Who Was William Shakespeare?
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HAILEE STEINFELD DOUGLAS BOOTH © ATOM 2013 A STUDY GUIDE BY FIONA HALL http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-388-5 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Overview He is impetuous and emotional, ruled by his heart. She is a thoughtful ingénue, new to romance. They are madly in love. Their families – bitter enemies – would disapprove if they knew. His name is Romeo and hers is Juliet. Their passion must stay shrouded in secrecy and they must sneak and scheme to find a way to be together against the odds of their families’ ancient grudge and fate itself. Sometime between 1591 and 1595, William Shakespeare wrote what would become one of his most celebrated and beloved plays – Romeo and Juliet. This tragic tale of ‘a pair of star-cross’d lovers’ has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences ever since. For me, Romeo and Juliet is an exploration interested in bantering with her nurse than listening of what it is to be in love for the first time. to her parents. It is a timeless story, and it has never been equalled in any language. Producer Ileen At the ball, Romeo forgets his feelings for Rosaline Maisel and I wanted to give the modern when he instantly falls for Juliet. She is likewise audience a traditional, romantic version affected when she first sees Romeo. They dance of the story, complete with medieval briefly and steal a few moments alone but Romeo costumes, balconies, and duels, but we cannot stay long. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, has also wanted to make it immediate and noticed his presence and begs Lord Capulet to let him avenge the insult, but to no avail. As they part, accessible and new. Romeo and Juliet each learn that their new love – Julian Fellowes, Producer is the child of the rival family. Undaunted, Romeo spies Juliet on her balcony and boldly declares his love for her. Detailed Overview With the help of Friar Laurence, Romeo conspires The families of Montague and Capulet use any ex- a way to pursue Juliet without incurring the wrath cuse to publicly fight in the streets of Verona, draw- of his family, while Juliet relies on her nurse to ing a strict rebuke from the Prince. Young Romeo discreetly deliver messages to her love. But the of the Montagues is not interested – he is far too in bad blood between the two families is too strong: love with Rosaline, a cousin to the Capulets. It is a in a street duel, an angry Tybalt slays Romeo’s 2013 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION romance which his cousin Benvolio urges him not beloved kinsman, Mercutio. Romeo, his passions to pursue, but that night, there is to be a masked unchecked, then kills Tybalt. Hoping to put an end celebration at the Capulet estate and Romeo man- to the blood feud, the Prince banishes Romeo from ages to secure an invitation. The Capulet house- Verona – but this is worse than death, because he hold prepares for the event, where Lord and Lady will forever be separated from Juliet. As the lovers Capulet hope that their daughter Juliet will accept grow more desperate, Friar Laurence hatches a the advances of young Count Paris. A free spirit, plan that will allow them to be together forever – little interested in romance, Juliet seems more but perhaps not in the way that he intended. 2 CURRICULUM LINKS Romeo & Juliet can be studied as part of English, Pre-viewing as either a film-as-text, or as a supplement when reading the play. It is most suited to Middle- Activities School English (Levels 9 and 10): There are a number of pre-viewing activities teach- Level 9 English Content Descriptions particularly ers can undertake before watching the film Romeo applicable to a study of Romeo and Juliet: & Juliet. These include (but are not limited to): Reading and viewing - Who was William Shakespeare? LANGUAGE - Life in Elizabethan England 1 Understand that authors innovate with text - Shakespeare's Language structures and language for specific purposes and effects (ACELA1553) 2 Compare and contrast the use of cohesive Who was William devices in texts, focusing on how they serve Shakespeare? to signpost ideas, to make connections and 1 to build semantic associations between ideas (ACELA1770) Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon 3 Investigate how evaluation can be expressed in 1564 and died in 1613 (aged 49). As he was a directly and indirectly using devices, for common man (and not a king or lord), little was example allusion, evocative vocabulary and recorded of his life at the time. He was a famous metaphor (ACELA1552) playwright, however, he was perhaps no more famous than other playwrights in London such as LITERATURE Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe. It was only 1 Interpret and compare how representations of some 50 years after his death that effort was made people and culture in literary texts are drawn to find out and record the details of his life. from different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1633) Shakespeare timeline 2 Present an argument about a literary text based on initial impressions and subsequent analysis 1564 It is estimated that he was born on 23 April of the whole text (ACELT1771) 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. He 3 Explore and reflect on personal understanding was baptised three days later on 26 April. of the world and significant human William’s father John was a glove maker and experience gained from interpreting various was involved in other business activities as representations of life matters in texts well as being a member of the town council. (ACELT1635) His father and mother (Anne) were possibly both illiterate (as was common for members CURRICULUM FRAMING not of the elite classes to be at that time). QUESTIONS Shakespeare was John and Anne’s third child; he had seven brothers and sisters, but Before you begin a study of this Romeo & Juliet, only five of them survived to adulthood. present students with the following broad ‘Curriculum Framing Questions’. You may choose to discuss these before and after the film, noting any changes in students’ views of them: - Why are Shakespearean texts still studied today? - What role do imagery and poetry play in this text? - What role do parents play in determining our future? - What role does fate play in our lives? 2013 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION - Why is it important to carefully consider courses of action rather than acting impulsively? - Does prejudice impact our lives today? - Are family feuds just a thing of the past? 3 1571 At the age of seven, it is believed that Shakespeare attended the King’s New Grammar School in Stratford. His school days would have stared at six in the morning and ended at five in the evening (Monday to Saturday!). School life would have been very strict and students were physically punished for misbehaving or showing any signs of laziness. 1578 It is believed he left school aged fourteen or fifteen. 1582 At age eighteen, he married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. They had three children, Susana and twins Judith and Hamnet (Hamnet died when he was eleven years old). 1590 There are no clear records of what Shakespeare did in his early twenties. It is possible that he joined one of the travelling companies of actors that toured England during this time. We do know, however, that by the early 1590s he was a popular playwright in London. During the 1590s Shakespeare wrote a number of poems and many of his most popular plays, including Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice and Julius Caesar. He also acted in some of his own plays and those of other playwrights. Life in Elizabethan 1594 In 1594 he invested in the acting company England ‘The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ of which he 2 was a member. He became part-owner and shared in the company’s profits. Shakespeare first came to London some time be- 1596 He obtained a coat of arms for his father, tween 1585 and 1592. The city had a population of which meant that he would be officially re- 200,000 and was rapidly expanding. England at the garded as a ‘gentleman’. time was ruled by a monarch, Elizabeth I; she was 1597 He bought ‘New Place’, the second largest very popular with the people and was a supporter house in Stratford-upon-Avon. of literature and the arts. 1600 The first decade of the 1600s was Shakespeare’s most productive time. He This period in history is often described as the wrote most of his greatest plays, including English Renaissance because it was a time of Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear. great advances in science and also achievements 1603 ‘The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ became ‘The in art. London had a thriving theatre life – perhaps King’s Men’ and regularly performed at Court if Shakespeare had arrived in the city at a differ- before King James. ent time, he may never have become the famous 1610 Around this time, Shakespeare bought more playwright we know him as today. properties around London and the Stratford area and became very wealthy. • Create a poster about life in Elizabethan 1613 He returned to Stratford-upon-Avon, but still London. Include the following areas: travelled to London to tend to his business - Elizabeth I's rule interests. - Daily life (include reference to the 'gentle' 1616 He died on his fifty-second birthday (23 April and the 'base' population) 1616) and was buried at Holy Trinity Church - Religion 2013 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION in Stratford.1 - Superstitions - Theatres • Some sites to help start your research include: • Using the above time line and further research, http://elizabethan.org/compendium/27.html complete a biography of Shakespeare.