FOCUS ON... CLIL History William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Theatre William Shakespeare: Life and Works William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England in April, 1564. He was the eldest son of a big family; he had seven brothers and sisters, but three of them died when they were still children. William loved reading and studied Latin writers at a school near his home. Then, in 1582, he got married to Anne Hathaway, who was 26, eight years older than he was. They had three children. In 1584, Shakespeare left Stratford and went to London, where he started working as an actor. Then, he became a playwright* and wrote for a drama* company called The Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1559, this company built the Globe Theatre where people went to see his plays. He wrote Most of his plays between 1589 and 1615. The first plays he wrote were historical, usually about English history. Then he Moved on to comedies about love. Finally, he wrote his areat tragedies like Hamlet. Some people say that Shakespeare got the idea for Hamlet from a very old Scandinavian story called Amleth. Many Payight pecan who wisps 58 scart SHAKESP! eg te people also believe that Kronborg Castle in the town of Helsinger, Denmark, is “Esinore’ in Hamlet. Elsinore is actually the English name for Helsinger. Everybody loved Shakespeare's plays and he became very popular. You can find all different kinds of people in his plays, from kings to cooks, and his stories are often about family problems between father and child, brother and sister, or husband and wife. Shakespeare was different from most playwrights because he was both an actor and a playwright and wrote many more plays than the others. After many years in London, in 1613, he went back to his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, where he died in 1616 at the age of 52. rama astoryacied on sage ARES —The Elizabethan Theatre This period”, known as the Golden Age, was a time of new ideas and new learning, Elizabeth | was Queen of England and she enjoyed drama very much, like the ordinary people of that time. At first, plays were performed’ in the streets. Then, in 156/, the first English theatre was built in London, and was called The Red Lion. These larae, open-air theatres were made of wood and had no roof. They were built in a circle with the stage in the centre. The plays were performed during the day and the people could sit around three sides of the stage to watch it. There were very few things on stage and there was no curtain. Playwrights and Drama Companies All playwrights in the Elizabethan period were —_by young boys in women's, men. Drama companies paid playwrights to Clothes. The actors worked write a play, but the playwright only received —_six days a week and changed the money for the first show. After that, the the play every two days. play belonged to the theatre company and Since costumes were expensive, actors, above the playwright made no more money from it. _all those with a less important part, aften Most playwrights wrote two plays ayear.The wore their normal clothes on stage. Each members of these drama companies were company performed between thirty and forty men only, so all parts for women were played new plays a year. j Task - Internet Look on the Internet. Try to find three examples each of Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies and historical plays, then complete the table below. Tragedies Comedies | _Historical Plays | | What kind of play do you prefer? Give reasons. j period a tine in history perform ac doBEFORE YOU READ Grammar for Key (KET) 1 Choose the correct word (A, B or C) to complete the text. If you can, go (0) __8 the theatre to see a play, It’s so different from watching a film on television. At the theatre, the actors (1)_____on the stage in front of you, Itis much (2)__ exciting than television because they aren't recording the story, but (3) ___ is happening as you watch them. They move about the stage speaking (4) __ parts and you feel you are living this moment with (5)___. It’s like going to a concert to see your favourite singer or band which is much better (6) _ listening to their music on the radio or watching a video of them. Shakespeare wrote plays about history, love and also sad stories (7) ____are called ‘tragedies’. Hamlet was one of Shakespeare's most popular tragedies when he was alive. It’s still popular even today-and you can see it at theatres (8)__ over the world. People think that Shakespeare wrote Hamlet between 1599 and 1602. It’s his (9) play and is the sad story of a young man, Hamlet, who wants to know if it’s true that his uncle, Claudius, killed his brother, Hamlet's father, in order to @0)__king of Denmark, His father is dead and his mother, Gertrude, is now married to his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet feels very alone and is lucky to have his good friend, Horatio. Horatio tries to help Hamlet, but the stary is very sad at the end, as you will see. oO A at & to cin 1 A are B is © was 2 A very B most © more 3 A everybody B everything © everywhere 4 A your B our © their 5 A them B him © us 6 A as B than © that 7 A which B who ¢€ when 8 A all B each © every 9 A longer B mast long © longest 1 A became B become © begin» 1 2 Listen to Act 1 Scene 1 and choose the right answer, A, B or C. Elsinore Castle is in A Denmark. B England. € Scotland. 1 Before seeing the ghost, Horatio tells Marcellus A heisn't afraid of ghosts. B he doesn't believe in ghosts. ¢ hedreams about ghosts every night. 2 Marcellus saw the ghost for the first time with A Hamlet. B Horatio. © Bernardo. 3 The ghost is like A young Hamlet. B their dead King. € the King of Norway. 4 The ghost is wearing the clothes he wore A when he became king B when he was in bed. © when he was in the war. 5 Horatio thinks the ghost A wants to help Norway. B wants to tell them something bad about the future of Denmark. © wants Norway and Denmark to be friends. 6 Fortinbras wants to A go to Denmark to visit its cities. B give Denmark some countryside in Norway, € win back the Norwegian cities lost in the war.AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES Stop & Check Put the sentences about Act 1 in the right order (1 to 10). aoc ee ay DOOOOH OOOO Laertes tells his sister, Ophelia, to be careful about Hamlet. The ghost tells Hamlet how he died. The King and Queen ask Hamlet to stay at Elsinore Castle. Polonius tells his daughter, Ophelia, that Hamlet is probably using her. Horatio sees the ghost with Marcellus, The King tells everybody that he has married Gertrude. Hamlet waits for the ghost with Horatio and Marcellus. Polonius gives his son, Laertes, a lot of advice. Laertes asks the King if he can go back to France. Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost. Vocabulary 2 Shakespeare wrote tragedies like the sad story of Hamlet, but he also wrote funny plays about love called ‘comedies’. Where do you think you can find the following words, in tragedies or comedies? Put T (tragedies) or C (comedies) after each word. love 8 good __ Thae __ 9 worried __ 2 enjoy __ 10 bad Zhu 11 pleasant __ 4 afraid __ Wiaugh __ S upset __ 15 kiss _ 6 sad __ 14 kill 7 glad __ 15 hit =Grammar 3 Choose the best word from the box to complete the sentences. 4t + for» back « off « like * away » at » about + to Horatio says he doesn’t believe __in __ ghosts. 1 When Horatio sees the ghost, he wants to speak it. 2 The ghost goes without saying a word. 3 Fortinbras wants to the cities Norway lost in the war. 4 Gertrude tells Hamlet to take his black clothes. 5 Horatio and Marcellus came to Elsinore when they heard Hamlet's father. 6 At midnight. Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus wait the ghost to arrive. 7 Hamlet says the world is laughing Denmark. 8 Hamlet says the ghost looks his father. PRE-READING ACTIVITY Listening Key (KET) » 6 @ Listen to Act 2 Scene 1 and decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false «F). r Polonius has sent a friend to visit Laertes [7] Ophelia is happy when she comes to her father. L Ophelia was reading when Hamlet arrived. UL Hamlet pulled Ophelia’s arms. Lj Hamlet's hair was tidy. [ Hamlet didn’t say anything to Ophelia. Polonius thinks Hamlet loves Ophelia. J Polonius doesn’t want to tell Ophelia’s story to the King. | OOOOOO 1 Nom pun +AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES Stop & Check 1 Are the following sentences about Act 2 true (T) or false (F)? TE The King and Queen invite two of Hamlet's friends to Elsinore Castle 1 Hamlet's friends don’t want to help the King and Queen. 2 The Queen thinks her son is the same as before her husband died. 3 The King of Norway agreed with young Fortinbras’ plan to start a war with Denmark. 4 Polonius makes a plan to watch Hamlet and Ophelia together. 5S Hamlet tells his friends he isn’t always mad. Hamlet asks his friends to learn a new part for the play. 7 Hamiet is angry with himself because he hasn't done anything about his father's murder. OoO0 O O00 0 0 OO o Grammar 2 Choose the correct word. Ophelia was crying/cried when she came to see her father. 