Background and Intro to Hamlet

Picture from http://www.bardweb.net

Overview

• Shakespeare’s London• Iambic What? or Shakespeare’s

Style• Meet Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Shakespeare’s London

• Elizabethan era (1558 - 1603)– Reign of Queen Elizabeth

• Globe Theatre (1598)– Located in London– Performance place of Lord Chamberlain’s Men– Shakespeare was actor AND playwright– Men only - not an honorable profession– Re-built after 1613 fire. Later re-opened 1996.

The Globe

Picture from http://www.bardweb.net/

Personal Life

• Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April, 1564• Parents John and Mary Arden Shakespeare

– John was a leather merchant, Mary and heiress

• Married Anne Hathaway November 18, 1582– 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith (twins)– Hamnet died at age 11

• 1588 - moved to London to pursue theatre HOME

Picture from http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Travel/Tours/England/Central.htm

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Iambic What? (style)

• An IAMB is a group of 2 syllables– The first syllable is unstressed– The second is stressed

• Ex: to-DAY

• Pentameter means every 2 lines has 10 meters

Ex: 'Tis NOW the VE ry WITCH ing TIME of NIGHT, when CHURCH yards YAWN and HELL it SELF breathes OUT.

Shakespearean Sonnet

• 14 Lines in Iambic Pentameter– 3 quartos (4 lines)– 1 couplet (2 lines)

• Rhyme scheme– ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

• Audio Examples - Shakespearean Sonnets

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Meet Hamlet

• Hamlet - Prince of Denmark• Ghost of Hamlet - Ghost of the former King• King Claudius - King’s brother• Queen Gertrude - widow of King, marries

Claudius• Polonius - The King’s advisor• Ophelia - Polonius’ daughter• Laertes - Polonius’ son• Horatio - Hamlet’s companion

Picture from http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/hamlet.html Laurence Olivier as Hamlet

“There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark…”• Plot

– After the ghost of King Hamlet claims he was murdered, Hamlet must wrestle with the idea of avenging his father’s death.

• Major Themes– Being vs. seeming– Grief and guilt– Revenge– Death– Morality– Freudian psychology

The Many Faces of Hamlet

Lawrence Olivier - 1948

Richard Burton - 1964

Nicol Williamson - 1969

Mel Gibson - 1990 Kenneth Branagh - 1996

Pictures from http://www.imdb/com and http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/hamlet.html

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