Annotated Biblography

Bibliography: on the Theatres and Audiences during Shakespeare’s Life William Shakespeare, one of the most well known authors of literature, wrote the tragic play called Hamlet. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet tries to seek revenge on his father’s murderer committed by his uncle and now King, Claudius. Old Hamlet’s ghost instructs Hamlet to seek revenge on Claudius. This further angers Hamlet who is already distraught at the fact that his mother has married Claudius. The pressure causes Hamlet to go crazy and not be able to think straight. King Claudius and the Queen send multiple spies in order to see if Hamlet is really crazy. Hamlet causes Claudius to feel guilty when Hamlet makes a play that resembles the murder of Old Hamlet. Gertrude was concerned about Hamlet’s health and during the toast accidently drinks the poisoned wine that was part of Claudius plan to kill Hamlet. As a result of the fencing match Hamlet is injured from the poisoned the tip of Laertes’ sword. Before Hamlet dies he makes Claudius drink the poisoned wine to get revenge for his father’s death. The topic of my annotated bibliography is the theatres and the audiences during the Shakespearean era. Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, captures the audience’s attention and uses the physical theater to make the play more entertaining. Allison, Amy. Shakespeare 's Globe. San Diego: Lucent, 2000. Print. Amy Allison is considered one of the most well written authors today. She has written many books and poetry such as Jack & Jill and Gargoyles on Guard, as well as enjoying seeing remakes on Shakespeare’s plays. Allison informs the general public of the theatres during Shakespeare’s life and the audiences that attended his plays. Amy Allison states that theatres was consistently changing in order to attract more viewers to the play, But the Theatre that was liked by the Shakespearean people was one that had a large wooden frame surrounding a raised platform that had a stage which was lifted six feet above the ground and backstage. It also had a three tiered gallery that were covered by an overhang which faced an open yard. The audience would have to pay an admission fee to be closer to the stage. This book provides a useful description of what the theatre was like during the Shakespearean era. Brown, John Russel. “Staging Shakespeare’s Plays: A Choice of Theatres.” Omni in Full Text Mega. N.p., May 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. A winner of the Best Speculative Fiction novel and a visiting professor of the University of London, John Brown informs the general public of the theatre and its audience during William Shakespeare’s life. Brown says that the theatre was low to ground and it was constructed to be a three sided stage that would allow the audience to really be involved and pay special attention to the play. Brown reinforces this statement by detailing how this theatre permitted the audience to gather clues that would enhance their understanding of the play. The article offers a valid description of how the construction of the theatre really helped the audiences understand the performance. Conkie, Rob. "Red Button Shakespeare." Omni File Full Text Mega. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012. A lecturer of Drama and the Theatre, Rob Conkie has earned his doctrine degree in literature studies. His most pronounce study is of William Shakespeare. Rob Conkie informs the general public on how the theatres were structured in order to attract more of a crowd. Conkie states that the way the theatre was built could provide the audience to focus and see the facial expressions of the crowd. He also felt that if there were seating in front of the stage the audience could see the emphases on certain parts of the play. This scholarly article provides a useful description on how the theatres were built in order to fit the audience’s needs. Hayes, Douglas W. "Shakespeare 's Visual Theatre." Omni File Full Text Mega. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012. An author of numerous books that includes the war of ’39, Douglas Hayes tells the general public that the theatre resembled the play being conducted. Hayes claims that William Shakespeare wanted the stage and the background to have a wide variety of drawings and woodcuts to provide more of an effect for the audience. Douglas Hayes also says that the visual effect that Shakespeare wanted would allow the crowd to see the symbol of each line that went with the play. The article presents a useful description on how the theatre should be in order to for the audience to catch the important pieces of the play. Mabillard, Amanda. "The Great Theatre: London 's First Public Playhouse." The Great Theatre: London 's First Public Playhouse. Shakespeare Online, 21 Nov. 2000. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. Amanda Mabillard is one of the best Shakespeare researchers and the internet author of the Shakespeare online database. Mabillard informs the general public of the theatres during William Shakespeare’s life. She claims that the theatre was a three story timber structure that was open to the rain or sun and had two external staircases that were leading up to the galleries. The audiences at the theatre could either spend money to sit underneath the galleries or chose to stand out in the open yard for the entire play. This internet article provides a usefully description of the theatres and how the audience could see the play during Shakespeare’s life. Rosmanitz, Klaus. “English-Online.” Theatre in the Age of Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. Internet expert in literature and a master degree holder in English, Klaus Rosmantiz, explained to the public the characteristics of the theater during William Shakespeare’s life. Rosmantiz illustrated that the theaters were composed of open arenas or playhouses that could hold up to three thousand people, and the theaters did not provide shelter against the weather. Klaus Rosmantiz also said that women did not perform in plays, and there was limited scenery which resulted in the costumes playing a vital role in how well the plays were directed. This internet article gives a useful description of what the theater was like during the Shakespearean era.