William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright and poet widely considered the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets throughout his career. Some of his most famous plays include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Though little is known about his personal life, Shakespeare was a member of an acting troupe in London called the Lord Chamberlain's Men and later the King's Men after the ascension of King James I. His plays were performed widely and brought him fame during his lifetime. After his death, friends and colleagues published his collected plays in the First Folio of 1623, which helped preserve his works for future generations.

1. The Life &Work
of
WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE
(1564 – 1616)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shakespeare.jpg

2.  William Shakespeare was a dramatist and poet. He is regarded as the
greatest writer to use the English language .
 He was in the small town of Stratford on Avon.
 He is often referred to as “the Bard of Avon” or “the Bard”.
House in Stratford on Avon where William Shakespeare was born
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William_Shakespeares_birthplace,_Stratford-upon-Avon_26l2007.jpg

3.  Very little is known about Shakespeare’s life.
 He received the basic education commonly given to upper middle
class children, but he never studied at a university.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/133408
An English “grammar” school built in the 17th century

4. • Shakespeare wrote his early plays during the reign of Elizabeth I.
• Shakespeare and other playwrites of his generation are referred to as
“Elizabethan dramatists”
• Shakespeare’s greatest plays were written during the reign of Elizabeth’s
succesor, King James I.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Darnley_stage_3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_I,_VI_by_John_de_Critz,_c.1606..png

5.  Elizabethan dramas were regarded as popular entertainment.
 They were usually performed in theatres like “The Globe”.
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~twadley/classes/1102/fa05/a4_6.htm
• The most expensive places
were the benches in the
enclosed gallery.
• Cheaper places could be
had in the “pit” – the open
space just in front of the
stage. Poorer spectators
who stood in this space
were called “groundlings”.
• Dramatists were careful to
included in their plays
sophisticated dialog for the
better educated spectators
in the gallery, as well as
bawdy humor to entertain
the “groundlings”.

6. A modern reconstruction of “The Globe” in London
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Southwark_reconstructed_globe.jpg

7. • Shakespeare was a member and part
owner of a group of actors called “the
Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
• Following the ascension of James I,
the company changed its name to
“the King’s Men”
• Shakespeare wrote plays for the
company often acted in them.
• Women were not permitted to act in
dramas. Men performed the parts of
female characters.
http://cimacollina.com/WordPress/?p=191
http://englishstudio_ale.webs.com/williamshakespeare.htm

8. Shakespeare wrote 38
plays. These consist of :
Comedies
Tragedies
History plays
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm

9. Comedies:
o As You Like It
o The Tempest
o Twelfth Night
o The Taming of the Shrew
o The Merchant of Venice
o A Midsummer Night’s Dream
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DeverellAsYouLikeIt.JPG
Scene from “As You Like It”: The Mock
Marriage of Orlando and Rosilind (paint-
ing by Walter Howell Deverell)

10. Tragedies:
 Romeo and Juliet
 Julius Cesar
 Macbeth
 Hamlet
 King Lear
 Othello
 Antony and Cleopatra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_018.jpg
Gravedigger scene from “Hamlet”:
(Painting by Eugene Delacrox)

11. History Plays:
 King John
 Richard II
 Richard III
 Henry IV (Parts I & II)
 Henry V
 Henry VI (Parts I, II & III)
 Henry VIII
http://www.richardcuddington.com/sample_verse_7.html
Scene from “Henry V” : The King’s
speech before the Battle of Agincourt

12. Had I but died an hour before this chance chance – occurance
I had lived a blessed time. For from this instant
There’s nothing serious in mortality;
All is but toys. Renown and grace is dead; renown – honor, fame
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of.
- Macbeth, Act II, Scene 3
Shakespeare wrote his plays in blank verse – a style of poetry that uses a
prescribed meter (each phrase consists of five accented syllables) but is not
rhymed. Minor variations prevent the meter from becoming monotonous
and help the verse to more closely approximate normal speech.
drawn – poured out, empty
lees – dirty liquid that remains at the bottom of a
bottle after the wine has been poured out
vault – (play on words) place where wine is kept;
also, expanse of sky over the earth
brag – boast
Shakespeare often varies his blank verse by introducing rhyming couplets.
These rhyming couplets usually occur at the end of scenes, and serve to
lend solemn emphasis to important utterances. For example, at the end of
Act II, Scene 1 of “Macbeth”, the ringing of a bell marks the hour just as
Macbeth is approaching King Duncan’s room in order to murder him.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell knell – church bell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell

