The World of Shakespeare
Honors Survey of
Literature
2009-2010
Cornell Notes
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Summary:
Please take Cornell notes for slides 3-10
Shakespeare’s Life
Born William Shakespeare on April 23,
1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
 At the age of 18, he married an older
woman, Anne Hathaway.
 He had 3 children- Susanna and twins,
Hamnet and Judith.
 He retired in 1613.
 He died on April 23, 1616.
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Shakespeare Becomes a Playwright
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When Shakespeare was in London, Elizabeth I was the
queen (1558-1603). This was called the Elizabethan
Era.
Literature and theater became popular during this time.
He first entered the theater as an actor traveling with
different acting companies. He was part-owner of the
Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which was later changed to the
King’s Men.
At the age of 27, he decided to try writing plays.
Although he was respected during his day, he didn’t gain
popularity until the 19th century (1800s).
He wrote 38 plays in total, although his authorship is
questioned (what does that mean?)
Shakespeare’s Plays
Between 1590-1613, he produced most of his known
work.
 His works can be traced back to various literary sources
and incidents in his life and the world around him. His
writing was influenced by Roman and Italian authors.
 He wrote 3 types of plays:
 Comedies
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Histories
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Humorous (Obviously)
Chronicle the lives of royalty
Tragedies
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Have fatal endings
Theater in the Elizabethan Age
Elizabethans wanted plays with lots of excitement,
laughs and romance, with ghosts, stabbings and
sword fights.
 If they were not pleased, the audience would throw
rotten eggs and vegetables at the actors.
 Women were not allowed to act, so men had to
play all parts. Young boys would often play the
parts of women.
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The Original Globe Theater
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The original theater was built in 1599 by
the acting company, Lord Chamberlain’s
Men. Most of Shakespeare’s plays were
performed here.
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was 3 stories high, octagon-shaped and had an
open air court in the middle. The stage reached
into the middle area and was surrounded by tiers
of seats that had a roof over them.
 The upper- and middle- class sat in the seats.
 The poor people (called “groundlings”) paid a
penny to stand in the center.
The Globe Theater
In 1613, the original theater was burned
down by a fire during a performance of
Henry VIII, ignited by a theatrical cannon.
 It was rebuilt in 1614.
 It was closed by the Puritans in 1642 and
destroyed in 1644.
 In 1997, the theater reopened in London
under the name of “Shakespeare’s Globe
Theater.”
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Shakespeare’s Other Works
154 sonnets
 3 long narrative
poems
 Several other poems
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* (Remember, he wrote 38 plays)
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare's tragic tale of two star-crossed
lovers whose families get in the way of their
happiness.
 The story came from a poem by Arthur
Brooke titled “The Tragicall Historye of
Romeus and Juliet.”
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The first performance of the
play was in 1591, and it was
published in 1597.
Theatrical Devices
Tragedy- the main character is brought to ruin or
suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a
consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or
inability to handle bad circumstances.
 Soliloquy- a long conversation by a person who is
talking to him or herself. It is intended
to tell the character’s innermost
thoughts. The character is usually on
stage alone.
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Theatrical Devices
Irony- the use of words to convey a
meaning that is the opposite of its literal
meaning, and an outcome of events
contrary to what was, or might have been,
expected
 Dramatic Irony- irony that is understood
by the audience, but not grasped by the
characters in the play.
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Theatrical Devices
Aside- part of an actor’s lines supposedly not
heard by other actors on stage and intended
only for the audience.
 Rhyme- The same sound at the end of a line.
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Tie, pie
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Pun- the humorous use of a word or phrase to
emphasize the different meanings; a play on
words. The science teachers fell in love because
they had great chemistry.
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Allusion- a brief reference to something in
history, art, religion, etc.
Theatrical Devices
Plot Twist- an unexpected change in a story.
 Comic Relief- an amusing scene,
incident, or speech
introduced into serious or
tragic elements, as in a
play, in order to provide
temporary relief from
tension, or to intensify the
dramatic action.
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The End
ENJOY!