William Shakespeare
Who was William Shakespeare and what we know about his life/ education?
He was an English playwright, poet, and actor. Born in stratford-upon-avon to a glove maker and didn't go to university.
What earlier stories or plays may have inspired Hamlet?
Saxo Grammaticus, The ur-hamlet, Roman legend of Brutus
Who was the ruler during Elizabethan times, and what were the major political concerns of this time period?
Queen Elizabeth the first. She faced threats from Spain, religious stability was a concern, economic crisis & poverty.
What roles and expectations existed for men and woman during this time period?
Men: public authoritative heads of household
Woman: expected to be obedient, manage the home
How did the people in Elizabethan England view ghosts and sprirts?
they thought they were real but were terrified of them, believed they were demonic.
List major themes Shakespeare often explored in his plays.
Ambition, Love, Revenge, Desire, Jealousy
How does Shakespeare's Hamlet vary from earlier versions of the story?
Shakespeare's version can be described as a more "complex physiological tragedy" more philosophical soliloquies, more internal moral conflict over actions
what risks or controversies might a play about regicide and corruption present during this time period?
High risk of inciting violence, mirror current political stability
Explain the difference in expectations between men's and women's behaviour in Elizabethan England.
Very patriarchal structured, men were authorial and women were obedient.
What religious or spiritual beliefs onflunecd whether a ghost was trusted or feared?
Catholics trusted, protestants feared
What are elements of a Shakespearean tragedy?
Tragic hero, conflict, comic relief, fate/fortune
What is "feigned madness", and how might it be important to the story-line of Hamlet?
Feigned madness: Deliberate, strategic, performance of insanity Prince Hamlet adopts to disguise his guest for revenge
How did issues of succession, spying, and loyalty shape Elizabethan society?
By fostering a culture of pervasive insecurity, promoting a "secret state" surveillance apparatus, and redefining national identity through religious conformity
How did values of honour, obedience, and revenge affectt the behaviour of citizens in Elizabethan England?
It balanced social hierarchy with intense personal reputation.
How were supernatural elements sued in plays or other literature in the Elizabethan time period?
Used to heighten dramatic-ness and develop plot.