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Elements of a Shakespearean Tragic Hero Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragic Hero The hero is a person of high rank The hero is an extraordinary and admirable man The hero has a basic character flaw (tragic flaw) which leads to his downfall (usually death) Hubris- excessive pride that results in the hero’s downfall. There is a dual conflict – internal and external The hero recognizes and regrets his flaw before he dies Good always triumphs in the end Structure of a Shakespearean Tragedy The Five Act Play All Elizabethan plays, including Shakespeare’s plays, consist of five acts. These plays follow a similar structure. Starting point or Exposition Describes the mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the play Also describes the setting and the main characters (Act I) An Initial Exciting Force The complication This is what “gets things going” by beginning the main conflict of the play (Act I) Rising Action Series of events leading up to the climax of the play Provides a progressive interest for the audience (Acts II & III) Climax The turning point of the play From this point on, the Shakespearean hero moves to his inevitable end (Act III) Falling Action Events occurring from the time of the climax up to the hero’s death (Acts III, IV, & V) The Catastrophe The necessary consequences of the hero’s previous actions which must be the hero’s death (Act V) William Shakespeare and Julius Caesar Shakespeare Quick Facts • Nicknamed “The Bard” • Born in spring of 1564 • His wife was Anne Hathaway • Together, they had three children • Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets The Globe Theater The Globe Theater Built in 1594. Consisted of a center stage surrounded by levels of seating and a standingroom-only opened “pit” right in front. The “groundlings” stood on the ground. These were usually poorer people. The actual covered seats were reserved for upper and middle class patrons. There was no lighting, so all plays were performed at 2 P.M. and lasted about two hours. The Globe Theater Even though the theatre was wildly popular, it was forced to compete for its audience because of other popular events, like cock-fighting and bear baiting. In 1591, Elizabeth I banned the theatres from performing on Thursdays so they would not interfere with bear baiting. More about The Globe The “pit” was also referred to as hell. The covered seat section was also known as heaven. From the “pit” the groundlings threw vegetables and shouted remarks at the actors. There was always a designated section set aside of the monarch and his entourage to sit. The Globe Theater You could get a seat with the “groundlings” for about a penny. For another penny, you could get a bench seat in the lower galleries. For a penny or so more, you could get a cushioned seat. The most expensive seats would have been in the ‘Lord’s Rooms’. Admission to the indoor theatres started at 6 pence (about fifty cents). Even More about The Globe Although the plays lacked scenes, the costumes and props made up for the difference. The stage at The Globe also had trap doors for ghosts or witches to come through for added effect. At that time, only men were allowed to act, so even the roles of women were played by men. The Flags at the Globe Theatre White- Comedy Black- Tragedy Red- History Still Even More about The Globe The Globe was burned down when the roof caught on fire in 1613. The Globe was then rebuilt and opened in 1997 and plays are even to this day being performed there. It was rebuilt the same year only to be torn down again in 1644 by the Puritan Government who closed all of the theaters. The Globe can hold 2,000 to 3,000 spectators. Tragedy (Such as Macebth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar) A work of literature, often a play, about some sort of lifealtering catastrophic event or knowledge that permanently changes the main character. Main character is often someone of power like a king. The main character is called the tragic hero. A tragic hero possesses certain characteristics that often causes him fall. Hubris - or excessive pride Go through an emotional, spiritual, cathartic cleansing. History Such as Henry VIII, Julius Caesar, and Richard III About an actual event or person in history. Often the people in history were royalty. Sometimes the plays were making fun of that person, sometimes, showing admiration. Often Shakespeare chose an interesting character or event to write about to make that person or event more identifiable to the average person. Comedy Such as Much Ado About Nothing, All’s Well That Ends Well, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream Comedies were usually the favorites of the groundlings because they often consisted of someone making a fool of himself. Were lighthearted, consisted of a magical theme of element, and no one usually dies. Consisted of a moral lesson and usually ended with a “life-goes-on” attitude. What has Shakespeare given to literature? He contributed 3,000 words to the Oxford English Dictionary. In his works, there are 7,000 words that he only used once. He did not create the 5-act play, but he perfected it. His great attention to detail of character and scene are still trying to be emulated or copied today. Julius Caesar and Julius Caesar 102/100 BCE: Gaius Julius Caesar was born of Aurelia and Gaius Julius Caesar, a praetor (commander of an army or government official). His family had noble, patrician roots, although they were neither rich nor influential in this period. As a young man, he married Cornelia, the daughter of a noble. Angered Sulla, dictator of Rome Was given a choice- divorce or lose everything. Start of military career. After Sulla died, he returned to Rome Captured by pirates Julius Caesar, upon his return to Rome, began working as a government official under Pompey (68 or 69 BC) His first wife, Cornelia passed away (69 BC) Two years later he married Pompeia He divorced Pompeia in 62 BCbecause of her involvement in a scandal with another man, although the man had been acquitted in the law courts Caesar is reported to have said, “The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion,” suggesting that he was so exceptional that anyone associated with him had to be free of any hint of scandal He continued his close alliance with Pompey, which enabled him to get elected as consul, a powerful government position, in 59 BC. Married his third wife, Calpurnia Between 58 and 50 BC, Caesar conquered the rest of Gaul, up to the river Rhine. As he expanded his reach, he also showed his ruthlessness with his enemies. Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey formed a triumvirate (60 BC) Crassus and Pompey did not get along well Pompey was nervous about Caesar Caesar eventually went to civil war with Pompey (49 BC). Pompey is killed in Egypt by Ptolomy XIII Brutus spared Caesar and Cleopatra Caesarion Upon his return to Rome, Caesar was made dictator for life and declared as Father of his Country (44 BC). He only served one year, but made many changes. Relieved debt Cancelled Stopped Free interest hoarding of coin rent Appointed allies to the senate Sought to make Rome a cultural haven February, 44 B.C. Dictator Perpetuus Wore purple robe for the first time to the Festival of Lupercal Offered a crown by Antony, but refused. Possible reasons include that he knew the crowd did not want him to take it, or because he was trying to end speculation that he wanted to become king. Senators were divided Caesar’s popularity Fear of another dictator Julius Caesar, the play Key Facts full title · The Tragedy of Julius Caesar author · William Shakespeare type of work · Play genre · Tragic drama, historical drama language · English time and place written · 1599, in London date of first publication · Published in the First Folio of 1623, probably from the theater company’s official promptbook rather than from Shakespeare’s manuscript publisher · Edward Blount and William Jaggard headed the group of five men who undertook the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio