Shakespeare Theory

Question 1

Why should you study shakespeare?

Answer 1

• challenging in terms of language
• storylines have intrige, action, unexpected twists, and suspense
• topics and themes are very revelant today
• regarded as the best playwright in the world and his works have been translated over hundred times
• have a broader understanding of the world and its people across generations
• appreciate the art form of poetry and script writing
• better understand the concepts of character, plot, irony, foreboding/foreshadowing, and many poetry terms
• further develop your vocabulary
• develop your knowledge of Greek/Roman mythology and history

Question 2

Why is it important to understand the writer’s background when looking at his/her writing?

Answer 2

• greater understanding of his/her choices: poetry, allusions, characters, events, historical background,etc
• improve comprehension of his text

Question 3

How was Shakespeare in his time?

Answer 3

He was just a popular actor and playwright, he was recognized as a genius and honoured writer after he died.

Question 4

When was Shakespeare baptized?

Answer 4

April 26, 1564

Question 5

When is it assumed for Shakespeare to be born?

Answer 5

April 23, 1564

Question 6

Where was Shakespeare born?

Answer 6

Straford-Upon-Avon in the country of England

Question 7

How many siblings did he have?

Answer 7

He was the oldest of eight children, so seven siblings.

Question 8

Who was Shakepeare’s father?

Answer 8

John Shakespeare, he was a prosperous glove maker, alderman, and bailiff (mayor). Had irregular business venture successes, well-respected by neighbours.

Question 9

Who was Shakespeare’s mother?

Answer 9

Mary Aren, from a good family and had some fortune, inherited considerable farm property.

Question 10

How was Shakespeare’s school?

Answer 10

He attended a grammer school where Latin was emphasized, students spent 9 hours a day, 6 days a week in school. They were also strictly disciplined with physical punishment from highly educated teachers.

Question 11

His marriage?

Answer 11

He married Anne Hathaway who was 8 years older than him (unusual back then) and pregnant (embarassing for the family). They married in 1582 and had three children. He was only 18.

Question 12

When did he go to London, what did he do?

Answer 12

Between 1585 and 1591 he moved to london and worked as a poet, playwright, actor, and part owner of the Globe Theatre.

Question 13

He left his wife and children behind when he went to London, what does this suggest?

Answer 13

May suggest marriage problems.

Question 14

Between what years did Shakespeare write all his famous plays and sonnets?

Answer 14

1591 and 1611

Question 15

When did the threatres close and why?

Answer 15

They closed between 1592-1594 because of a plague epidemic, Shakespeare most likely wrote most of his poems during this time.

Question 16

What did Shakespeare do after the theatres reopened (1594)?

Answer 16

He focused on creating plays, producing 37 of them before he retired.

Question 17

What makes Shakespeare an unique playwright?

Answer 17

He wrote his plays for a particular performance, certain actors, various audience members, and a particular stage in his theatre. Modern playwrights write scripts with hope that someday they will be performed by any actor in any theatre.

Question 18

Back then actors and acting companies weren’t respected and didn’t make much money, so what did they have to do?

Answer 18

The actors and companies were patrionized by a ‘‘great’’ man, and the patron or sponsor allowed his name to be used in connection with the company he supported. It gave them a lot more respect in the community. After the plague a number of actors belonging to different companies united to form a new company.

Question 19

What was Shakespeare’s company of players called at first?

Answer 19

'’The Earl of Leicester’s Men’’

Question 20

When and what was Shakespeare’s second company called?

Answer 20

'’Lord Chamberlain’s Men’’
- created in 1594
- Shakespeare was the chief shareholder

Question 21

What did the ‘‘Lord Chamberlain’s Men’’ become?

Answer 21

In 1603 it became known as ‘‘The King’s Men’’ since King James I supported them.

Question 22

When did Shakespeare retire?

Answer 22

He retired to Stratford in 1611 after prospering in London.

Question 23

When did he die?

Answer 23

He died in Stratford on April 23, 1616 at 52 years old. His plays weren’t published until after he died.

Question 24

What were Early Playhouses?

Answer 24

None were built between 1500 to 1576. So companies of actors would travel the world and perform at certain inns. These actors were known as ‘‘strolling players’’

Question 25

How would ‘‘strolling players’’ announce their arrival?

Answer 25

Two ways:
1- parade
2- hand out playbills

Question 26

How were the inns used?

