Stage 2
Task 2 - Report
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's plays have inspired generations of theatregoers and writers, while providing our best known actors and actresses with material to express their skills. Therefore his works continue to be used today and his legacy as Britain's greatest playwright lives on. This is the reason pupils worldwide continue to study his work and learn about the man behind the literature.
Shakespeare himself led an interesting and eventful life, indirectly witnessing changes in the world which shaped history and his outlook on life.
Scotland and England became united for the first time after Elizabeth I died in 1603 to be succeeded by her son James I. The new political arena proved to be an interesting time. Simple things for us such as forks and bottled beer appeared for the first time and provided the first steps towards the domesticated world we accept and expect today.
The world became smaller as companies were founded for international trade and countries followed expansionary policies to increase their wealth and influence. The first English settlers arrived in India in 1579, eventually leading to the British Empire. Obviously stories and experiences gained in travel made their way back to Britain and widened the population's understanding of the world, and gave writers new subject material.
Scientists continually pushed the boundaries of science with their inventions, and with the conception of the telescope in 1609 Galileo the universe was more open to study and Jupiter's moons were seen for the first time in 1610.
So during the life of Shakespeare the world shrank and the universe opened up.
Personally Shakespeare was influenced by his experiences in life, himself witnessing murder, enjoying love and suffering betrayal in his life.
Born on the 23rd of April 1564 little is known of his education or early years, however it is generally accepted that by late 1580 he was probably learning his trade in the London Theatre. Shakespeare married his long-term wife Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare had three children - Susannah, Judith and Hamnet.
Records show that in 1592 he was well known as an actor while he made early attempts at editing and writing. During the plague in 1592 William enjoyed the sponsorship of Henry Wriothesly, the Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare's sonnets were first published in 1609.
Shakespeare became a leading member in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a group of actors, and remained with the company for most of his working life, working mainly in the London Theatre until its demolition in 1599.
In its place the Globe Theatre was built and at this venue Shakespeare's reputation as a writer emerged, with most of his plays being popular with the audience. The Globe, like most Elizabethan theatres, had what was described as a heaven and a hell - the roof and the stage. The audience was split into its classes with the peasants in the yard and the Gentlemen in private rooms surrounding the area. Plays took place during the day, as there were no artificial light sources to aid night performances. A flag was hoisted to spread the word that a play was about start, and during a performance the estimated top audience of 3000 people expressed their response by either cheering or throwing fruit or vegetables depending on their critical opinion.
Through Shakespeare's life he wrote sonnets, comedies, tragedies and dramas. Over the years his plays have been acted and reacted and filmed. The most famous of these being Romeo and Juliet, the renowned tragedy.
While reading his plays converted to modern language helps understanding of the subject it is only in the original speech of the time that the atmosphere of the piece takes life, and their endurance can only reflect the high quality of his work.
By Scott Paterson
William Shakespeare's plays have inspired generations of theatregoers and writers, while providing our best known actors and actresses with material to express their skills. Therefore his works continue to be used today and his legacy as Britain's greatest playwright lives on. This is the reason pupils worldwide continue to study his work and learn about the man behind the literature.
Shakespeare himself led an interesting and eventful life, indirectly witnessing changes in the world which shaped history and his outlook on life.
Scotland and England became united for the first time after Elizabeth I died in 1603 to be succeeded by her son James I. The new political arena proved to be an interesting time. Simple things for us such as forks and bottled beer appeared for the first time and provided the first steps towards the domesticated world we accept and expect today.
The world became smaller as companies were founded for international trade and countries followed expansionary policies to increase their wealth and influence. The first English settlers arrived in India in 1579, eventually leading to the British Empire. Obviously stories and experiences gained in travel made their way back to Britain and widened the population's understanding of the world, and gave writers new subject material.
Scientists continually pushed the boundaries of science with their inventions, and with the conception of the telescope in 1609 Galileo the universe was more open to study and Jupiter's moons were seen for the first time in 1610.
So during the life of Shakespeare the world shrank and the universe opened up.
Personally Shakespeare was influenced by his experiences in life, himself witnessing murder, enjoying love and suffering betrayal in his life.
Born on the 23rd of April 1564 little is known of his education or early years, however it is generally accepted that by late 1580 he was probably learning his trade in the London Theatre. Shakespeare married his long-term wife Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare had three children - Susannah, Judith and Hamnet.
Records show that in 1592 he was well known as an actor while he made early attempts at editing and writing. During the plague in 1592 William enjoyed the sponsorship of Henry Wriothesly, the Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare's sonnets were first published in 1609.
Shakespeare became a leading member in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a group of actors, and remained with the company for most of his working life, working mainly in the London Theatre until its demolition in 1599.
In its place the Globe Theatre was built and at this venue Shakespeare's reputation as a writer emerged, with most of his plays being popular with the audience. The Globe, like most Elizabethan theatres, had what was described as a heaven and a hell - the roof and the stage. The audience was split into its classes with the peasants in the yard and the Gentlemen in private rooms surrounding the area. Plays took place during the day, as there were no artificial light sources to aid night performances. A flag was hoisted to spread the word that a play was about start, and during a performance the estimated top audience of 3000 people expressed their response by either cheering or throwing fruit or vegetables depending on their critical opinion.
Through Shakespeare's life he wrote sonnets, comedies, tragedies and dramas. Over the years his plays have been acted and reacted and filmed. The most famous of these being Romeo and Juliet, the renowned tragedy.
While reading his plays converted to modern language helps understanding of the subject it is only in the original speech of the time that the atmosphere of the piece takes life, and their endurance can only reflect the high quality of his work.
By Scott Paterson
