The Wonderful World of Shakespeare

What do you know about William Shakespeare?

Biographical Information

Birthdate: unknown

Baptized April

26, 1564

Died April 23, 1616

How old?

Born in Stratford-upon-

Avon

Oftentimes called “The

Bard”

Married to Anne

Hathaway

Not this Anne Hathaway…

But this Anne Hathaway

Bio (cont’d)

Married at 18

Anne was 26

Pregnant when married

Three kids

Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith

Hamnet and Judith: twins

Father was a glove maker

Third child of eight

Shakespearean Literature

Wrote all types

Plays, sonnets, collaborations, narrative poems

37 plays

Tragedy

Protagonist is a good person with a “tragic flaw”

Overcomes his flaw because something bad happens

History

Plays based on the lives of kings

Comedy

Not necessarily funny, but had a happy ending

The Plays

Shakespearean Theatre

The physical theater

Polygonal in shape

Three levels of galleries

Open center

Stage

Platform surrounded on three sides by audience

Upper level of stage

Used as balcony

A model of the Globe

The three levels of the Globe

The Globe Stage

Shakespearean Theatre

(cont’d)Actors

All men, even those who played the part of women

Women: normally played by younger men/boys

Costumes

Passed down from wealthy

Not necessarily in fashion

Society’s Thoughts of

TheaterTheater was only one step above the brothel

How does this differ from today’s beliefs?

Reason why actors were all men

Globe separated into class distinctions

Seated area: wealthier

Open area: lower class

Groundlings

Anonymous

Extra credit opportunity

5 pts with ticket stub