Annabel Pope

Annabel Pope
 
 A fictionalised biography of the Great Bard based on the few documents which have reached us and on his works: the first years of his life, the marriage to Anne Hathaway, his move to London, his productive friendship with an Italian (possible supplier of several novellas), his first steps on the stage (as an actor and then as a playwright), his troubles and successes; but also his strong love for a Dark Lady, the mysterious muse who inspired some of his works.
 Each chapter is introduced by the world and English historical situation of the time. Stimulating in-depth analyses are about Shakespeare’s places (Stratford, London), his works (plays and sonnets), his heritage, the mystery surrounding the Dark Lady but also himself. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Key to Summing-up Activities.
 
 Biografia romanzata del Grande Bardo basata sui pochi documenti pervenutici e sulle sue opere. I primi anni della sua vita, il matrimonio con Anne Hathaway, il trasferimento a Londra, l’amicizia feconda con un italiano (probabile fornitore di diverse novelle), i primi passi teatrali come attore e poi come autore, le grandi difficoltà e i grandi successi; ma anche il grande amore verso una Dark Lady, la misteriosa musa ispiratrice di diverse sue opere. Il tutto inserito nel contesto storico del periodo elisabettiano.

William Shakespeare

Chapter 1 - Early days

Extension: Stratford-Upon-Avon

Chapter 2 - Times change

Extension: The attraction of London

Chapter 3 - Success arrives

Extension: Shakespeare and his plays

Chapter 4 - Hide your life

Extension: The rise of the theatre and its dramatists

Chapter 5 - Life begins again

Extension: Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady”

Chapter 6 - The final curtain

Extension: Did Shakespeare really exist?

Summing-up activities

Glossary

 The Globe  was in fact  The Theatre , which in 1598 was pulled down3, plank4 by plank, carried across the river and re-built on the south side of the Thames. This was for two reasons: one was that their lease5 had expired and the other was that in 1596 theatres were banned from inside the city of London because so many people complained about their immorality. By moving away from the city, the company avoided the authorities and from then on, the South Bank became a place of public entertainment, where the theatre stood beside an arena for bear and bull-baiting, gambling houses6 and brothels. The wooden  O  as the Globe was called, was an amphitheatre, meaning that it was for summer performances, open to the sun and rain, a little like a mini  Colosseum . It was built of wood, with a thatched7 roof only over the stage. It was hexagonal and had several doors, as each one was the entrance for a different class of people. At one door, the  groundlings , or poorest people, paid one penny to stand around the stage in the pit8, while for two pennies at another door the betteroff could have a seat; for three pennies you could have a cushion and a seat and for five pennies rich, young gentleman could actually sit on the stage on stools9. It could hold 1,500 people and Shakespeare s plays made it unique, as they allowed every class of Londoner to freely express their disapproval or approval, side by side, in the same building. For very popular performances, the doors were left open and hundreds more people used to crowd around to listen to the play. When it burnt down in 1613, The King s Men re-built it the year after, and The Globe continued to perform plays until 1644, when it was finally pulled down by the Puritans under Oliver Cromwell, who prohibited all theatres and put anyone found acting into prison. It was a sad day for the English public, who had loved the theatre so much. Oliver Cromwell. 3. pulled down: dismantled, destroyed. 4. plank: a long, narrow flat piece of wood. 5. lease: a legal agreement which allows you to use a building in return for money. 6. gambling houses: 16th century equivalent of modern day casinos, where people tried to win money. 7. thatched: made of straw and dried grass. 8. pit: the place in a theatre in front of the stage, where nowadays the orchestra sits and plays. 9. stool: a seat with three legs and no arms or back to support you. 76 

SHAKESPEARE S LIFE AND TIMES (5) WORLD HISTORY 1600 1604 1605 The East India Trading Company was formed. Giordano Bruno was burned to death in Rome for heresy. The Dutch discovered Japan. Don Quixote was published. Rembrandt was born. ENGLISH HISTORY 1600 1601 1603 1605 The Moroccan Ambassador, Abdul-el Quahed, came to London. The Earl of Essex carried out his disastrous rebellion, hoping to take the Queen away from her faithful advisors whom he thought were wrongly advising her. He was later executed. Queen Elizabeth died. James I, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, became King of England. James I opened part of Hyde Park to the public. The Gunpowder plot (Catholic conspirators) tried to blow up1 the Houses of Parliament. SHAKESPEARE S HISTORY 1598-99 The Globe Theatre was built in Bankside, on the other side of the Thames. 1601 Shakespeare s father, John, died. Hamlet was performed. 1602 Othello was performed. Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night were the last plays performed for the Queen. Shakespeare moved to another rented room in Silver Street, north of the Thames. 1603 Shakespeare s acting company was officially adopted by the new King and was called  The King s Players . 1607 Antony and Cleopatra was performed. Edmund, Shakespeare s youngest brother, died. Susanna, his daughter, married. 1608 His mother, Mary, died. 1. blow up: to explode. The Gunpowder Plot. 

Biografia romanzata di Shakespeare:dai primi anni al matrimonio, il trasferimento a Londra, il successo teatrale e l'amore per la misteriosa Dark Lady

The Swan On The Avon Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

The Swan On The Avon

Flowbooks è una piattaforma di distribuzione dedicata al mondo della scuola e dell'università.  Con questa piattaforma di distribuzione, il team di sviluppo Flowbooks  si impegna a soddisfare le esigenze degli utenti digitali, rendendo l'utilizzo accessibile e piacevole.  Entra nella tua area di interesse!

Edisco è una Casa editrice indipendente che opera prevalentemente nel settore educativo.

Edisco

Flowbooks è innovazione didattica a portata di click