shakespearean & english renaissance history. exploration & colonisation the reign of...
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Shakespearean & English Renaissance History
Exploration & Colonisation The reign of
Elizabeth was a great age of English exploration and expansion led eventually to the foundation of the British Empire in the C17th & C18th but brought England into conflict with Spain.
• The later years of Elizabeth's reign also saw a long and expensive war in Ireland.
English Renaissance History
Dates: approximately 1500-1650 Renaissance literally means “rebirth.”
This term was chosen because the Renaissance was a time when classic literature, art, music, and philosophy were being “reborn.”
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History of the Printing Press
During the 15th century, books were relatively scarce and had to be copied by hand
Between 1440-1450, Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press
Within 20 years, the printing press had revolutionized information dissemination, fueling the start of the English Renaissance
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Religion
As a result of growing intellectual curiosity, humans began to question the rules and tenets of the Catholic Church
On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church, sparking the Protestant Reformation
Soon after, the Catholic Church launched a Counter-Reformation, filled with heavy propaganda
Elizabeth I promoted tolerance to all religions, although the Anglican Church was the official Church of England
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Humanism
The central tenet of humanism was that learning would make humans more just
Humanism emphasized the power of the individual to influence both himself and those around him
Famous humanists: Sir Thomas More, Erasmus
Shakespeare: His Life and TimesShakespeare: His Life and Times
Adapted from http://www.public.asu.edu/~muckerrm/English_321_S2005/Introduction.ppt
Shakespeare’s Language
• Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English.”
• Old English is the language of Beowulf:
Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunonHu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon!
(Hey! We have heard of the glory of the Spear-Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!)
Shakespeare’s Language• Shakespeare did not write in “Middle English.”
• Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory:
Whan that aprill with his shoures sooteThe droghte of march hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;
When April with his showers sweet with fruitThe drought of March has pierced unto the rootAnd bathed each vein with liquor that has powerTo generate therein and sire the flower;
Shakespeare’s Language
• Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.”
• EME was not very different from “Modern English,”
Shakespeare’s Language
• A mix of old and very new• Rural and urban words/images• Understandable by the lowest peasant and the highest noble
Early LifeEarly Life
Born 1564—died 1616 Stratford-upon-Avon Parents: John and Mary Arden
Shakespeare• Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner• John—glovemaker, local politician
From: http://www.where-can-i-find.com/tourist-maps.html
Location of Stratford-upon-AvonLocation of Stratford-upon-Avon
As reproduced in William Rolfe, Shakespeare the Boy (1896).
Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s TimeStratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time
From Stratford’s web site: http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/index.htm
Stratford-upon-Avon Today
From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/
Shakespeare’s BirthplaceShakespeare’s Birthplace
• Probably attended King’s New School in Stratford
• Educated in:• Rhetoric• Logic• History• Latin
EducationEducation
From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/
King’s New SchoolKing’s New School
• Married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant at the time with their first daughter
• Had twins in 1585• Sometime between 1585-1592, he moved
to London and began working in theatre.
Married LifeMarried Life
From: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/danielle.esposito/
Anne Hathaway’s CottageAnne Hathaway’s Cottage
• Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later called the King’s Men
• Globe Theater built in 1599 by L.C.M. with Shakespeare as primary investor
• Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeare’s plays
Theatre CareerTheatre Career
The Rebuilt Globe Theater, LondonThe Rebuilt Globe Theater, London
The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater
The Globe
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The PlaysThe Plays
38 plays firmly attributed to Shakespeare14 comedies10 histories10 tragedies4 romances
Possibly wrote three others Collaborated on several others
• 154 Sonnets• Numerous other poems
The PoetryThe Poetry
Elizabethan Theatrical
Conventions
A theatrical convention is a
suspension of reality.
No electricity
Women forbidden
to act on stage
Minimal, contemporary
costumes
Minimal scenery
These control the dialogue.These control the dialogue.
Audience members must have a willing suspension of disbelief. Audience members must have a willing suspension of disbelief.
Audience loves to be scared.
Audience loves to be scared.
