PLOTS
Shakespeare used many archetypal plots in his plays. Below are the three main plot styles:
Tragedy
The play starts off like a modern day story (could be a love story or family problems) and goes along so you think it will end happily. But unexpected problems plague the protagonist and in the end and important loved character tragically dies. The death can be devastating but can e a devastatingly happy ending. The kind of plot occurs in Shakespeare's works such as Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar and Macbeth.
History
Histories are plays which involve the stories of real life characters that lived in the past. Shakespeare's history plays often used some exaggerated story lines of real life events. These histories don't follow a particular stereotypical plot line. Some examples of Shakespeare's plays are Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Henry VII, King John, Richard II, Richard III.
Comedy
Shakespeare's comedy plays often involves a serious underlying meaning to the play but has a comedic overlay to lighten the story. Shakespeare uses particular characters (naive or drunken) in order to fit in with the story but uses them in a way to create laughter amongst an audience. Examples from Shakespeare includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest and Twelfth Night.
Shakespeare used many archetypal plots in his plays. Below are the three main plot styles:
Tragedy
The play starts off like a modern day story (could be a love story or family problems) and goes along so you think it will end happily. But unexpected problems plague the protagonist and in the end and important loved character tragically dies. The death can be devastating but can e a devastatingly happy ending. The kind of plot occurs in Shakespeare's works such as Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar and Macbeth.
History
Histories are plays which involve the stories of real life characters that lived in the past. Shakespeare's history plays often used some exaggerated story lines of real life events. These histories don't follow a particular stereotypical plot line. Some examples of Shakespeare's plays are Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Henry VII, King John, Richard II, Richard III.
Comedy
Shakespeare's comedy plays often involves a serious underlying meaning to the play but has a comedic overlay to lighten the story. Shakespeare uses particular characters (naive or drunken) in order to fit in with the story but uses them in a way to create laughter amongst an audience. Examples from Shakespeare includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest and Twelfth Night.