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The Shakespeare lecture will cover most of what you need to know. Here are a few ideas that are especially important, so you can study them as you listen to the lecture:
Plot structure
Shakespeare followed the basic plot structure of Greek drama, which was very formal. He used 5 acts, arranged like this:
Shakespeare's idea of tragedy
His basic concepts came from the Greek ideas:
- the goal: inspiring pity and awe
- tragic hero:
- noble, someone we could admire and learn from
- responsible for others
- fate of people tied up with his
- tragic flaw
- when the hero falls, others fall with him, producing catharsis for audience
Shakespeare's audience
included all levels of society:
- nobles
- merchant class
- "groundlings"
- Implications of audience: he had to please everyone, educated or not
Shakespeare's language
- basic speech is blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter
- characters may speak in prose to indicate their low status, or to convey evil or lowly ideas
- you can trust a character when he/she talks directly to the audience. The character is revealing his/her thoughts. This is called a soliloquy.
- skip the clown parts.
Stage conventions
Photo by David Shannon
The Globe Theater, where Shakespeare's play were primarily performed, was quite different from today's theaters. Its form and restrictions affected the plays. In particular, there was minimal scenery and special effects, so characters describe things a lot.
Continue to information about our Shakespeare play, Othello.
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