Mr. Pettine / Ms. Owens English 9 7 April 2015
Shakespeare Shakespeare was born the third of eight children in 1564 in Stratford, England. His father was a shopkeeper. William attended grammar school where he studied grammar, Latin literature, and rhetoric. At eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway who was eight years older than himself.
Shakespeare By 1592 (28 years old), he was already an actor and playwright. 1594 was a charter member of the theatrical company called the Lord Chamberlain s Men Romeo and Juliet one of the earliest plays Shakespeare wrote, probably between 1594 and 1596
Shakespeare He returned to Stratford, his hometown, in 1612. He wrote thirty seven plays. Some of the most famous plays ever written are his: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Henry V, Richard III, Midsummer s Night Dream, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, etc. Shakespeare died in 1616 at age of 52.
The Wooden O Theaters were not common structures in Medieval and Renaissance England. London did not have a permanent theater until 1576. In 1599, the theater Shakespeare used was torn down and the timber used for Shakespeare s new structure. It was called the Globe. Shakespeare called his theater a wooden O. It was a large, round building.
The Wooden O Plays were performed with an all-male cast. The theater had a reputation for immorality and female actors were not allowed. Plays were performed in the afternoon. The groundlings (poorer members of the audience who stood during the play) stood around the stage. Richer members of the audience were able to purchase seats in opera-like balconies.
What did a play performance look like in Shakespeare s day? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoqoztk 5Gj0 Olivier s Henry V
What is Drama? Story that is written to be acted for an audience. The action of a drama is usually driven by a character who wants something and takes steps to get it.
Three Kinds of Drama Comedy In general, a story that ends happily. In Shakespeare s day, this does not necessarily mean funny. The hero or heroine of a comedy often has to overcome a series of obstacles to get what he or she wants. Despite hardships, there is usually a sense that the hero or heroine will succeed. Shakespearean comedies often end with a wedding, a feast, or reunion. They often center around a successful romance. Some of Shakespeare s most famous comedies are Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and Midsummer s Night Dream.
History A History play centers on a historical event or person. The dramatist does not stick strictly to historical fact, but weaves fact and imagination to tell a story. We still have Histories think about movies based on historical fact. Did everything happen exactly like it is depicted? Shakespeare s Histories focused on past kings of England. Some of his most famous histories are Richard II, Henry IV (Pt. 1 and 2), Henry V, and Richard III
Tragedy A play that depicts serious and important events in which the main character comes to an unhappy end. In a tragedy, the main character is usually dignified and courageous. His or her downfall may be caused by a character flaw.
Tragedy Tragic Flaw a flaw in a character s personality which leads to his or her tragic end. In Classical and Shakespearean Tragedy, the tragic flaw is often pride (hubris) or rash behavior. Shakespeare s tragedies are often divided between major and minor. The major tragedies are often named as Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Julius Caesar.
Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter Ex: Romeo and Juliet is written in blank verse Iambic Pentameter: unstressed and stressed syllables (5 pairs=of syllables) i AM a PIRate WITH a WOODen LEG.
Archaic words are old words that are no longer used Anon- soon; right away; coming Humor- mood; moisture Jack- common fellow; ordinary guy Maid- unmarried girl Soft- quiet; hush; slow up Withal- with that; with Wot- know
Dramas follow a basic plot structure Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Denouement (Resolution) A drama is divided into acts and scenes Act- the larger division of a play Scene- the smaller division of a play Ex: Act I, Scene 3
Prologue: the introduction part of a play Exposition; introducing the play to the audience Comic Relief: a funny comment given to break up a serious moment or tension Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows more than the characters know
Stage directions are the directions for how a character moves around on stage or says their lines Ex: [As they move into the living room, she stops him above the sofa.] Upstage Stage Right Stage Left Down stage
To transfer the setting of a play from written to physical stage, theater artists use Set: arrangement of scenery Lighting lights on stage Costumes- clothing worn by the characters Props- moveable items used by the actors
The conversation among characters in a play is called dialogue. Princess: Kiss you? I m not so sure about that. You re a frog! Frog: Believe me, you ll be happy you did! Princess: Well, if you say so.
A monologue is a long speech by one character to another character on stage. Unlike a dialogue, a monologue contains no back-and-forth discussion among the characters.
Princess: Royal subjects, I stand here before you today to announce that not only have I found my Prince Charming; I have also learned an important lesson about looking past a person s or amphibian s outward appearance. I hope that I can be a shining example of how to conduct yourselves....
A soliloquy is a speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage, speaking to himself or herself or to the audience. A soliloquy allows the playwright to share a character s private thoughts without the use of a narrator.
Prince: Phase one of my plan is now complete: I ve turned from a frog to a human and become engaged to the princess. It won t be long now before I can begin phase two: total frog domination of the kingdom. This royal palace will be all flies and lily pads when I get through with it.
An aside is a character s comment intended to be heard only by the audience not by all of the characters onstage. An actor carefully delivers the lines of an aside, helping the audience understand that other characters can t hear.
Princess: Oh, darling, I just can t wait for our wedding. It s going to be the most beautiful day ever. Prince: Yes, it certainly will be. [Aside] For her, maybe.
A dimly lit living room. DOUG stares out the window glumly. Uncle Dan: [putting his arm around Doug] Hey, buddy, it s getting close to dinner time. Should we order a pizza? Doug: [sighing and wiping away a tear] Pizza sounds okay, I guess. Uncle Dan: [trying to sound cheerful] Yeah, pizza would be great wouldn t it? You always did love pizza.
A humorous play on two or more meanings of the same word or on two different words with the same sound I used to be a train driver but I got sidetracked. My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate. When I was in the supermarket I saw a man and a woman wrapped up in a barcode. I asked, "Are you two an item?"
Chorus is a single character who provides info about the play Usually says the Prologue
Most tragedies focus on a tragic hero, a noble character with a lot to lose, who has a personal weakness that leads to his or her downfall. A tragic flaw is a character weakness that brings about the tragic hero s unhappy ending. Who is the tragic hero of Romeo and Juliet? ROMEO What is Romeo s Tragic Flaw?
A foil is a character who is used to contrast another character. In a tragedy, a foil may draw attention to the hero s tragic flaw. Ann: Wow, what a beautiful sunny day! Zoe: Great, now I have to worry about getting a sunburn. Ann: Just look at all the lovely flowers blooming, though. Zoe: Yeah, I guess I can count on my allergies acting up today.
Tybalt Violent AS Benvolio Peaceful Romeo Believes in love AS Mercutio Doesn t believe in love Benvoilo is a foil character for Tybalt because he is peaceful while Tybalt is violent Mercutio is a foil character for Romeo because he doesn t believe in love while Romeo does