Introduction to William Shakespeare

From the previous module, you know that William Shakespeare is famous for the poetic sonnet form he created, but he is most famous for the plays he wrote. View the video below to learn more about Shakespeare's life and his rise to fame in the world of drama.

And a little more about Shakespeare:

Although many dramatic elements appear in a multitude of plays, there are certain categories of Shakespeare's plays. View the different categories below:

Tragedies
Comedies
Histories

View the characteristics of each type of Shakespearean play below:

View the full text from the image above.

Characteristics of Shakespeare's Plays:

Tragedies (10 Written)
- Serious themes and motifs
- Death is important
- Contains a (tragic) hero with a fatal flaw; often a nobleman
Comedies (18 Written)
- Comedic Language
- Plot Twists
- Mistaken Identity
- Wedding(s) or Reunion(s)
- Love Obstacles
Histories (10 Written)
- Propaganda for Shakespearean current events
- Real figures from England's history
- Embellishment of plot and characters

The different types of plays each come with their own set of elements, as well. In this module, students will read a Shakespearean Comedy.

Introduction to Drama Self-Assessment

After you feel comfortable with the various dramatic elements and Shakespearean introductions from the lessons, practice your understanding below.

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