William Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare

• Romeo and Juliet

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Biography

• Born- 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, England
• Father- merchant
• Mother- farmers daughter
• Studied- Latin/literature

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Biography continued

• Moved to London- 1586
• Acted
• Wrote plays- 37
• Comedies- A Midsummer Nights Dream, Much Ado
  About Nothing
• Tragedies- Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello,
  King Lear, Macbeth
• Romances-
• Historical dramas- Henry VI, Richard III, Julius
  Caesar
• Wrote poems- 154 (sonnets)

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Biography

• Married
• Anne Hathaway- older by 8 years
• Three children
• Susanna
• Hamlet and Judeth- twins
• Retired in 1611
• Sold interests in theater- wealthy
• Died in 1616

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The Globe Theater- 319

• Created by Shakespeare
• The Kings Men
• Lord Chamberlains Company
• London
• Open to sky
• Flag
• Levels/pay/rank
• Standing/sitting
• Noisy/food/beverages allowed in pit
• Rowdy patrons

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A performance

• All men
• Limited set/scenery
• Few scene changes
• Many props
• Sound effects
• Elaborate costumes
• Rank
• Profession
• Affiliation
• Music by orchestra in pit

• During daylight hours
• Limited length
• Close proximity

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Romeo and Juliet

• Inspired by other literature
• 5th Century- Greek- Ephesiaca
• Sleeping potion to avoid marriage
• 16th Century- Italy- novel (Gianozza and
  Mariotto)
• Secret marriage
• Killing
• Banishment
• Sleeping potion
• Capture and death

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Continued

• 16th Century- Italy- novel
• Setting- Verona
• Families- Capelli and Montecchi
• Lovers- Romeo Guilietta
• French Translation
• 1562- England- Arthur Brooke
• The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet
• 1692- Shakespeares version

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Terminology

• Aside
• Soliloquy
• Iambic Pentameter
• Blank verse
• Act/ Scene
• Prologue
• Drama
• Tragedy
• Foreshadowing
• Protagonist
• Antagonist

• Dialogue
• Symbols
• Light
• Darkness
• Astrology
• Masks
• Poison
• Figurative language
• Similes/Metaphors
• Irony
• Fate

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Shakespeares Popularity

• Common timeless themes
• Healing power of love
• Power of fate
• Power of hatred
• Sins of the father
• Elizabethan World Order
• Common language
• Poetic use
• Popular topics
• Faulty characters
• Good versus evil
• The need/struggle for power or supremeness
• Mishaps of romances