INTERPRETING INTERPRETING SHAKESPEARESHAKESPEARE

An introduction to the Bard and how his work has withstood the test of time

Lauren SmithLauren SmithEDUC 3125EDUC 3125

3.27.093.27.09

IntroductionIntroduction

This presentation will give an overview of playwright William Shakespeare’s life and work, providing a framework for learning how to interpret the products of the world’s most famous, time-tested dramatist.

Shakespeare BiographyShakespeare BiographyDate of birth uncertain, but

accepted as April 23rd, 1564Began education at Stratford

Grammar School at age 6 or 7There are limited details about

Shakespeare’s life before he became an actor (1580).

A painting of the Stratford Grammar School, artist unknown.

Family InformationFamily InformationSon of John Shakespeare and

Mary ArdenSister Joan, born after

Shakespeare lived to be 77 years old.

Married Anne Hathaway, and had three children, a daughter Susanna and twin boys.

Shakespeare and Anne’s cottage.

Shakespeare’s Life in the Shakespeare’s Life in the TheatreTheatreEmerged as professional actor by

1592Began career either with

travelling troupe The Queen’s Men or by travelling to London.

Eventually joined the Chamberlain’s Men.

Shakespeare’s Life in Shakespeare’s Life in TheatreTheatre(Courtesy of United (Courtesy of United Streaming)Streaming)

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Shakespeare’s WorldShakespeare’s World

Shakespeare had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth I.

Resurrected the character Falstaff at her request in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Shakespeare’s ComdediesShakespeare’s Comdedies All's Well That Ends Well

As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline Love's Labours Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles, Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona Winter's Tale

Titania and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Shakespeare’s TragediesShakespeare’s Tragedies Antony and Cleopatra

Coriolanus Hamlet Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Romeo and Juliet at Chicago

Shakespeare Theatre

Shakespeare’s HistoriesShakespeare’s Histories Henry IV, part 1

Henry IV, part 2 Henry V Henry VI, part 1 Henry VI, part 2 Henry VI, part 3 Henry VIII King John Richard II Richard III

Overview of Shakespeare’s Overview of Shakespeare’s Works: PoetryWorks: Poetry The Sonnets (over 100) A Lover's Complaint The Rape of Lucrece Funeral Elegy by W.S. Venus and Adonis

Venus and Adonis

Shakespeare’s Common Shakespeare’s Common ThemesThemesLove and forbidden love (Romeo

and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, along with almost all the others)

Power, betrayal, and corruption (King Lear, Macbeth, Othello)

Forgiveness (The Tempest)

Autobiographical DetailsAutobiographical DetailsThe Merry Wives of Windsor:

education and schooling.Many of Shakespeare’s sonnets

contained the illusion of autobiographical confessions, but it is unknown how many of these elements are true to Shakespeare’s real life.

ConclusionConclusion

*Shakespeare’s background and life in Elizabethan England shaped his work.

*The recurring themes of human nature have led Shakespeare’s works to withstand the test of time.

References and ResourcesReferences and Resourceshttp://www.shakespeare-online

.com/biography/http://www.william-shakespeare.

info/shakespeare-play-the-merry-wives-of-windsor.htm\

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/A Life of William Shakespeare

(Sidney Lee)