Aim: Who was William

Shakespeare?

Movies Based on Shakepeare

Based on Othello

Based on Twelfth NightBased on Taming of

the Shrew

Based on Romeo & Juliet

Biographical Information• Birthday: unknown– Baptized: April 26, 1564

• Died: April 23, 1616• Born in Stratford-upon-Avon• Oftentimes called, “The Bard,”

which means, the poet• Married to Anne Hathaway

Shakepeare’s Plays: Tragedies, Comedies and HistoriesTr

aged

ies: • The fall of a

great man. The fall comes from his “tragic” flaw or through the choice of action. (Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Julius Caesar)

Com

edie

s: • Not simply comical as we may consider it – often there are tensions between traditional roles – male vs. female, rich vs. poor, old vs. young – and often ending in marriage. Common themes include mistaken identities and love triangles. (Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It)

His

torie

s: • Based on the lives of English Kings (Henry IV, Henry V, Richard III)

Shakepeare’s Influence

• "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"Romeo and Juliet

• "To be, or not to be, that is the question."Hamlet

• "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!"Macbeth

• "Lord, what fools these mortals be!"A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"Sonnet 18

• "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." As You Like It

Shakespeare had influence in shaping the English language more than anyone has ever done. Over 2000 new words and phrases were created by him, including: football,

schoolboy, mimic, upstairs, downstairs, shooting star, and partner.There are many famous quotes of Shakepeare’s that have lasted and remain recognizable to

most, educated people.

How many of these have you used or heard?

It’s modern English – seriously!Old English 5th-12th c.

– An excerpt from Beowulf:Næshie ðære fylle gefean hæfdon,manfordædlan, þæt hie me þegon,symbel ymbsæton sægrunde neah;ac on mergenne mecum wundebe yðlafe uppe lægon,

Modern English 16th-21st c.

• An excerpt from Hamlet:To be, or not to be--that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortuneOr to take arms against a sea of troublesAnd by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--

Middle English 12th-15th c. An excerpt from The Canterbury Tales:Whan that aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour