Introduction to Shakespeare: The Context of his Theater

16th Century England:

          -Shakespeare was born in 1564 (over 400 years ago!) 

          -Queen Elizabeth was queen during William Shakespeare's career

           -Queen Elizabeth was daughter of Henry VIII and was a supporter of the theater

Changes during the 16th Century:

         1. Reformation: the Catholic Church split into the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church     during this time. For three monarchs, England switched back and forth between Catholic and Protestant


          2. Printing Press: Johannes Gutenberg invented a machine that could print books so no longer did scribes or monks have to copy by hand the bible and other notable texts. This made for wider access to books, bibles, and other literature. It also increased literacy.

          3. Expansion: Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The 1500s or 16th century marks the beginning of colonization in the western world. The world just grew double its size for no one knew of the North and South America before exploration of the 15th and 16th century. 

William Shakespeare:

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in his lifetime of three genres
        1. Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing
        2. Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet
        3. Histories: King Henry and King Richard series of plays  


Shakespeare the Hip Hop Artist: 

Flyin’ High – Hip Hop

“Touch the Sky” by Kanye West

I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky.

Flyin’ High – Shakespeare

Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet 1.4.17-18

You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound.