Overview
This lecture introduces William Shakespeare, provides historical context for his play Twelfth Night, explains the tradition and structure of the sonnet, and outlines key themes in the play.
Introduction to Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare was born around 1564 and died in 1616.
- He married Anne Hathaway, who was older, and had three children: Susannah, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
- Shakespeare was a writer, actor, theater owner, and director in London.
- Much about his life is unknown, but he is known to have acted as King Lear.
Why Read Shakespeare?
- Shakespeare is valued for his complex characters, timeless themes, and intricate language.
- Before Shakespeare, English literature featured mostly flat, symbolic characters.
- His works are often modernized and adapted due to their lasting relevance.
- Shakespeare’s language can be difficult, but watching performances can help with understanding.
Life and Theater in Shakespeare’s London
- The Globe Theatre was located in a rough area and attracted diverse, often rowdy audiences.
- Theater was considered low-brow entertainment and sometimes immoral, especially by the Puritans.
- Acting was not a reputable job and women were not allowed to perform.
- London at the time was dirty, crime-ridden, and experienced frequent fires and poverty.
Twelfth Night Summary and Themes
- Twelfth Night was written around 1601-1602 and is both a comedy and a play with dark undertones.
- The story involves Viola, who, after a shipwreck, believes her twin brother is dead and disguises herself as a man to serve Duke Orsino.
- Orsino loves Olivia, who is mourning her brother and refuses suitors, leading to complex identity and gender confusion.
- The play explores issues of identity, disguise, madness, grief, and different types of love.
Sonnets and Their Role
- A sonnet is a 14-line poem with established forms and traditions, originating from Petrarch in Italy.
- Traditional sonnets focused on intense, unattainable love; Petrarch’s sonnets were to the idealized, unreachable Laura.
- Neoplatonism influenced the sonnet tradition by idealizing pure, unattainable love as spiritually uplifting.
- English sonnets, especially Shakespeare’s, shifted focus to more realistic love and sometimes attainable subjects.
Shakespearean vs. Petrarchan Sonnets
- Petrarchan sonnets: 8-line octave (abba abba) + 6-line sestet (cde cde), set up a problem and provide a resolution.
- Shakespearean sonnets: three 4-line quatrains (abab cdcd efef) + a final couplet (gg).
- Shakespeare satirized exaggerated poetic tropes about beauty and unattainable love.
Twelfth Night and the Sonnet Tradition
- Twelfth Night opens with Orsino expressing exaggerated, cliché-ridden love similar to early sonnet conventions.
- Shakespeare’s portrayal of Orsino mocks unrealistic portrayals of love, a theme explored in his own sonnets.
- The play questions the difference between true love and overly dramatic, insincere love.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Sonnet — a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure.
- Octave — the first eight lines of a Petrarchan sonnet.
- Sestet — the final six lines of a Petrarchan sonnet.
- Quatrain — a stanza of four lines, used in Shakespearean sonnets.
- Neoplatonism — a philosophy combining Platonic ideas with Christianity, emphasizing ideal forms and spiritual love.
- Groundlings — the audience members who stood in the pit of the Globe Theatre.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read or watch Twelfth Night, starting with Act 1.
- Review the structure of Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.
- Prepare questions for the next lecture on character and theme development in Twelfth Night.