Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s Life

Jon SJon SJimmy FJimmy FOlivia OOlivia O

Michael MMichael M

Stratford Beginnings Stratford Beginnings

Shakespeare was born in April of Shakespeare was born in April of 1564.1564.

As a boy he grew up in Stratford and As a boy he grew up in Stratford and attended a school that was attended a school that was considered excellent.considered excellent.

School started at age four or five and School started at age four or five and the students were taught to read and the students were taught to read and write in English.write in English.

Stratford Beginnings (Cont.)Stratford Beginnings (Cont.)

After a short two years in the petty After a short two years in the petty schools, the children then moved up schools, the children then moved up to the next level of education, to the next level of education, grammar school.grammar school.

This is where they began to study This is where they began to study Latin grammar and Latin texts. Latin grammar and Latin texts.

This study would take up most of This study would take up most of their day.their day.

Success in LondonSuccess in London

By 1592 Shakespeare had achieved By 1592 Shakespeare had achieved some prominence in London as both some prominence in London as both an actor and a playwright. an actor and a playwright.

In 1593, Shakespeare became a In 1593, Shakespeare became a published poet. In 1593, he published published poet. In 1593, he published his long narrative poem his long narrative poem Venus and Venus and Adonis;Adonis; in 1594, he followed it with in 1594, he followed it with The Rape of Lucrece.The Rape of Lucrece.

Success in London (Cont.)Success in London (Cont.)

In 1599, Shakespeare's company built a In 1599, Shakespeare's company built a theater for themselves across the river theater for themselves across the river from London, naming it the Globe. from London, naming it the Globe.

The plays that are considered to be his The plays that are considered to be his major tragedies, were written while the major tragedies, were written while the company was residing in The Globe.company was residing in The Globe.

Many comedies were also produced in Many comedies were also produced in The Globe.The Globe.

Success in London (Cont.)Success in London (Cont.)

Between 1608 and 1612, Between 1608 and 1612, Shakespeare wrote several plays—Shakespeare wrote several plays—among them among them The Winter's TaleThe Winter's Tale and and The TempestThe Tempest . .

It was until 1613 that everything was It was until 1613 that everything was going great. This was the year The going great. This was the year The Globe burned to the ground during Globe burned to the ground during the performance of the performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII . .

The Final YearsThe Final Years

Between 1610 and 1613, Between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare has moved back to Shakespeare has moved back to Stratford-upon-Avon, and owns a Stratford-upon-Avon, and owns a very large house with considerable very large house with considerable property.property.

His wife, their two daughters and His wife, their two daughters and their daughter’s husbands all reside their daughter’s husbands all reside in the house.in the house.

The Final Years (Cont.)The Final Years (Cont.)

During his years in London, During his years in London, Shakespeare presumably acquired a Shakespeare presumably acquired a large sum of money.large sum of money.

This money came from the acting This money came from the acting company’s profit and his own profit company’s profit and his own profit as an actor.as an actor.

With careful investing, Shakespeare With careful investing, Shakespeare became the wealthy man that became the wealthy man that surviving documents portray him as.surviving documents portray him as.

The Final Years (Cont.)The Final Years (Cont.)

William Shakespeare died in William Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616 and was Stratford on April 23, 1616 and was buried April, 25.buried April, 25.

Seven years after his death, his Seven years after his death, his collected plays were published as collected plays were published as Mr. Mr. William Shakespeare’sWilliam Shakespeare’s Comedies, Comedies, Histories, & TragediesHistories, & Tragedies..

This work later became known as the This work later became known as the First Folio. First Folio.

Shakespeare’s StoryShakespeare’s Story

Shakespeare inhabited the worlds of London Shakespeare inhabited the worlds of London and Stratford we know from surviving and Stratford we know from surviving documents and also from the plays documents and also from the plays themselves.themselves.

From these records, we can sketch his life.From these records, we can sketch his life. We know from his works that he was a We know from his works that he was a

voracious reader.voracious reader. We know from legal and business documents We know from legal and business documents

that he was an accomplished theater man that he was an accomplished theater man who also became a wealthy landowner. who also became a wealthy landowner.

Shakespeare’s Story (Cont.)Shakespeare’s Story (Cont.)

We know a bit about his family life We know a bit about his family life and a fair amount about his legal and and a fair amount about his legal and financial dealings. financial dealings.

Most scholars today depend upon Most scholars today depend upon such evidence as they draw their such evidence as they draw their picture of the world's greatest picture of the world's greatest playwright.playwright.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Discover Shakespeare." "Discover Shakespeare." -Folger -Folger Shakespeare LibraryShakespeare Library. Web. 02 Apr. . Web. 02 Apr. 2012.2012.