William%20Shakespeare%20and%20Elizabethan%20Drama

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William Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama

• English 2
• Mrs. McCoid

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The Early Years

• Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon,
  England
• He came from a Middle-Class family
• Father was a shoe maker (John)
• Mother came from an affluent family (Mary Arden)
• Educated at Stratford Grammar School
• Learned Latin and Greek

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The Married Life

• In 1582, at 18 years old, Shakespeare married
  Anne Hathaway who was 26 years old at the time
  and pregnant
• They eventually had three children together
  Susanna, and twins Judith and Hamnet

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Anne Hathaways Cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon
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The Lost Years

• From 1585 1592 there are no official records of
  Shakespeares life
• Some believe that he may have been working as a
  gardener, sailor, tutor or printer, schoolmaster,
  lawyer, or clerk

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The London Years

• By 1592 Shakespeare was living away from his
  family in London working as a playwright and
  actor
• 1593 - theaters were closed due to a resurgence
  of the Black Plague
• Shakespeare used this time to compose poetry
  154 sonnets

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The London Years

• 1594 - theaters re-open
• Shakespeare becomes a member of the Lord
  Chamberlains Men (most successful company of
  actors in London)
• 1599 Shakespeares company builds the Globe
  Theater
• 1603 James I crowned King and Shakespeare
  renames his acting troupe The Kings Men in honor
  of James

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Elizabethan Theater

• Theater-going was considered immoral by many
  Puritans during the Renaissance. For this
  reason, theaters were located across the Thames
  River from downtown London.
• Shakespeares Globe Theater was known for its
  unique architecture and shape
• It had as many as 20 sides and 3 tiers
  corresponding to heaven, hell and earth.
• Special effects were often used onstage too.

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The Globe Theater
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The Stage
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Elizabethan Theater

• Flags would indicate the type of play being
  performed that day
• Black signified tragedy
• White signified comedy
• Red signified history
• No directors or producers

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Elizabethan Theater

• Scenery and props were minimal
• Costumes were extravagant (makeup was worn too
  Puritans hated this)
• Women were forbidden to act on stage so female
  roles were played by males
• Rehearsal time was minimal actors learned their
  parts in a week

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Elizabethan Theater

• New plays were written and performed all the time
• The Globe Theater burned down in 1613 when a prop
  cannon exploded during a performance of Henry VII
• 1642 the Puritans triumphed and Parliament
  passed an ordinance that shut down all of the
  theaters

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The Final Years

• 1610-1611 Shakespeare left London and returned
  to Stratford
• Continued to write and became a land owner
• Died on his birthday April 23, 1616
• The cause of his death is unclear
• 1623 The First Folio is published
• 1st collection of Shakespeares plays
• Published AFTER his death