RENAISSANCE REVISION – RENAISSANCE REVISION – FAMOUS PEOPLEFAMOUS PEOPLE

RENAISSANCE ARTIST FROM RENAISSANCE ARTIST FROM ITALYITALY

RENAISSANCE WRITERRENAISSANCE WRITER

One of the most famous writers in One of the most famous writers in the worldthe world

Epitome of the Renaissance man Epitome of the Renaissance man Writes about ordinary humans and Writes about ordinary humans and

great historical figuresgreat historical figures Wrote in the vernacularWrote in the vernacular

Born in Stratford on Avon in 1564Born in Stratford on Avon in 1564 Married Anne Hathaway when he was Married Anne Hathaway when he was

1818 Moved to London to become an actorMoved to London to become an actor Started writing playsStarted writing plays

Joined a theater group called the King’s menJoined a theater group called the King’s men Become their leading playwrightBecome their leading playwright Wrote in the vernacular - v renaissance thingWrote in the vernacular - v renaissance thing Before the Renaissance, all writers had to Before the Renaissance, all writers had to

write in Latinwrite in Latin Shakespeare made people proud of their own Shakespeare made people proud of their own

languagelanguage So famous that his men performed his plays in So famous that his men performed his plays in

front of Queen Elizabethfront of Queen Elizabeth

TYPICAL RENAISSANCE MANTYPICAL RENAISSANCE MAN

Like many people in the Like many people in the Renaissance,...Renaissance,...

He was Influenced by the ideas of the He was Influenced by the ideas of the past, including ancient timespast, including ancient times

Like great Renaissance people he was Like great Renaissance people he was influenced by the Enlightenmentinfluenced by the Enlightenment

Believed in questioning old ideas Believed in questioning old ideas Introduced almost 5,000 new words Introduced almost 5,000 new words

into the English languageinto the English language

Wrote three main types of plays - tragedies, Wrote three main types of plays - tragedies, comedies and historiescomedies and histories

Famous tragedies are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Famous tragedies are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and MacBethMacBeth

Comedies are plays with a happy ending and are Comedies are plays with a happy ending and are about loveabout love

Famous ones by Shakespeare = Merchant of Venice Famous ones by Shakespeare = Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dreamand A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Historical plays are about important people from Historical plays are about important people from the pastthe past

Famous ones by Shakespeare = Julius Caesar, Famous ones by Shakespeare = Julius Caesar, Henry VHenry V

TRUE RENAISSANCE MANTRUE RENAISSANCE MAN

His plays are famous because they contain all the His plays are famous because they contain all the diff aspects of humanitydiff aspects of humanity

He could mix serious drama with side-splitting He could mix serious drama with side-splitting comedycomedy

He could write in many different stylesHe could write in many different styles Some of characters speak in the coarse language Some of characters speak in the coarse language

of peasantsof peasants Some of his others, speak in an elegant, lofty Some of his others, speak in an elegant, lofty

courtly language courtly language His plays deal with important themes such as the His plays deal with important themes such as the

meaning of life, and lovemeaning of life, and love

TRUE GENIUSTRUE GENIUS

Like Da Vinci, he was a polymathLike Da Vinci, he was a polymath Also wrote sonnetsAlso wrote sonnets Sonnet = 14-line love poemSonnet = 14-line love poem Considered the most beautiful Considered the most beautiful

sonnets in englishsonnets in english many addressed to a ‘dark lady’ many addressed to a ‘dark lady’

LATER LIFELATER LIFE

Returned to Stratford to live with his Returned to Stratford to live with his wifewife

Died in 1613 at the age of 52Died in 1613 at the age of 52 Lives on through his 38 plays and his Lives on through his 38 plays and his

sonnetssonnets Still Influences people todayStill Influences people today