SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND AND THE ART

OF DRAMA

Born in 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Studied at the King’s New School, a grammar school

Married Anne Hathaway in 1582

Left for London between 1586 and 1590

GROWING UP SHAKESPEARE

Well-known by 1592 in London

Theaters closed for several years due to plague

Leading actor in Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later the King’s Men, by 1594

BECOMING THE BARD

Few works published after 1612

Shakespeare returned to Stratford, 1610-1616

Died on April 23, 1616

The First Folio published in 1623

BECOMING A LEGEND

THE RISE OF THE DRAMA

LIFE AT AN ELIZABETHAN THEATRE

THE GLOBE

Questions about authorship arose in the mid-1800s 38 plays 154 Sonnets 2 Narrative Poems Dozens of smaller poems

70 candidates for authorship named including Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Bacon, and Christopher Marlowe

SHAKESPEARE’S MYSTERY

A drama is a work of literature meant to be performed for an audience by actors.

The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.”

The earliest known plays . . . were written around the fifth century B.C. produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of

wine and fertility

WHAT IS A DRAMA?

Comedy is traditionally considered to be a story that ends happily.Not always humorousProtagonist or hero usually overcomes obstacles and

obtains what he/she wantsOftentimes involves a romantic plot and ends with a

marriage

COMEDY

A tragedy is traditionally considered to be a story in which events lead to an unhappy end. Protagonist is often a tragic hero who exhibits some

tragic flaw Tragic heroes are typically of high social standing and

courageous Tragic flaws are often severe character weaknesses which

lead to downfallMultiple characters are deceased at the play’s end.

TRAGEDY

Characters Main character-represented in the story the most, plot

usually revolves around their conflicts or development Protagonist Antagonist

Minor character-represented in the story, but not as affected by conflicts and with less development

THE PLAYERS

Dialogue- conversations of characters on stageMonologue- a lengthy speech given by one character

to othersSoliloquy- speech by a character alone on stage to

himself/herself or to the audienceAsides- remarks made to the audience or to one

character; the other characters onstage do not hear an aside

THE PLAYERS’ SPEECH

Internal- struggle within a character

External- struggle against another character, idea, organization, etc.

Complications- things a character MUST consider before dealing with or solving a conflict

CONFLICTS AND COMPLICATIONS

Dramas differ from novels based in part on organization.Acts-Similar to chapters in a book

Scenes-Snippets of chapters

READING A DRAMA

Stage Directions-A description or direction provided in the text of a play

Stage directions tell the director and actor how to portray a character or scene.

READING A DRAMA

Set(s)-The physical location and description of the play or scene

Costume(s)-Props or clothing used to create a characters wardrobe.

Costuming usually fits the personality of the character(s)

READING A DRAMA