introduction to william shakespeare and othello

queen elizabeth and the significance of her reign

she was the last tudor monarch of english (1558-1603)

• her reign was a period of stability after decades of religious turmoil. 

• known as the golden age 

Where was shakespeare born and when

April 23, 1564 in Strafford-Upon-Avon

When did shakespeare die and why was it significant

April 23, 1616

• shakespeare died on his birthday 

• theory that he had “to much fun” on his birthday but actual cause is unknown

Shakespeare’s education 

Kings new school or King edward 6 school from 7-15 yrs old

• he received a classical education focused on latin, greek, and roman literature, rhetoric 

what was shakespeare’s time known as

• English renaissance

• Elizabethan era

• Jacobean era

who is shakespeare’s wife and what is unique about their marriage

Anne Hathaway 

• he was 18 she was 26

• she was several months pregnant 

how many children did shakespeare have and what were their names 

three

• susannah 

• twins → judith and hamnet 

what is significant about hamnet and what year did it occur

he died from an unknown cause at age 11 on August 11, 1596

• believed to have inspired shakespeare to write Hamlet 

who was robert greene and why is he still well known

contemporary Elizabethan playwright and novelist

• remembered because he insulted shakespeare after he died saying he was an “upstart crow” (he thought he was all that and he wasn’t) 

characteristics of the globe theater

• three story

• open air

• circular design

• designed for 2,000 but often held 3,000

• shakespeare was one of the original owners

3 categories of shakespearean plays

• comedies

• histories

• tragedies

examples of shakespeare’s tragedies

• hamlet

• macbeth 

• king lear

• othello

opposite of prose

traditional poetry or verse

what is a blank verse

poetry that uses a consistent meter but no rhyme

how many syllables are in an iamb and what is the pattern of stress

two syllables

• unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable 

• da-dum

how many iambs are in a line of iambic pentameter

five iams 

• ten syllables

Shakespeare’s plays are primarily what

verbal because they relied on language to set the scene and convey the mood

• since they didn’t have elaborate sets at the time 

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

• ex. rose, light vs dark, weather

differences between theater then and now

• technology

• casting (only males were actors back then)

• poor and rich went to theater then (now only rich go) -

• audience experience/ venue (audience participated back then)

what is a tragedy

gene that features a serious subject matter that typically ends in disaster

characteristics of a tragic hero

• of noble birth (aka respected)

• has a tragic flaw/ weakness 

• has capacity for suffering 

• makes tough choices 

• is pitted against overwhelming odds

• inevitably dies (physically or spiritually)

catharsis

emotional release and purification an audience experiences after witnessing a tragedy

which greek philosopher is shakespeare’s tragedy based on

aristotle’s definition → tragedy= imitation of action

• defined int “the poetic”

Shakespeare conspiracy theory

Shakespeare did no actually write his plays and poems because his education did not match the writing style

• francis beacon, christopher marlowe, and others were possible candidates 

what does it mean to be called a moor

someone who isn’t white

• of muslim, african, or arab descent 

how many plays did shakespeare write

38

how many poems did shakespeare write

156

soliloquy 

long speech given by a character on stage. audience hears it but other character DO NOT hear

monologue

lengthy speech delivered to other characters and audience 

aside

a characters remark (to the audience or another character) that others on stage do not hear

• reveals their private thoughts