13. …I have set my life upon a cast cast – throw of dice (as in a game of chance)
and I will stand the hazard of the die…
- Richard III, Act IV, Scene 4
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, fair – handsome fond – familiar, affectionate
and therefore thou mayest think my ‘havior light
But trust me gentleman; I’ll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange
- Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 2
One reason why Shakespeare’s language seems difficult for modern readers is that
many common words have changed their meanings since his time. Readers should be
prepared to consider alternate or peripheral meanings for familiar words.
stand – accept, submit to
hazard – chance, uncertainty
Modern writers often use many abstract, multisyllable words to communicate
simple ideas. Shakespeare habitually uses simple metaphors and a limited number
of common monosyllabic words in order to communicate complex ideas.
As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, wanton – irresponsable
They kill us for their sport. sport – fun, pleasure
- King Lear, Act IV, Scene 1
Meaning: In this life we have to endure many calamities and tradegies that make no sense, and
God (or destiny or whatever) doesn’t seem to listen to our protests or care how much we suffer.
‘havior – behavior light – easy, not serious
true – faithful, constant
cunning – astuteness strange – cold, formal
Meaning: I show too much affection, but don’t think that I am “easy”. You’ll see that I am more
serious than others who are clever enough hide their feelings and behave with greater
formality.
Meaning: I have decided to risk my life and I am prepared to accept whatever happens.

14. • Shakespeare wrote his
plays as material for his
theatre company; he did
not publish them.
• After his death, members
of Shakespeare’s theatre
company assembled and
published a collection of
his plays This collection is
known as the “First Folio”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Title_page_William_Shakespeare%27s_First_Folio_1623.jpg

15. Shakespeare wrote
many poems. The
most famous are a
group of sonnets. (A
sonnet is a poem of
fourteen lines that
obeys a specific
rhythmic structure).
When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee,—and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

16. Sonnet No.18 is probably
Shakespeare’s most famous :
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

17. Shakespeare included some of his finest poems as interludes in his
plays. This funeral dirge is sung by two characters in “Cymbeline”
as they lower into the grave one who had once been their enemy:
Fear no more the heat o' th' sun
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages.
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this and come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o' th' great;
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke.
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak.
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this and come to dust.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor th' all-dreaded thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee and come to dust.
ta’en thy wages – taken your heavenly reward
chmney sweepers – boys who clean chimneys (in this context, flowers
that are yellow in summer but in autumn change into balls of gray powder
(resembling brooms used by chimney sweepers)
sceptre – symbol of a king’s power
learning – knowledge
physic – physical beauty, health and strength
reed – thin, delicate plant oak – large, strong tree
moan – lamentation
“Cymbeline”, sung by Loreena McKennitt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZIE83ZZJHI

18. William Shakespeare died in 1616 on April 23.
This date coincides with the death of another
great figure of literature, Miguel de Cervantes.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes
Shakespeare’s grave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shakespeare_grave_-Stratford-upon-Avon_-3June2007.jpg
Miguel de Cervantes

19. Many questions legends, and superstitions are associated with
Shakespeare.
One question that puzzles scholars is the diversity of signatures
that he used.
There are some who even claim that “the Bard of Avon” is not
the real author
of the plays attributed to him, arguing that a man of such
limited education
as William Shakespeare could not have written works of such
genius. Most
serious academics dismiss these theories, but the debate
continues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Judith_Shakespeare_Signature.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shakespeare_signature_6.JPG
http://mostinterestingfactsaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/top-5-most-expensive-signature-in-world.html
http://retartalillas.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/shakespeare-%C2%BFfue-o-no-fue-el-bardo-de-avon/

20. An interesting superstition about Shakespeare concerns “Macbeth”. The play is said to contain
genuine witches’ spells. Angry that Shakespeare had revealed their secrets, the witches of England
are said to have cursed his play. According to the superstition, performances of Macbeth are
accompanied by unfortunate accidents and it is bad luck for anyone to utter the name, “Macbeth”
in a theatre. When rehearsing the play, actors often use pseudonyms like “Macbee” to refer to
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and they refer to the work itself as “the Scottish play”.
http://www.pathguy.com/chasseriau_macbeth.jpg