Research in the lab:
1) When was Shakespeare born?
A: April 26, 1564
2) When and how did Shakespeare die?
A: In 1616, at the age of 52. It’s a mystery, but rumor has it that he and two other writers had a meeting, and drank too much. He then developed a fever that they believe to have been Typhus, which ultimately killed him.
3) Which play did Shakespeare write first?
A: Shakespeare probably began to write for the stage in the late 1580s, and, as far as we can tell, he started with the Henry VI trilogy
4) How would you describe Shakespeare’s writing style? Give examples
Shakespeare used a metrical pattern consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, called blank verse. His plays were composed using blank verse, although there are passages in all the plays that deviate from the norm and are composed of other forms of poetry and/or simple prose. Shakespeare's sonnets are written in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare's style of writing and metre choice were typical of the day, and other writings of the time influenced how he structured his compositions.
5) How many plays did Shakespeare write?
We are sure that Shakespeare wrote at least thirty-seven plays over a period of about twenty years, but many believe several more plays should be included in the body of his work. So why can't scholars agree?
6) What Inspired Shakespeare?
From great classical authors like Ovid and Seneca, to English historians like Holinshed, Shakespeare's greatest influences were the works of other great writers. With the exception of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Love's Labour's Lost and The Tempest, which are wholly original stories, Shakespeare borrowed his plots, down to fine detail. His biggest influences were Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400, who wrote the Canterbury Tales) and Plutarch (46-120 AD)
7) What was Shakespeare's religion?
Since we do not know much about the personal life of William Shakespeare, we cannot say for sure what religion he practiced in private. We do know that he was born under the rule of Elizabeth I, who was Protestant and outlawed Catholicism. Thus, Shakespeare's public faith would have been Protestant.
8) Was Shakespeare gay?
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, apparently not intended for publication. The majority of these sonnets address the poet's love for a young man. There is no historical evidence to indicate Shakespeare was bisexual or homosexual; he was a married man with three children. However, the poet's intense romantic feelings for the young man in the sonnets have led some to believe Shakespeare was having a homosexual affair.
9) Was Shakespeare anti-Semitic?
The character of Shylock, the Jewish money-lender who requests a pound of flesh as collateral in The Merchant of Venice, prompts many to wonder about the perception of Jews in Elizabethan England.
10) Was Shakespeare racist?
There is evidence of racial tension in both Othello (which will study soon) and the Merchant of Venice. In Othello, for instance, there is no other physical description of the main character, other than of his skin color. However, there is an interracial relationship and marriage that occurs within the play which in some senses is very progressive. This question is one to consider as we read the play.
11) Was Shakespeare popular in his own day?
Yes, for several years his genius as dramatist and poet had been acknowledged by critics and playgoers alike, and his social and professional position had become considerable. Inside the theatre his influence was supreme
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