t like emotional
peoplepeople Believes love is about the Believes love is about the
physical contact and physical contact and nothing else.nothing else.
JulietJuliet
-is a capulet, 13 yrs old-is a capulet, 13 yrs old Begins as a naïve child, Begins as a naïve child, She doesn’t have as She doesn’t have as
much freedom as much freedom as Romeo b/c she is a girlRomeo b/c she is a girl
SO she sneaks around SO she sneaks around to see Romeoto see Romeo
She totally trusts She totally trusts RomeoRomeo
Juliet is very close with Juliet is very close with the nurse.the nurse.
Lord CapuletLord Capulet
Juliet’s dadJuliet’s dad He truly loves Juliet, He truly loves Juliet,
but does not know her but does not know her feelings and dreamsfeelings and dreams
Bad temper when Bad temper when things don’t go his things don’t go his wayway
He commands respect He commands respect and proprietyand propriety
Patriarch of the Patriarch of the CapuletsCapulets
Lady CapuletLady Capulet
Juliet’s momJuliet’s mom Ineffectual mother- Ineffectual mother-
relies on the nurse relies on the nurse to “mother” Julietto “mother” Juliet
She married She married young, had Juliet young, had Juliet around age 14, around age 14, and is eager for and is eager for her to marry Parisher to marry Paris
NurseNurse
Has cared for Juliet Has cared for Juliet since she was bornsince she was born
Vulgar, long-Vulgar, long-winded, loyal and winded, loyal and a confidante to a confidante to JulietJuliet
At end though, At end though, they have a falling-they have a falling-out over Romeoout over Romeo
Gregory & SampsonGregory & Sampson
Servants to the Servants to the CapuletsCapulets
Start a fight w/ Start a fight w/ Montagues at the Montagues at the beginning of the beginning of the playplay
TybaltTybalt
Juliet’s cousinJuliet’s cousin Vain, fashionable, Vain, fashionable,
very into proper very into proper etiquette, pridefuletiquette, prideful
He is well-trained He is well-trained in sword fighting in sword fighting and someone to and someone to fearfear
He loathes He loathes MontaguesMontagues
Prince EscalusPrince Escalus
Prince of VeronaPrince of Verona He is concerned He is concerned
with maintaining with maintaining public peace public peace
Related to Related to Mercutio and ParisMercutio and Paris
ParisParis
Related to the Related to the princeprince
Preferred by the Preferred by the Capulets to marry Capulets to marry JulietJuliet
He treats Juliet He treats Juliet inappropriately inappropriately after Capulet says after Capulet says he can marry her.he can marry her.
RosalineRosaline
The woman who The woman who Romeo is Romeo is obsessed with at obsessed with at the beginning of the beginning of the play.the play.
The ApothecaryThe Apothecary
Like a pharmacistLike a pharmacist He sells the He sells the
poison to Romeo.poison to Romeo. Values money Values money
more than moralsmore than morals
Friar LawrenceFriar Lawrence
Friend to Romeo and Friend to Romeo and JulietJuliet
Kind, civic-mindedKind, civic-minded Secretly marries R & J Secretly marries R & J
in hopes that their in hopes that their marriage will end the marriage will end the feud.feud.
He is a Catholic holy He is a Catholic holy man and also familiar man and also familiar with potions and herbs.with potions and herbs.
Friar JohnFriar John
A Catholic holy man A Catholic holy man asked to tell Romeo asked to tell Romeo about Juliet's false about Juliet's false death. death.
He is held up in a He is held up in a quarantined house quarantined house and so never gets and so never gets the message to the message to Romeo.Romeo.
Things to think about…Things to think about…
What would you do if your What would you do if your parents did not approve of parents did not approve of someone you were dating?someone you were dating?
How important is the opinion How important is the opinion of your family in decisions of your family in decisions that you make?that you make?
Does violence solve Does violence solve problems?problems?
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