Post on 28-Dec-2015
William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareBorn 1564 in Stratford-on-Born 1564 in Stratford-on-
Avon, died 1616.Avon, died 1616.Actor, charter member of Actor, charter member of
Lord Chamberlain’s Men Lord Chamberlain’s Men later known as the King’s later known as the King’s Men. Men.
Playwright, wrote 37 Playwright, wrote 37 plays. plays.
Poet, wrote over 150 Poet, wrote over 150 sonnets.sonnets.
Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:
Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending
Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings
Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history
Types of PlaysTypes of Plays
• The Globe Theatre:The Globe Theatre:
• Open ceilingOpen ceiling
• Three stories highThree stories high
• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting• Plays were shown Plays were shown
during daylight hours during daylight hours onlyonly
The TheatreThe Theatre
SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people
got to sit on got to sit on benchesbenches
The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) had “groundlings”) had to stand and watch to stand and watch from the courtyardfrom the courtyard
There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday
ActorsActors Six to eight sharers and Six to eight sharers and
then an equal number of then an equal number of hired minor actors who hired minor actors who played all of the roles.played all of the roles.
Only men and boys.Only men and boys.
Young boys whose Young boys whose voices had not changed voices had not changed played the women’s played the women’s roles.roles.
It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a woman to for a woman to appear on stage.appear on stage.
The Tragedy of Romeo and The Tragedy of Romeo and JulietJuliet
Based on a poem by Based on a poem by Arthur Brooke, “The Arthur Brooke, “The Tragicall Historye of Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet” Romeus and Juliet” which was based on which was based on older Italian stories.older Italian stories.
Tells the story of two Tells the story of two star-crossed lovers star-crossed lovers doomed to disaster by doomed to disaster by fate and their tragic fate and their tragic flaw of implusiveness.flaw of implusiveness.
The MontaguesThe MontaguesLord Montague – father of Romeo
Lady Montague – mother of Romeo
Romeo Montague – son
Benvolio – nephew of Montague and Romeo’s cousin
Balthasar – servant to Romeo
Abram – servant to Montague
The CapuletsThe CapuletsLord CapuletLord Capulet – father of Juliet – father of Juliet
Lady CapuletLady Capulet – mother of Juliet – mother of Juliet
Juliet CapuletJuliet Capulet – daughter – daughter
TybaltTybalt – nephew of Lady Capulet, Juliet’s – nephew of Lady Capulet, Juliet’s cousincousin
NurseNurse – takes care of Juliet – takes care of JulietSampsonSampson and and GregoryGregory-servants to Capulet-servants to Capulet
PeterPeter – servant to Juliet’s Nurse – servant to Juliet’s Nurse
An Old ManAn Old Man-servant-servant
RoyaltyRoyaltyPrince EscalusPrince Escalus – ruler of Verona – ruler of Verona
MercutioMercutio – kinsman of the Prince and friend – kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeoof Romeo
Count ParisCount Paris – a young nobleman – a young nobleman
ClergyClergy
Friar LaurenceFriar Laurence – a Franciscan priest – a Franciscan priest
Friar JohnFriar John – another Franciscan priest – another Franciscan priest
OthersOthers An ApothocaryAn Apothocary- a druggist- a druggist
Page Page –to Paris–to Paris
Chief WatchmanChief Watchman
Three MusiciansThree Musicians
An OfficerAn Officer
Citizens of Verona, Relatives, Maskers, Citizens of Verona, Relatives, Maskers, Guards, Watchmen and AttendantsGuards, Watchmen and Attendants
Things to think about…Things to think about…
What would you do if your What would you do if your parents did not approve of parents did not approve of someone you were dating?someone you were dating?
How important is the opinion How important is the opinion of your family in decisions of your family in decisions that you make?that you make?
Does violence solve Does violence solve problems?problems?