Shakespeare, Hamlet, and the Renaissance. English 4 AP Ms. Reyburn

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1 Shakespeare, Hamlet, and the Renaissance English 4 AP Ms. Reyburn

2 Shakespeare s Life: A Quick Review Born in April 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon. The exact date is sometimes disputed. Son of John (glove maker, town official) and Mary Shakespeare (daughter of wealthy land owners) Attended the Stratford Grammar School but not college. He did probably learn Latin and about literature. Married Anne Hathaway in Three children born: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet (yes, with an n ). By 1590, he had moved to London and become an actor and playwright. He eventually became the leader of the Lord Chamberlain s Men and the King s Men (acting groups). He achieved notoriety for his play writing during his life, and even gave special performances for Queen Elizabeth. Died April 23, 1616

3 Shakespeare s Works and Genres Author of at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets (14 line poems with a particular structure), and two epic narrative poems In 1623 the First Folio of Shakespeare s works was published posthumously, entitled, Mr. William Shakespeare s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. The majority of his plays are considered to be comedies, such as A Midsummer Night s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter s Tale. Shakespeare s works were written in Early Modern English, not Old English as some students assume. His work touched members of all social classes from nobility to the lower classes.

5 The Renaissance The Renaissance began in Italy in the early 1300 s and lasted until the early 1600 s. Followed the Medieval period, which focused on a religious, other wordly way of thinking, in which men concentrated on preparation for the hereafter. In this Age of Faith, the vertical relation between man and God in heaven was the focus of human thought. During the Renaissance, we saw the rise of nation states, geographic exploration, and the beginnings of religious change (Protestant Reformation). Instead of the vertical relation with God, men focused on the horizontal relations which exist solely within this world on the relations between individuals and their physical and social environment. Men began to enjoy pleasures of this life and a spirit of individualism took hold. Source: Barbra Brooks-Barker, AP Conference Resource Materials

6 Humanism Humanism also helped initiate the decline of Medieval life in the Middle Ages. In this historical movement, we saw a reawakening of interest in the non-christian thought, such as the literature and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. With Humanism came discoveries and inventions, and a better understanding of the classical world. Remember, Renaissance means rebirth, so this period was marked by change of thought and new creations.

7 The Globe Theater Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed in the Globe Theater. The only account we have of the original Globe is from a diary of a Swiss doctor who visited London and crossed the Thames River to see a play in a theater with a thatched roof. It was an 8 sided building with a central yard. It was built in 1599 and burned down 14 years later in Spectators price of admissions was one penny - to stand in yard around stage (these were called the groundlings they will be mentioned in Hamlet) two pennies - to sit in 2nd and 3rd floor galleries three pennies - to sit in the first floor galleries

8 The Globe Theater Today Today s Globe was reopened in The reconstruction of Shakespeare s theater was designed and initiated by an American director and actor named Sam Wanamaker. Want to see the Globe live? You can watch a performance of A Midsummer Night s Dream that was broadcasted live worldwide on Sept. 11 by going to:

9 Hamlet The play Hamlet was likely inspired by legendary Danish historical figure named Prince Amleth, whose story was retold by a French writer named François Belleforest in the 16 th century. Hamlet, is a tragedy that was written sometime between 1599 and Like most tragedies (Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello), Hamlet is a drama that ends in catastrophe most often death for the main character and often for several other important characters as well. The main character in this play is a prince named Hamlet. He is a tragic hero someone who is nobly born and has great influence in his or her society. This character has weakness or errors in judgment, which we call tragic flaws that lead to his or her downfall. Fate may play a role in the course that events take with a tragic hero.

10 Key Literary Techniques Hamlet has multiple literary foils. Remember, a foil is a character whose personality or attitudes are in sharp contrast to those of another character in the same work. This highlights the other character s traits. In Hamlet these foils stand out through the similarities of the characters situations which create a basis of comparison.. You will also see, as in many of Shakespeare s other plays: Comic Relief: A humorous scene, incident, or speech that relieves the overall emotional intensity in the play. Comic relief helps the audience absorb the tragic events in the plot of a play. Allusions: Remember, these are brief references, within a work, to something outside the work that the reader or audience is expected to know. Many of Shakespeare s allusions are to mythology or the Bible.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE- Biography

Name WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE- Biography William Shakespeare is often called the world s greatest playwright. He wrote comedies, tragedies, and historical plays in England in the last part of the 16 th and