William Shakespeare /Pre-Macbeth English 2 H

Locations lived in

Stratford + London, England. He had bought a property in Stratford and grew up/had a family. Worked in London.

Approximate date of birth

April 23rd, 1564

Date he died

April 23rd, 1616, the traditional date of his birthday.

John Shakespeare

Shakespeares’s father, had been a leatherworker who specialized in soft white leather used for gloves and similar items. Married Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden of the Arden Family.

Mary Arden

Shakespeare’s mother. Married John Shakespeare. Had been part of a well-known family.

Shakespeare’s siblings

Had three younger brothers: Gilbert, Richard and Edmund. Had two younger sisters: Joan, and Anne who died at seven. He, had been the oldest sibling.

Grammar school

Shakespeare had attended Stratford’s grammar school with curriculums including: an intense emphasis on Latin classics, memorization, writing and acting in Latin plays. Likely attended until about age 15.

Anne Hathaway

The woman Shakespeare had married. Grew up outside Stratford in the village of Shottery. Spent the rest of her life in Stratford, after marriage. Stayed with the children, when Shakespeare would go to work in London.

Shakespeare and Anne’s children

The couple had twins: Judith and Hamnet in early 1585. Hamnet ends up dying at age 11 in 1596. And, had a daughter named Susanna. Who, had been the eldest sibling.

Contribution Shakespeare had made to the written word

He created thousands of new words that we still use today.

Shakespeare is known for

Inverted sentences. He liked to put the verb before the subject.

What Shakespeare understood was important.

He understood it was important to create rhythm when speak, and he wanted to emphasize certain words.

He exaggerated the use of language for?

Dramatic effect.

Word Omission

What Shakespeare had also been famous for. He had been known to omit letters in words, syllables and entire words.

Shakespeare had be known for using?

Contractions.

‘Tis= it is

O’er= over

Ne’er= never

Oft’=often

E’en= even

Shakespeare had also changed word meanings

Heavy means sorrowful

Sadly means seriously

Happy means fortunate

But means except for or only

Against means for or in preparation

Marry means indeed

Blank Verse

A writing style Shakespeare had used. It is unrhymed verse written in Iambic Pentameter.

Iambic Pentameter

An iamb is a metric foot with one syllable unstressed, and one stressed. A pentameter is 10 syllables per line. Iambic pentameter rhymes and creates rhythm when speaking. It had 5 pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed beats.

William Shakespeare

1564-1616. 37 plays/154 sonnets. Had been co-owner of Globe theater. Had been an actor and writer in London. Lived in Stratford Upon-Avon.

Shakespeare’s 3 genres of plays

Comedy, History, and tragedy.

Almost all of his plays are written in _____ Verse

Blank.

English sonnet

14 lines iambic pentameter. Abab Cdcd efef gg.

Words invented by Shakespeare

Blushing, assassination, puke, outbreak, swagger, undress, cold-blooded.

Macbeth setting

Macbeth takes places during the medieval period. In, medieval Scotland, but was filled with material of interest to England and England’s ruler. Macbeth moves from his castle in Inverness to the royal palace in Dunsinane, Scotland.

Why Macbeth was written

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606 for King James VI and I of Scotland and England.

What the play references

The real Scottish monarchy from the Middle Ages, and is set during that time period.

Early Middle Ages (500-1000)

Called the Dark Ages. Marked by the fall of Roman Empire and Charlemagne being crowned, introduction to the feudal system.

High Middle Ages (1000-1300s)

Referred to as the “medieval times.” Marked by Crusades, Great Schism and good weather/farming.

Late Middle Ages (1300-1490s)

Marked by Black Death, famine, bad weather.

Mary Queen of Scots

Queen Elizabeth I’s cousin, who had created a plot to murder the queen, because she thought she was the rightful queen of England. Had been beheaded by Queen Elizabeth I, after being kept a prisoner in the Tower of London for over 20 years by her.

King James VI of Scotland

Mary Queen of Scots’ son. Chosen to take over the English throne after Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. Had took the throne, because Elizabeth had no children of her own. Had already been king of Scotland. Rumored to be mentally ill: accused many women of being witches and conspiring against him throughout his reign. Was unable to bring Scotland and England as one country due to constant battles.

King James’ personal life

Enjoyed the arts such as plays, music and paintings. Had written a book called Daemonologie, about witches and how to recognize/defeat their spells. As well as, a book called the Bible. Edited the name to be the King James Edition. Most popularly purchased copy of the Bible today.

The characters in the play are based on real members of the Scottish/English royal families

Macduff—> Ruled Scotland from 962-967. Was called “Duff the Black.” Son of Malcom I. Was a nice guy, but was kidnapped and killed by enemies.

Malcolm—> Ruled from 1005-1034. Had been honorable; well liked. Invaded the English, but was defeated. Was murdered by his nobles in 1034.

King Duncan—> Ruled from 1034-1040. Not well liked as king. Killed by Macbeth in battle in 1040.

King Macbeth—> Ruled from 1040-1057. Killed King Duncan in battle and took over the throne. One of the king’s army commanders. Eventually killed by King Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm Canmore. Married to Lady Macbeth.

Donald III Ban—> Son of Duncan I. In 1093, he seized the crown from his brother Malcolm III. Was dethroned by his nephew in 1094. Came back to power in 1094 after he had his nephew murdered. Ruled until 1097 until he was dethroned by another nephew.

Lady Macbeth—> Macbeth’s wife. Macbeth and her had no children. Had a child named Lulach from a past marriage. Strengthened Macbeth’s claim to the throne.

What Shakespeare mixes in Macbeth

Witchcraft, prophecy and murder.

What Macbeth dramatizes

It dramatizes what happens to people psychologically when they want the power and control that is within their grasp, but do not want to wait for it.

Queen Elizabeth I- The Elizabethan era

Lasted 1558 to 1603. Covered the period of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign of England. Referred to as the golden age in British history because it was a time where there was a renaissance in culture and national pride.

King James I- The Jacobean era

Lasted 1603-1625. James arrived in London to take over as King of England. Insisted on granting a Royal Patent to Shakespeare’s acting troupe. In 1597, he wrote Daemonologie where he made an argument demonstrating that the existence of witches could be proven and urged their detection and punished. Shakespeare had involved many quotes and rituals found in this book to the Weird Sisters in Macbeth.

What the story of Macbeth is based on

A real life Scottish king, who became king in 1040.

Themes contained in the play

Fate, power, ambition and guilt.

Macbeth

First performed in 1606, is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and most performed tragedy.