B. A, Sem - 05 , Paper no. 15_20240930_002127_0000.pdf

Preface to the play of William Shakespeare by Samuel Johnson

1. GOVERNMENT ARTS COLLEGE,
VALLBHIPUR
Presented By :Chudasama Krupaliba
paper no. 15
Preface to the plays of Shakespeare

2. ABOUT THE SAMUEL JOHNSON
– Born
18 September 1709
(OS 7 September)
Lichfield, England
– Education
Pembroke College, Oxford
– Political party
Tory
– Spouse
Elizabeth Porter (née Jervis)
​​(m. 1735; died 1752)
– Pen name
Dr Johnson
– Language
English, Latin
– Notable works
A Dictionary of the English
Language (1755)
A Journey to the Western Isles of
Scotland (1775)
– Died
13 December 1784 (aged 75)
London, Great Britain
https://en.m.wikipedia.org

3. ABOUT SHAKESPEARE
– Born
23 April 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon
– Occupations
Playwrightpoetactor
– Era
Elizabethan Jacobean
– Organization
Lord Chamberlain's Men/King's Men
– Spouse
Anne Hathaway ​(1582)
– Language
Early Modern English
– Genres
Play (comedy , history , tragedy)
Poetry (sonnet , narrative poemepitaph)
https://www.theguardian.com

4. HIS FFAMOUS WORKS
https://www.kosovo.ubuy.com

5. ABOUT " PREFACE TO THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE
Samuel Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare praises Shakespeare's universal portrayal of human nature
and defends his blending of tragedy and comedy. While acknowledging Shakespeare's genius,
Johnson also critiques his loose plot construction, occasional disregard for classical unities, and
sometimes obscure language, yet views these flaws as minor overall.

6. Timelessness of Shakespeare’s Work:
Shakespeare's plays have enduring appeal due to their deep connection with human nature.
The emotions and situations in the plays are universal and relevant across time and cultures.
Realism in Shakespeare’s Characters:
Shakespeare presents characters with true-to-life flaws and complexities.
This realism allows audiences to relate to the characters, making the plays more impactful.

7. Mixture of Tragedy and Comedy:
Johnson defends Shakespeare's blending of tragic and comic elements.
This mixture reflects the reality of life, where joy and sorrow often coexist.
Characterization:
Shakespeare excels in creating distinct and consistent characters.
Even minor characters are well-developed and memorable.

8. Shakespeare’s Language:
Johnson acknowledges the richness of Shakespeare's language, though he notes it can be challenging.
Despite the difficulty, the language is powerful and adds depth to the plays.
Shakespeare’s Lack of Morality Plays:
Johnson notes that Shakespeare does not always explicitly promote moral lessons in his plays.
However, he argues that the plays still reflect moral truths through their portrayal of human behavior.

9. Shakespeare’s Popularity:
Johnson observes that Shakespeare’s works have remained popular over time, indicating their lasting
value and relevance.
The plays continue to be performed and enjoyed by diverse audiences.
Johnson’s Role as an Editor:
Johnson reflects on his role as an editor, aiming to correct errors in previous editions of Shakespeare’s works.
He seeks to preserve the original text as much as possible, while also making it accessible to contemporary readers.

10. Critique of Shakespeare’s Faults:
Johnson criticizes Shakespeare for his occasional use of puns, unnecessary scenes, and anachronisms.
He also notes Shakespeare’s neglect of the unities of time and place, which were considered important in classical
drama.
Despite these faults, Johnson asserts that they do not detract significantly from the overall greatness of Shakespeare’s
work.

11. Points of Shakespeare's faults
Virtue sacrificed to Convenience
Careless about plot development
Mixing Genres
Use of Super natural elements

12. THE THREE UNITIES OF SHAKESPEARE
Unity of Place: A dramatic principle where a play takes place in a single, fixed location, creating simplicity and
coherence.
Unity of Time: A dramatic principle where a play's action unfolds in real-time, without gaps or narrative jumps.
Unity of Action: A dramatic principle where a play has a single, central plot or storyline, driving narrative coherence.

13. Samuel Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare's Plays
(1765) is a foundational work of literary criticism,
offering insightful analysis, balanced evaluation, and
historical context, shaping Shakespearean
scholarship for centuries to come.
CONCLUSION

14. Reference
OpenAIhttps://openai.com › chatgptChatGPT

15. THANK YOU