Introduction to
Shakespeare
A Genius from
Stratford
William
Shakespeare
1564-1616
William Shakespeare’s childhood
Born in
Stratfordupon-Avon
in April of
1564
 Parents,
John and
Mary, were
middleclass. John
was a glove
maker.

William Shakespeare’s childhood
Attended King
Edward’s
Grammar School
in Stratford right
around the corner
from his
childhood home.
 Shakespeare left
school at 14.
 He never had any
other formal
schooling.

William Shakespeare’s Stratford

(above) The River
Avon (right) Statue
of Hamlet;
represents
knowledge (far
right) Lady
Macbeth’s statue
symbolizes tragedy;
Shakespeare shown
in background.

Will is
remembered
fondly in
Stratford. (He
is the town’s
most significant
tourist
attraction!)
His work is
commemorated
with statues in
the town’s park
on the River
Avon.
William Shakespeare’s family

Married Anne
Hathaway in
1582. Will
was 18.
 They had
three children:
Susanna, and
twins Judith
and Hamnet
 Sonnet 145
was written to
Anne
William Shakespeare in London



During the time Will lived in London, it
is thought that he probably stayed in
Taverns and wrote at the bar.

From 1585 to 1592, not
much is known about
Shakespeare’s life.
He had established
himself as a writer and
actor by age 27.
Sometime from age 18 to
28, he traveled to
London.
His plays demonstrated
knowledge of law,
politics, history, the Bible
and Greek mythology.
William Shakespeare’s supporter


Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled
England from 1558 to 1603,
was a fan of Will’s plays.
The arts flourished under
her reign.
William Shakespeare remembered



London is full of
references to
Will’s work.
Westminster
Abbey has a
statue in honor
of Shakespeare
in a transept
called “Poet’s
Corner.”
Shakespeare
was careful to
show respect for
Queen Elizabeth
– he could be
hung for
displeasing her!
William Shakespeare’s Globe


Shakespeare’s actors (Chamberlain’s Men) needed a
better playhouse when their current theatre was in
disrepair. All actors were male.
In 1598, The Globe Theatre was built.
William Shakespeare’s later years



Will left London and
returned to Stratford
in 1610.
He was widely known
as an accomplished
actor and playwright.
They lived at what is
now called “New
Place” in Stratford.
William Shakespeare’s death



His tombstone reads “Good friend, for Jesus sake
forebear to dig the dust enclosed here. Blest be
the man who spares these stones and curst be
he who moves my bones.”
Will died in
Stratford on
April 23, 1616.
This date is
celebrated as
his birth date
as well.
He is buried at
Holy Trinity
Church in
Stratford.
Common values in Shakespeare’s plays

Sin and Salvation




Linked to the Garden of Eden
from Christian beliefs
Characters have the natural
urge to sin
Since man SINS, he should
seek SALVATION
Seeking salvation is important –
but one must actually BE
SORRY for the wrongful act
Common values in Shakespeare’s plays

Guest/Host
Relationship



Hospitality was
expected
Guests were to
respect their
hosts
Idea seen as
early as Homer’s
The Odyssey
Common values in Shakespeare’s plays

Shakespeare’s plays passed on the values of the society;
they also poked fun at human nature




Enforced the thought that everyone had a role to play in society
Roles must be enforced for the survival of the group
Any upset in the chain and bad things happen!
Illusion vs. Reality

Characters often appear to be something they are not!
Shakespeare’s tragedies as a form

Tragedy: a play in
which there is a
violation of the ethical
norm (“moral law”)


Romeo & Juliet,
Macbeth, Othello, King
Lear, Hamlet
Character violates the
law and becomes
isolated from his/her
society

This disrupts the
community’s order (ECB!)
Understanding Shakespeare’s plays

Soliloquy: “to speak
alone”
 Must be done so the
audience can see into
a character’s mind
 Often used in times
of great stress
 Aside: short, quick
comment to one’s self
 Comic relief:
characters low on the
ECB are used to make
audience laugh after
stressful scenes
Understanding Shakespeare’s plays

Prologue: spoken
piece before the
play




Actor who speaks
is called the chorus
Usually asks
audience to forgive
or accept the
playwright’s “poor
efforts.”
Summarizes entire
play!
Epilogue: spoken
piece after the play
That’s it! 
Family Feud
Prince Escalus of Verona
Montague
Capulet
Romeo
Juliet
Lord Montague – father
Lord Capulet – father
Lady Capulet – mother Lady Montague – mother
Benvolio – cousin/friend
Tybalt –cousin
Nurse – servant/friend Mercutio – friend
Peter – Nurse’s servant Friar Laurence –
counselor
Sampson & Gregory –
Abraham & Balthasar –
servants
servants
Paris – suitor/relative
of Prince
The Chorus
-predicts
-comments
-ties together
-summarizes/clarifies
-makes a point
A Few Themes







The destructiveness of impulsive behavior
The destructiveness of hate
The power of fate
The need for reason and order
The power of love
The ironies of life
Older vs. younger generation
Romeo and Juliet Timeline
Sunday: Romeo is depressed, so his friends talk him into
going to a party. Late Sunday night, early Monday morning
he swears his love to Juliet & they decide to get married.
Monday: The time & place for the wedding is set & they get
married. Tybalt kills Mercutio & Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo
is banished. Romeo & Juliet have their wedding night.
Tuesday: The Capulets tell Juliet she must marry Paris. Juliet
takes the potion before bed.
Wednesday: Paris finds Juliet “dead.” Juliet’s funeral takes
place. Romeo gets word she is dead and kills himself.