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Shakespeare life and_times_ppt
- 1. Shakespeare’s World: Elizabethan England. Lifein London. Elizabethan Theatre The Globe William Shakespeare Other important poets / playwrights
- 2. ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND Country unified,trade and commerce flourished Age of exploration Expanding with confidence and reflecting in it the drama of the period England became a dominant force under Elizabeth I (1558- 1603) London largest city in Europe. Population: 93,000 in 1564. 200,000 by 1599. Doubles again in 50 years.
- 3. Continued… 1558 to 1603(Elizabeth I's reign) Renaissance: Rebirth out of darker times. Male superiority Return to Protestantism Improvement of the educational system English language gains importance In Italy, Galileo invents the telescope = challenges the way people think about Earth and the universe. Drama, theatres and Shakespeare
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- 5. Queen Elizabeth I(1558-1603) Believed in royal absolutism: Rising against her and her laws was not only criminal but also a blasphemous act People thought Democracy was silly. The Monarchy is based on hierarchy of power as seen in the Bible: God, angels, humans, etc. = Kings, Nobles, normal people, etc. Queen Elizabeth Had an immense influence over the country; politically and socially She was very popular with her people. She represented greatness to her people. She loved the theater (others wanted to close all theaters because they were considered to be “sinful”). Reckless, unpredictable: execution of Mary, Queen of Scots imprisonment of Sir Walter Raleigh Persecution of Catholics
- 6. King James becameKing in 1603 He loved the theater (as did Elizabeth). He made Shakespeare’s theater group (The Lord Chamberlain’s Men) into his own group. The name changed to The King’s Men. King James also requisitioned the first English translation of the Bible, called the King James version of the Bible. It was published in 1611.
- 7. ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND cont. The Theatres in London were not on the “better” side of the River Thames They were located on the Bishop of Canterbury’s Land, across the river from downtown London. Surrounded by brothels,pubs and gaming houses Bear baiting matches were held at theaters if no play was scheduled.
- 8. Life in Londonaround 1600 Was a labyrinth of tiny streets, with only one route across the Thames, the river which dominated the city Most of the 200,000 population was crammed within the city walls. Sanitation issues lead to rise in disease and plague. The lord mayor ran the city The houses and palaces of the nobility lay to the west, near Westminster (safe from plague outbreaks). Theatres were outside the walls of the city, near the brothels.
- 9. ELIZABETHAN THEATRE No Womenactors! All parts were played by men! Why? Because many considered the theater sinful and they didn’t want innocent women corrupted by it. Elizabethan stage practices were learned from Medieval dramas and the traditions of the pageant wagon. In the early days, Elizabethan theatre space was located in courtyards and the larger homes of noble patrons. Due to advances, many playwrights were able to write very different plays than the more formal Greeks Elizabethan Theatre was able to be more expansive and include many more actors and action No hesitancy to show murder and bloodshed on stage.
- 10. THEATRE: A COMMERCIAL VENTURE No longer state or church supported (many thought plays were sinful). 6 days a week (NO Sundays) In the afternoon,(2-5)No lights Changed plays often to keep the people coming They announced what kind of play was showing with flags: Black-Tragedy,White-comedy, Red-History One play could be performed up to ten times in a season
- 11. THEATRE SPACE “the Theatre’first permanent theatre space built in England Built by James Burbage father of an important actor of Shakespeare’s day. Constructed in amphitheatre/thrust style:open air
- 12. THE GLOBE THEATRE Oneof the most famous Elizabethan theatres Surrounded on three sides by seating “galleries” Shakespeare’s troupe performed here.He was part owner in the theatre The acting company had about 25 actors, all male Half of the actors were share holders in the theatre.
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- 14. The Globe “Groundlings” stoodon the ground floor, more expensive seats were in the balconies. The floor was covered in nut shells (people ate during the show just like we eat in movies). The audience was very loud and vocal. Actors really had to yell to be heard. If someone did not like the play, they would yell at the actors and maybe even throw things at them. No scenery BUT they did have nice costumes and props.
- 15. Globe cont. The Globeheld about 3000 people 1c admission for standing room Higher price for gallery seating Private boxes for the nobility Sold refreshments No restroom, no intermission “Box Office”
- 18. TO BE ORNOT TO BE….. The Globe theatre was burned to the ground in 1613 Fire started when a prop cannon explode during the first night performance of Henry VIII. Rebuilt on the same site. Was Demolished in 1644 when theatres were closed.
- 19. PLAYWRIGHTS Paid by theplay Shakespeare averaged two a year Often plays of specific playwright written exclusively for one theatre. No copyright laws; use of sides William Shakespeare, Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spencer were all Elizabethan playwrights
- 20. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Born April 23, 1564 at Stratford–upon-Avon. Died April 23, 1616. He was 52-years-old. Father John Shakespeare was a glove maker and trader. William attended grammar school, learned Latin, and read the classics including mythology. Married Anne Hathaway in 1582. She was 26. He was 18. 3 children: Susanna + twins: Judith & Hamnet (Hamnet died in 1596 at age 11). Moved to London between 1585-1591. Was part of the acting group called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (it became the King’s Men) Wrote 37 plays and 154 poems/sonnets. Plays are divided into Histories, Tragedies, Comedies & Tragicomedy
- 21. Shakespeare: Probably not happilymarried to Anne. He left her his “second best” bed. Loved his children and was devastated by Hamnet’s death. After that, he wrote many great tragedies. Became wealthy due to his part ownership of the Globe. He retired in 1613 after the Globe burned down and he moved back to Stratford. He died on his birthday, April 23, in the year 1616. He is buried in Stratford at Holy Trinity Church.
- 22. THE KING’S MEN Shakespearewas a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Became King’s Men when James I became king in 1603. The company was given royal patent. Performed at court 12 times a year. This provided job security and boosted Shakespeare’s fame. Between this and Shakespeare’s owning part of the Globe, he made plenty of money.
- 23. SHAKESPEARE PLAYS History Plays: Henry IV, Richard II and III, etc. Tragedies: Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, etc. Comedies:12th Night, Much ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night’s Dream, etc. Tragicomedies: All’s Well That Ends Well, A Winter’s Tale, etc.
- 24. The First Folio Thefirst time his complete works were published in one volume. Came out in 1623 (a few years after his death). It is the reason we still have most of Shakespeare’s plays. This shows how respected Shakespeare was.
- 25. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE Educated atCambridge Atheist, tavern brawler Associated with the darker side of the Elizabethan period Died in a tavern fight at 28 Most famous play The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus
- 26. BEN JOHNSON Most influentialafter Shakespeare Had strong convictions about what audiences should like Arrogant, quarrelsome, volatile temper Imprisoned 2 times Wrote a very complimentary poem to Shakespeare that was printed in the First Folio. 1st”poet Laureate of England