1 Hamlet said/was saying nothing when he met Ophelia. Polonius said he was knowing/knew why Hamlet was mad. 3 Young Fortinbras understood/was understanding his mistake after speaking to his uncle. 4 Hamlet was reading/read when he met Polonius. 5 Hamlet Iiked/was liking the actors when he was in Wittenberg. 6 While the actor was telling/told the story of Troy, he was almost crying 7 While Hamlet talked/was talking on his own, his friends were enjoying their time at Elsinore. nNWriting Key (KET) 3 You're Rosencrantz and you want to buy a present for the Queen. Write to Hamlet. - Ask him what to buy for his mother. - Tell him why you want to buy her a present. ~ Ask him what time to meet for dinner. Write 25-35 words. Speaking 4 work in pairs. Talk about these questions. ~ Do you think Polonius is crazy? Why/Why not? - Do you think Ophelia loves Hamlet? Why/Why not? - Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hamlet's real friends? ‘Why/Why not? PRE-READING ACTIVITY Speaking 5 atthe end of Act 2, Hamlet is planning to write a new part for the play. Answer these questions with a friend. Then, read Act 3, and see how many of your answers are right. 1 Will Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell the King about Hamlet's plan? will the new part of the play be in a garden or in a bedroom? Will the actors forget the new words Hamlet writes? will the King be afraid after he sees the play? Will Hamlet kill the King? Will the Queen hate Hamlet? Will Ophelia still be afraid of Hamlet? Nom awn yAFTER-READING ACTIVITIES Stop & Check 1 Answer the following questions about Act 3. Why did the King and Queen invite Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Elsinore? Because they were worried about Hamlet. Why were the King and Queen pleased about the idea of the play? Why did the King and Polonius watch the meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia? Why did Polonius want the Queen to speak to Hamlet after the play? What did Hamlet write for the play? Why did the King tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England? Why did Hamiet kill Polonius? Why did the ghost come to see Hamlet again? Vocabulary 2 complete the sentences with a word from the box. ci) irty + horrible + best + bad « strange nd - upset ple The King thinks Hamlet is strange Horatio is Hamlet's friend. Hamiet isn’t to Ophelia. Hamlet says that if Ophelia gets married, she must choose @___man. The King is after the play, The King says his hands are with his brother's murder. Hamlet says men become ‘with a woman near them. Hamlet says Claudius is a man.PRE-READING ACTIVITY Listening > 2 & Listen to Act 4 Scene 1 and choose the correct answer, A, B or C. Gertrude is A B c J C1] speaking to her son. speaking to her husband. L] speaking to Hamlet's friends. 1 Gertrude says Hamlet [ O is like the sea and wind in a storm. L] has gone to sea ina storm. mad about the sea and wind. 2 Hamlet heard somebody A (atthe door. B ( under the bed. ¢ CO behind the curtain 3 The King says c L & (they havent loved Hamlet enough. they've loved Hamlet too much. they don't love Hamlet any more. 4 The King must A (J goagainst his c O people. tell his people about the murder. not tell the people about Polonius. 5 Gertrude says Hamlet 7 A has thrown the body away. B will throw the body away tomorrow. c is throwing the body away now. The King wants Hamlet To go away A C1 tomorrow morning. B tomorrow afternoon. ¢ L tomorrow evening. The King asks Hamlet's friends to A (1 be angry with Hamlet. B [1 be horrible to Hamlet. ¢ (be kind to Hamlet Hamlet's friends have to bring the body back A to the small church near the castle. B to the small church in the castle. c to the small church behind the castle. The King says they'll ask their friends A [1 togive them some advice. B LJ to save Denmark. ¢ LD to murder Hamlet. 4AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES Stop & Check 1 Read the sentences about Act 4. Choose the correct word(s) (A,B or C). Hamlet killed Polonius looking behind the curtain. & without B about © after 1 The King says that they've loved Hamlet A too many B too much © very many. 2 The King doesn't know to explain the murder to his people. A why B where c¢ how 3 Hamlet is trying to throw the body. A up B out c away 4 Hamlet puts the body in a safe place where can find it, A somebody B nobody © anybody 5 The King wants to Hamlet to England. A send B bring ¢ take 6 Hamlet won't where he's put the body. A tell B talk © say 7 Fortinbras wants to pass Denmark. A through B by ¢ from % The King tells Horatio to look Ophelia. A for B by ¢ after 9 Laertes sees that his sister, Ophelia has mad. A begun B become ¢ brought 10 Laertes and Hamlet will have a sword . A race B competition © prize Vocabulary 2 Read and complete the missing word. They are all in Act 4. This evening. tonight Very bad weather, 2 When you kill somebody. 