Transcript William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare
Life, Theatre, and Plays
The Playwright- Shakespeare
Born April 23, 1564 in
Stratford-Upon-Avon,
England, a town
about 100 miles from
London
 Comes from family of
some status; has
good education, but
not advanced
 1582: marries Anne
Hathaway
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William Shakespeare
Moves to London
 England more
powerful, London a
port city; result is
wider audience
 1592: writes A
Midsummer Night’s
Dream (comedy)
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William Shakespeare
1592-1595: writes
several comedies
 1595: son dies- writes
Romeo and Juliet
 1595-1609: writes
tragedies
 1599: owns the Globe
Theater, writes The
Tempest (romance)
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William Shakespeare
1609-1610: writes romances
 Writes historical plays along the way as
well as sonnets (poetry)
 Writes a total of thirty-seven plays
 1610: Retires
 1616: Dies in Stratford-Upon-Avon
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The Globe Theatre
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Shakespeare wrote most of his plays for this
theatre
Large, round building, three stories high, with a
balcony
Lower class near stage, upper in middle area,
upper area varied
Few props and scenery- relied on descriptive
language and costumes
Acting not considered respectable for women, so
boys played women’s parts
The Shakespearean Play
Structure of Plays
Prostasis:
Act 1
Introduction
Metastasis:
Acts 2, 3, 4
Complications
Act 3- Climax
Epistasis:
Act 5
Resolution
The Renaissance Person
Heads- Intellect
 Hearts- Emotion
 Bodies- Physical
 Trying to achieve
balance
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