V5 P2 Shakespeare's plays

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Basic rules

• We do our work when we should
• We are silent during explanations and raise our hands for questions
• Our phone is in our "zakkie" on the corner of our table
• We don't eat, drink, or chew gum in class

learning goals

- I can explain what a tragedy, comedy, and history is

- I can name Shakespearean examples for each of these categories

- I can explain a plot structure

Shakespeare

What are Aristotles unities?
(remember, there are 4)

What is the difference?

Tragedy

Comedy

History

Tragedies

A work in which the main character is brought to ruin especially in consequence of a tragic flaw or moral weakness. It has an unhappy, but meaningful ending.

Shakespeare's tragedies

• "the Scottish Play"
• Hamlet
• King Lear
• Othello
• Julius Caesar
• Romeo and Juliet

Comedies

A dramatic work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains resolution of the thematic conflict.

Shakespeare's comedies

• As You Like It
• Much Ado About Nothing
• The Taming of the Shrew
• Two Gentlemen of Verona
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

Histories

Based on the life of a historic (British) King.

In his histories, Shakespeare explores the issue of kingship: What is a good king? What is a rightful king? How do you deal with a rightful king that is not a good king?

(deposing of a king was seen as a sin against God because a king was seen as God's temporal representation on earth)

Shakespeare's histories

• Richard I
• Henry IV (pt. 1 and 2)
• Henry V
• Henry VI (pt. 1 and 2)

Freytag's Pyramid

Freytag's Pyramid

Exposition

> the start of the story

> the protagonist is introduced

> the (main/first) setting is described

> something happens

Rising Action

> events unfold

> things happen

> more problems

> more exciting

Climax

> most exciting

> problems at max

> can't stop reading/ playing/watching

Falling Action

> main problem is solved

> other (minor) problems are resolved

> questions are answered

Denouement/

Resolution

The they-lived-happily-

ever-after-stage

!not always happy ending!

Think of Cinderella

What type of story is this? (i.e. comedy, tragedy, history)

Fill in the plot pyramid for Cinderella.

Cinderella

Cinderella and the other characters are introduced

the king wants his son to find a suitable bride

- Cinderella is not allowed to go to the ball

- her fairy godmother helps her

- she dances with the prince

- she looses her slipper

- the prince wants to find her

the slipper doesn't fit the stepsisters, but does fit Cinderella

the prince marries Cinderella

and they lived happily ever after