3 Where the King and Queen live. _A part of the year. You travel on this at sea. s ‘You can hear this. n You find these in a garden. f Noms Grammar 3 Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Present Perfect of the verb given. The Queen tells the King about what she Saw _ the night before. (see) 1 The King Polonius’ murder to the people of Denmark yet. (not explain) 2 The King says Hamlet a danger for Denmark for too long. ¢be) Before telling everybody about Polonius' murder, the King his friends for some advice. Cask) Fortinbras in Poland last night. (arrive) Hamlet anything about his father’s murder yet. (not do) Ophelia’s purple flowers when she lost her father. (die) When Laertes arrived, he his sister was mad. (not know) 4 5 6 rf PRE-READING ACTIVITY » 10 4 Listen to part of Act 5 Scene 1 and complete the sentences. Hamlet says once, the skull could s / ng, Hamlet says maybe the skull belonged to a king or a The graveisfora_ Hamlet knew Yorick when he, Hamlet, was a _ Hamlet's father laughed at Yorick’s funny _ The priest isn't saying his usual____. Laertes doesn’t like the way the priest is _ = The priest says the reason for the woman's death Isn't The King says to Laertes everything will be ONanauwnaAFTER-READING ACTIVITIES Stop & Check 1 Complete these questions about Act 5 with a word or expression from the box. Then, match the questions to the right answers. | who (2) » what * where * whose + why + how » what kind of [2] Who did the skull that Hamlet spoke about in the graveyard belong to? grave was the man preparing? stories did Yorick tell Hamlet's father? O did Hamlet find in Rosencrantz's jacket? did the King put the poison? did Gertrude die? did Hamlet kill Claudius? 7] will become King of Denmark? anawn = a Yorick. e into a glass of wine. b Fortinbras. f aletter. ¢ with Laertes' sword. g funny ones. d Ophelia’s fh because she drank the poison, Writing 2 Answer the following questions. Did you like the play? Why/Why not? Were you surprised by how it ended? Why/Why not? Who did you fee! most sorry for in the play? Why? Who did you like best? Why? Who didn’t you like? Why? Which part of the play did you like best? Do you think Hamlet was really mad? Why?/Why not? Name wnVocabulary 3 Unscramble these verbs from Act 5. DFNI WNKO KATE LETL RWTEL LALF GEFROIV ASY Noununea Grammar fs iz 'o 44a = 1 ann 4 Complete the sentences with the Past Simple of the verbs in exercise 3. The men in the graveyard found some skulls Horatio Hamlet Hamlet Gertrude The King Laertes Hamlet Noomawne Writing Hamlet away from the graveyard. Horatio must be strong at the end of the play. Yorick as a child. after drinking the wine with poison in it Laertes to wait a little more, Hamlet in the end. another letter to the King of England. 5 The story of Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, and it’s very sad at the end. Change the story so that there is a happy ending and write your ideas below.TEST YOURSELF ‘Choose A, B, or C to complete the sentences about the play. The first person to see the ghost in the play is A Hamlet. Marcellus. € Horatio. 1 Hamlet's father won the war against A Norway. B England. © Poland. 2 Before leaving for France, Laertes tells his sister A she'll be Queen B not tobelieve € to look after one day. Hamlet. their father. 3 Polonius thinks Hamlet has become mad because A he doesn't like B he'ssadforhis © he thinks. Claudius. father’s death. Ophelia doesn't love him. 4 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern A don't think Hamlet Bare pleased to € want to write a will enjoy seeing help the King new part for the actors. and Queen. the play. 5 Hamlet tells Ophelia to A get married B go andlive © have lots of ina church. ina church. children. 6 The King thinks Hamlet is dangerous and wants to send him to A Norway. B Poland. © England. 7 During the play, Hamlet and Horatio watch A the King’s face. B the Queen's face. © Ophelia’s face. ® Hamlet puts Polonius’ body A under a tree. B inthe river. © under the stairs in the hall. 9 Hamlet never arrives in England because A heruns away from B he misses the © some pirates Rosencrantz and ship. take him from Guildenstern. the ship. 10 Hamlet dies because A he drinks poison. B Laertes' sword € he kills himself. with poison on it, cuts him.