“He was not of an age, but for all time.” Ben Johnson “He was not of an age, but for all time.” Ben JohnsonFour centuries after he wrote them, the works of William Shakespeare continue to entertain and intrigue audiences around the world. Shakespeare’s genius permanently shaped the English language, while his knowledge of the human mind and heart speaks to us across the years. In the words of his friend and rival playwright Ben Jonson, “He was not of an age, but for all time.”
(from the Folger Shakespeare Library site, Discovering Shakespeare; painting-artist unknown)
Working in pairs, take some time to explore this time period through the eyes of Shakespeare. Imagine yourself as a patron of the theatre in 16th century England. Discover what the theatre looked like, who the people were who attended, and perhaps get a glimpse at the great man himself and begin to understand why his works are still so important today. Use the Adobe fill-in-the blanks form to record your answers. When you are finished, hit send. If you do not have the updated Adobe program on your computer, please update before trying to use the form.
Absolute Shakespeare will give you concise, quick facts on every aspect of the bard and the play!
According to historians, Shakespeare lived from 1564-1616. He wrote Romeo and Juliet around 1594-1596. Very few people realize that in addition to the wealth of literature he left behind, he was also an actor in many of his plays. Click on this link to learn some more information about William Shakespeare.
Before this great building was constructed, plays were performed in inns, college yards and private homes. Take some time to explore this theatre by viewing a virtual tour. Walk around the theatre using this 3D stimulation of the actual layout. Quicktime is necessary for viewing. Answer a few questions about the life in the theatre:
How did the original theatre burn down? #6
Why was it so hard to change the scenery in this theatre? #7
Why did the actors rely very heavily on lavish costumes? #8
Two classes of people attended the plays #9 Who were the groundlings and how much would they have to pay if they wanted a better seat? How many people were able to attend a performance? #9b
A wide-sweeping catastrophic event closed the theatre several times. What happened and why was it so dangerous? #10
Take a few minutes to see what was worn during the Elizabethan period. Fashions brought about quite a bit of self-expression.
"All the world's a stage."
"Two households, both alike in dignity
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene.
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny."
Romeo & Juliet
The setting for the play was Verona, Italy. Why? (#11) Take a look at some of the slides in this tour around Verona. Pay special attention to Slide #`14 and tell me the name of Juliet's family (#12). In Slide #15, tell me the name of Romeo's house. Why is it closed today? (#13)
What was it like to live in Italy during the Renaissance? English students at Springfield High School created a site which tells us a great deal about Elizabethan England during the time of Shakespeare. (Just browse this part....no need to put answers on your sheet)
Even today, artists and movie producers are trying to capture the essence of Romeo & Juliet. Take a look at some of these paintings depicting these actors through the years.
Philip H. Calderon: Juliet Frank Dicksee: Romeo and Juliet 
After reading Shakespeare for the first time, you may ask yourself who this man really is? Around the end of the 18th century, others bgan to question whether or not one person could have written all of these works attributed to Shakespeare. Some even believed that Shakespeare never really existed. If this peaks your interest, take a look at these sites and see what conclusions you reach:
Shakespeare's Authorship
Shakespeare Authorship Page
Did you know that you can download the entire play of Romeo & Juliet for free? Why do you think this is possible?
When you are finished reading the play, go to this media-rich site to see images and pick out specific parts of the play to learn more about the story and the interpretation. Interactive Folio
