Shakespeare background discussion questions

Compare Shakespeare’s education to elementary school today

• Shakespeare’s schooling focused heavily on Latin grammar, rhetoric, and classical texts, unlike modern elementary school which includes many different subjects and creative activities.

Which books did he read?

• He likely read authors like Ovid, Virgil, Seneca, and Plutarch, which exposed him to myths, history, and dramatic storytelling.

How did his education influence his work?

This education influenced his work by giving him strong language skills and inspiring the plots, themes, and characters found in many of his plays.

Why are Shakespeare’s plays still popular today?

• Plays still popular because they explore timeless human emotions like love, jealousy, ambition, and betrayal that people still relate to today.

• His characters feel realistic and complex, which keeps audiences interested across different cultures and time periods.

Why do actors consider a role in his plays a career highlight?

Actors see Shakespearean roles as a career highlight because the language is challenging and performing it well shows great skill and talent.

What was it like to go to the theater in Shakespeare’s London? Describe the sets.

Going to the theater in Shakespeare’s time was loud and lively, with audiences from many social classes standing, talking, and reacting during the performance. The sets were very simple with few props, so scenes relied more on imagination than visuals.

Why was language so important to his plays?

Because there were limited special effects, Shakespeare used powerful and descriptive language to help the audience picture the setting and action.

Which political or social events influenced Shakespeare’s subjects?

Political uncertainty about royal succession and fears of rebellion influenced Shakespeare to write about power, leadership, and betrayal.

How was his work received?

His work was well received by both common people and nobles, making him popular across social classes.

How did the environment shape public response?

The social environment of strict class structure and strong interest in drama made audiences especially responsive to plays about authority, conflict, and social order.

How did Shakespeare’s work change over his career?

Early in his career, Shakespeare wrote more comedies and histories that matched the public’s desire for entertainment and national pride. Later, his plays became darker tragedies that explored deeper psychological and emotional struggles.

What events influenced these changes?

These changes were likely influenced by aging, personal experiences, and the political uncertainty during the reign of King James I.

Describe a typical day for Shakespeare in London.

Shakespeare’s day likely included writing in the morning, rehearsing with actors, performing on stage, and helping manage his theater company.

How was it different from a modern playwright’s routine?

• He was directly involved in acting and business decisions, not just writing scripts.

• Modern playwrights usually focus only on writing and are less involved in performing or running the theater.

What evidence do scholars use to learn about Shakespeare’s life?

Scholars use legal records, church documents, property records, and references from other writers to piece together details about his life.

Why is little known?

Very little is known because personal letters and diaries from that time were rarely saved, especially for non-nobles.

Do his works give personal insights?

His plays and poems may reflect his thoughts and emotions, but they do not give clear facts about his personal life.

What is a sonnet?

A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and usually written in iambic pentameter.

How is it different from other poetry?

It differs from other poetry because it follows a strict structure that builds an idea and often ends with a twist or conclusion.

Why did Shakespeare use sonnets?

Shakespeare used sonnets to explore deep emotions like love and time while also showing his mastery of language and poetic form.

Sestet

• A sestet is the last six lines of a sonnet (lines 9–14).

• It usually responds to or resolves the idea introduced in the first eight lines (the octave).

• responds, reflects, or offers a solution

Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet

• 14 lines

Split into two parts: Octave & Sestet

• Common rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA (octave) + CDECDE or CDCDCD (sestet)

• A volta (turn in thought) usually happens at line 9

• associated with Petrarch, who wrote about love and admiration from a distance.

Octave (8 lines)

• presents a problem, question, or idea

Spenserian Sonnet

Created by Edmund Spenser, this sonnet:

• Has 14 lines

• Uses three quatrains (4 lines each) + a couplet (2 lines)

• Interlocking rhyme scheme:
  ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

The linked rhymes connect the ideas between quatrains more smoothly than in Shakespearean sonnets.

Difference between Shakespeare sonnets and Petrarchan Italian sonnets

• Petrarchan sonnets split ideas into problem → response

• Shakespearean sonnets build through three stages → big finishing statement.