Answer 26

• the rooms were grouped around an inner courtyard
• balconies were used
• stables were used as dressing rooms
• planks of wood were put over barrels for the stage (portable)
• very few props, great imagination, and loud voices were needed
• costumes were not rich, but they were interesting
• pay was thrown down (a collection)
• innkeeper took his share
• later as the popularity of strolling players increased, admission would be sought

Question 27

Problems with the inns?

Answer 27

• actors had to share inns with the ‘‘carters’’ who brought freight and mail to London (so could only use 3/7 days)
• difficult to collect admission
• storage of props and costumes were difficult
• innkeeper charged high rent

Question 28

How would the audience be seated in the inns?

Answer 28

• the characterstic inn of the period had an innter coutryard with rooms opening onto balconies overlooking the yard
• players could set up temporary stages at one end of the yard and audiences could find seats on balconies out of the weather
• poorer patrons of the theatre could stand or sit on the cobblestones in the yard which was open to the sky. These patrons were called groundlings and the area in which they stood was the pit.

Question 29

What were restrictions put on companies of actors?

Answer 29

• The play and the troupe had to be licensed; this meant fees.
• the inn had to be approved (inspected)
• the inn proprietor must give a guarantee regarding the orderly behaviour of his guests
• the actors had to give money to the poor
• no performances could take place on Sunday

Question 30

Why weren’t actresses used at the time?

Answer 30

• not respectable
• too weak for hard labour
• tradition

Question 31

How were female roles played?

Answer 31

They were played by young boys (aged 12 and up- untiil voices changed)
- they were highly trained professionals
- Shakespeare believed in these skills and made many challenging female roles
- they would have to start in boys’ companies that were a feature of cathedral choir school then start their career in the adult companies at 12

Question 32

When did the first actress appear on the English stage?

Answer 32

In 1660 after the restoration of King Charles II when exiled english men brought back france practices of the French stage.

Question 33

What was the first permanent building?

Answer 33

It was called ‘‘The Theatre’’ and was built in 1576 by James Burbage (father of Shakespeare’s colleague, Richard Burbage).

Question 34

What was put into consideration when ‘‘The Theatre’’ was being built?

Answer 34

The ‘‘penny-paying public’’ (willing to stand long hours to see a production) which he regarded to be the backbone of the theatare business in England.
- so he chose the inn-yard system which could accommodate groundlings.
- disadvantage: cramped and unsatisfactory working conditions backstage
- he used the bear-baiting and bull-baiting amphi-theatres as models for his theatre (circular with curving tiers of upstairs seats)

Question 35

What was the design and benefits of ‘‘The Theatre’’?

Answer 35

• the circular shape would be more appropriate for acoustics
• smaller area behind the front stage was curtained off and set with moveable properties (ex. for a bedroom)
• height of the building would allow for the action to be staged on more than one level
• '’heaven’’ (ropes and pullyeys fastened to the roof) allowed for more interesting affects, such as gods
• '’hell’’ (trap doors in the floor) allowed for more interesting affects, such as disappearance of devils or witches
• admission could be colllected more easily and a concession could be created
• open to the sky, but all seats were protected from rain by the thatched roof (only groundlings were in danger of getting soaked)
• the stage was protected by a stage cover

Question 36

Where did he place the theatre?

Answer 36

He erected the building outside of London city limits because the London city council supported the views of the Puritans (although at the time they were not Puritans themselves) and were businessmen who saw no point to the theatre.
Puritans believed that any entertainment not originating from the bible was sinful

Question 37

What were some reasons the London city council gave the public for their dislike of players and playhouses?

Answer 37

• die (of the plague)
• robbed
• accused of/arrested for sedition (rebellion)
• money could be better spent elsewhere

Question 38

Examples of permanent playhouses?

Answer 38

• The Rose
• The Swan
• The Curtain
• The Fortune
• The Blackfriars

Question 39

How was the business like when the Globe was erected?

Answer 39

Plays often ran for ten days at a time, five companies were working to attract 1500 patrons per week- 1/10 of the London population

Question 40

When was the Globe Theatre made?

Answer 40

It was built in 1599 by James Burbage and his sons and existed until 1613.

Question 41

What was the overall design of the Globe?

Answer 41

• octagonal (eight sides)
• thatched roof (overhanding, but open courtyard)
• three galleries surrounding the yard
• seating on five sides
• stage took three sides
• '’thrust’’ stage jutted out into area known as the ‘‘pit’’ where the groundlings would be standing
• the platform had no curtain
• at the rear of the stage, there was a curtained area that could be used as an inner room, a tomb, etc
• a balcony was located above this room and could be used to represent the upper deck of a ship, Juliet’s balcony, etc
• trap door in stage for ghosts and devils ‘‘hell’’
• trap door canopied structure over stage ‘‘heaven’’

Question 42

What was the seating like in the Globe?