Soliloquy
Aside Types of speechTypes of speech
Blood
Use of supernatural
Use of disguises/
mistaken identity
Multiple marriages
(in comedies)
Multiple murders
(in tragedies)
Last speaker—highest in
rank (in tragedies)
Background to Elizabethan Drama
Links back to medieval ‘miracle’ and ‘morality’ plays – linked to church
Early 16th century the relationship between state and church changed – different sects had varying views, theatre was supported by the court
Contemporaries included Thomas Kyd, Thomas Nashe and Christopher Marlowe – importance of Dr Faustus
Aristotle and his Principles of Tragedy – The Poetics
Tragedy is a representation of an action, which is serious, complete in itself and of a certain length
Acted and not narrated Excites pity or fear and allows catharsis - a
healthy release for such emotions Tragic heroes are virtuous and good men
whose misfortune is a tragic flaw in character and not a vice
Tragic plot is from happiness to misery – fall from a great height
Chaucer on tragedy Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn stories,
As olde bookes maken us memorie, Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee, And is yfallen out of heigh degree Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly GEOFFREY CHAUCER, The Monk's Tale (late 14th century)
Tragedy Injustice of life – trials and death of a hero
who was an important person (courtly). Their death leads to the downfall of others
Hero falls due to weakness in character – fatal flaw
Revenge Tragedy Melancholy hero is called upon to punish
an evildoer for a crime that has been committed
Ghost cannot rest until avenged (traditional figure)
Private revenge for family honour Ends with death
Elizabethan Theatre Drama became secularised First theatre was built in 1576 – similar in
design to an Elizabethan courtyard Audience consisted of a range of social
classes – defined by positioning in theatre No curtain or scenery – indication of where
scene occurred was built into the words of the play
Women did not perform on the stage Shakespeare’s plays were not original –
plots borrowed from contemporaries and histories
Staging
Awning above stage was called the heavens – painted with zodiac symbols and stars
Area below the stage was hell Middle area was the world of the living Created a metaphorical universe – good
characters enter from or into heaven, bad characters enter from or exit into hell
Scenery was symbolic and not realistic Performances were in daylight – always!
Sketch of the Swan Theatre c. 1596
The Globe
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Vocabulary Review: Create a Crossword Puzzle
RULESUse all 10 words
Provide hints (but NOT definitions)
Provide a blank puzzle AND an answer key
Hamlet
The Story
A revenge tragedy Hamlet is the story of a Danish prince whose
uncle murders the prince's father, marries his mother, and claims the throne. The prince pretends to be feeble-minded to throw his uncle off guard, then manages to kill his uncle in revenge.
Traditionally, Shakespeare himself is said to have played the Ghost in the original production!
Who’s Who
Hamlet - Prince of Denmark. A student at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet returns to Denmark on his father's death. He is unhappy because his mother has remarried quickly – to his uncle, Claudius
Ghost - The ghost of the old king Hamlet. He returns from Purgatory to tell his son he has been murdered and asks him to revenge his death.
Claudius - King of Denmark, the late king's brother and Hamlet's uncle. Soon after the old king's death, Claudius marries his sister-in-law Queen Gertrude.
Gertrude - Hamlet's mother, the old king's widow, now married to Claudius.
Who’s Who
Who’s Who Polonius The Lord Chamberlain,
Claudius's chief counsellor. He is the father of Laertes and Ophelia.
Ophelia - Polonius's daughter, in love with Hamlet.
Laertes - Polonius's son who goes to France with permission from Claudius and his father
Voltimand -A courtier, sent as ambassador to Norway.
Osric - A courtier.
Francisco, Barnardo & Marcellus officers of the watch
Who’s Who
Horatio -A scholar and friend of Hamlet’s from the University of Wittenberg.
Rosencrantz and Guildernstern - Old friends of Hamlet paid by the new king, Claudius, to spy on the prince.
Who’s Who
Player King, queen & other actors in the company - Who agrees to perform a play Hamlet calls The Mousetrap Player Queen
First gravedigger - The man who digs Ophelia's grave Second gravediggerThe gravedigger's assistant
PriestThe priest at Ophelia's funeral
Who’s Who
Fortinbras - Prince of Norway, whose father was killed in single combat by old King Hamlet. Fortinbras wants to regain the lands Norway lost to Denmark when his father died.
Norwegian Soldiers
Who’s Who
“All the world 's a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”
So…..
Let’s dramatize Shakespeare!!!