Introduction to Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet Power Point

by Camile Betances

Who is Shakespeare?

Baptized April 26, 1564 – died April 23, 1616
An English poet and playwright widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language, and the world's preeminent dramatist.
Wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets, as well as a variety of other poems.
Shakespeare produced most of his work between 1586 and 1612.
He is counted among the very few playwrights who have excelled in both tragedy and comedy
Shakespeare (a minor) married Anne Hathaway (age 26 and already 7 months pregnant)
Three Children: Susanna, christened on May 26th, 1583, Twins: Hamnet and Judith in January, 1585, Hamnet Shakespeare died of an unknown cause onAugust 11, 1596, at the age of eleven
Shakespeare's family lived in Stratford-upon-Avon while Shakespeare spent most of his time in London, England.
Shakespeare’s writing can be divided into two time periods: 1590/2- 1603: Elizabethan Period- Wrote mostly comedies and histories. 1603- 1611/12: Jacobean Period- Wrote mostly tragedies and romances.
1585- 1592- “The Lost Years” Scholars have no real idea where Shakespeare was or what he was doing

Types of Shakespearean Drama:

Tragedy -- In general, tragedy involves the ruin of the leading characters. Must include death and the destruction of some noble person through a flaw in his character. Modern tragedy often shows the tragedy not of the strong and noble but of the weak and mean.
Comedy -- is lighter drama in which the leading characters overcome the difficulties which temporarily beset them. Usually ends in marriage.

The Globe Theatre:

Built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613.
A second Globe Theatre was rebuilt on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642.
A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named "Shakespeare's Globe", opened in 1997. It is approximately 750 ft from the site of the original theatre.

Shakespeare’s Language:

Shakespeare’s plays are written in Early Modern English, which can be difficult to read.
The pronouns usage is especially different. Some examples include thou = you, thee/ ye = you, thy/ thine = your/ yours

History of the Play:

The story of Romeo and Juliet is an extremely old one that was originally written in an Italian novel by Bandello
Shakespeare wrote the play based on Arthur Brookes’ epic poem "The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Julieta".
Shakespeare probably wrote his in 1594, the first published version appearing in 1597.
The earliest performance of Romeo and Juliet actually documented was in 1662, staged by William Davenant.
The play has remained extremely popular throughout the centuries and in the nineteenth century, Romeo and Juliet was performed with relatively little dramatic alteration, and it became one of Shakespeare's most-produced plays and a mainstay of the English stage.
With the advent of motion pictures the play reached mass audiences. More than eighteen film versions of Romeo and Juliet have been made.

Introduction to Shakespeare and Romeo and Juleit Power Point. Reviews Shakespeare's life and work as well as the histiry of the play.