Answer 42

• one penny (groundlings who paid to stand in the pit and look up at the stage)
• two pennies (upper galleries- two and three)
• three pennies (lowest gallery with cushions)
• could seat approximately 2500 to 3000 people and no advance bookings

Question 43

Times of the Globe Theatre?

Answer 43

• since theatre was affected by the weather and depended on natural lighting, plays had to be given in the afternoon
• Globe was known as ‘‘The Woodeno’’
• little attempt at scenery
• lines in the play told you about scene changes

Question 44

How was the audience in the Globe theatre?

Answer 44

• they were very vocal
• could eat and drink in their area
• they would hiss, boo, or throw objects to show their dislike of a perticular character, actor, or situation
• the groundlings cuased the actors to do the following:
  a) rush through their lines
  b) exaggerate their actions and facial expressions

Question 45

When and why did the Globe burn the first time?

Answer 45

In 1613, a squib fired from a cannon during the performance of ‘‘Henry V’’ fell on the thatched roof and the Globe burned to the ground

Question 46

When was the globe rebuilt? When was it destroyed again?

Answer 46

It was rebuilt in 1614, but was destroyed in 1644 again by the Puritans who objected to live theatre

Question 47

What did England go through during 1547-1558?

Answer 47

• had been ruled by unpredictable and ‘‘stormy’’ rulers
• Roman Catholic revival

Question 48

What effect did Queen Elizabeth I have?

Answer 48

• Ruled from 1558 to 1603
• was vain, pleasure loving, changeable, and fond of money and clothes
• was considered a ‘‘good’’ queen who was shrewd, determined, and devoted to her country
• her people feared and adored her
• she was a liberal-minded monarch who enjoyed the theatre:
  - she provided money for costumes and props
  - she even wrote her own plays (short)
  - Shakespeare gave 32 performances at her court during her reign

Question 49

What many great things happened under Queen Elizabeth I’s leadership, how did Shakespeare react?

Answer 49

• Frances Drake circumnavigated the globe
• Sir Walter Raleigh founded the first British colony in North America
• both of these men journeyed to the ‘‘New World’’ and returned with reports of riches and savages
• London then became the center of trade
• foreigners came and different languages were taught in the hopes of increasing business
• Shakespeare capitalized on the interest in foreign lands and cultures by writing plays set in foreign lands (ex. Venice, Scotland, etc)

Question 49

Why/When did Shakespeare write a lot of history plays?

Answer 49

• in 1588, England defeated her longtime enemy, Spain, with the destruction of the Spanish Armada (fleet of ships)
• the English people took pride in the victory and were eager to know more about their country’s history

Question 50

What happened in the Renaissance?

Answer 50

• England had now entered the renaissance
• people now believed that they had control over their own destiny
• science and learning were emphasized
• eloquence in speech was sought; art and literature (focus)
• Given this observation, Shakespeare’s use of poetry and allusions to various subjects including astology and mythology were warmly received by audiences

Question 51

What was happening in London in the sixteenth century?

Answer 51

• London was the only large ‘‘town’’ in England (ten times larger than others)
• over 100 000 people (very rich to very poor)
• River Thames was very important for trade purposes and foreign visitors
• many inns and shops
• some of the inns were used for plays
• money could be made, but poverty and crime existed

Question 52

Who was King James I?

Answer 52

• succeeded Queen Elizabeth I
• ruled from 1603-1625
• son of Mary (Queen of Scots)
• also wrote poems and plays
• saw many plays performed (Shakespeare wrote at least half of them)

Question 53

How was Shakespeare’s audience?

Answer 53

• fond of suspense, fast actions, and adventure
• enjoyed watching eyes being ‘‘gouged out’’ or limbs being ‘‘chopped off’’ and thrown into the audience
• they were also very sensitive and sophisticated
• they loved words, figures of speech (puns, metaphors, etc) , and poetry
• the audience contained all classes of people including:
  
  • the Kind or Queen (private showings at the court)
  • lords and ladies
  • upstanding citizens (ladies and gentlemen)
  • middle-class
  • very poor (groundlinds- names comes from theiir designed seats- to sit or stand on the ground)

Question 54

What aspects of Shakespeare’s plays would the lords and ladies prefer?

Answer 54

Poetry, complex plots and characters, allusions to history and mythology, romance.

Question 55

What aspects of Shakespeare’s plays would the groudlings like?

Answer 55

Violence, sexual innuendo, disguises, deceit/trickery, comedy (puns)