BACKGROUND NOTES WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE S

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1 BACKGROUND NOTES WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE S

2 THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE A. General Background Renaissance began in Italy 1. Shift away from medieval focus on religion and moved toward a focus on life here on earth 2. Growth of cities and towns; focus on international trade, not manor farms and villages 3. Focus on art, literature, nature and human impulses

3 GENERAL BACKGROUND CONTINUED 4. Looked back on pagan, Greek and Roman texts and philosophies to base their achievements on 5. Emphasis on the individual and full development of human potential

4 GENERAL BACKGROUND CONTINUED 3. Renaissance in England 1. Began in 1485, after the War of the Roses 2. Henry VIII and Tudor family took the English throne

5 B. THE ELIZABETHAN ERA 1. Queen Elizabeth the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn 2. During her reign the Renaissance came into full swing. England enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and prestige 3. Greatest accomplishment-defeated Spanish Armada

7 II. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE A. Very little is known about his life 1. Born around April 26, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon; died Did not go to university. This causes some of the debate over authorship of his works. 3. Married Anne Hathaway and had three children

8 B. LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1. Member of the Lord Chamberlain s Men (later The King s Men) 2. Queen Elizabeth herself came to see his plays 3. Early masterpieces include Richard III, Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet 4. Success allowed him to become part owner of Globe Theatre

10 III. BACKGROUND ON MACBETH A. Historical Background on play 1. The play is based on the historical 11 th century King Macbeth, who killed the former king Duncan I 2. Macbeth was written to please King James I, who succeeded his cousin Queen Elizabeth to the throne 3. Shakespeare s desire to please King James may account for the prominence of witchcraft in Macbeth

11 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (CON T) a. While king of Scotland, he believed a group of witches and wizards tried to murder him b. King James wrote the book Daemonologie in 1597, which covered everything you need to know about witchcraft and witches c. Most of the common people also believed in witchcraft-macbeth would have been the Blair Witch Project of the Elizabethan Era.

12 B. MAJOR THEMES IN THE PLAY 1. Things are not always what they seem a. At the beginning of the play, the witches give the paradox fair is foul, foul is fair, suggesting whatever appears good is bad, and vice-versa b. Macbeth mistakes prophecies, makes decision that seem good but turn out bad, and those who seem to be good are truly evil c. Uses a lot of dramatic irony

13 B. MAJOR THEMES IN THE PLAY 2. Blind ambition can bring about downfall a. It is Macbeth s, and Lady Macbeth s ambition that brings their downfall b. Macbeth s lust for power eventually becomes his downfall

14 B. MAJOR THEMES IN THE 3. Power corrupts PLAY a. The prophecy of the witches begins Macbeth s downward spiral b. Goes along with his ambition, which is only fueled by Lady Macbeth

15 B. MAJOR THEMES IN THE PLAY 4. The unconscious affects human behavior a. Lots of supernatural occurrences and omens b. Macbeth relies on superstition and omens to make many of his decisions c. Many of these signs are manifestations of Macbeth s guilt

17 C. IMAGERY 1. Darkness a. Darkness is prevalent throughout the play to highlight the evil deeds that are occurring b. The most famous scenes of evil in the play take place in, or reference, darkness and night c. Think back to Beowulf-Grendel came out at night and out of the dark swamp d. Can represent the dark side of human nature.

18 C. IMAGERY 2. Blood a. Along with the images of darkness, helps to set the spooky, evil mood b. The blood can be the hot blood of the Macbeth s as they plot murder the spilled, innocent blood of the victims the blood of guilt that does not wash away.and the blood of kinship that drives the enemies of Macbeth to action c. The source of life can flow towards good or evil.

19 And don t forget beware the curse of the Scottish Play!!!!!

Note: These activities are suitable for students who don t know a lot (possibly nothing at all) about Shakespeare s writing.

Note: These activities are suitable for students who don t know a lot (possibly nothing at all) about Shakespeare s writing. Shakespeare Teacher s notes Level: Topic: Subject(s): Time (approx): Preparation: Lower Intermediate (and above) Shakespeare Literature and History Activity 1: 15-20 minutes Activity 2: 10 minutes Activity