William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare(1564 – 1616)(1564 – 1616)

BirthBirth Shakespeare’s birth date is unknown, Shakespeare’s birth date is unknown,

however, we do know he was however, we do know he was baptized on baptized on April 26April 26thth, 1564, 1564..

Note:Note: May have been born three days May have been born three days earlier on April 23 (the same month and earlier on April 23 (the same month and day he was recorded to have died in 1616)day he was recorded to have died in 1616)

The third of eight childrenThe third of eight children Born to Born to John and Mary ShakespeareJohn and Mary Shakespeare Lived in an English town called Lived in an English town called Stratford-Stratford-

Upon-AvonUpon-Avon

Shakespeare’s home atShakespeare’s home at Stratford-Upon- Avon Stratford-Upon- Avon

Stratford- Upon- AvonStratford- Upon- Avon Surrounded by forestsSurrounded by forests Deer wandered freelyDeer wandered freely Wild flowers grewWild flowers grew Swans sailed down the Swans sailed down the

River AvonRiver Avon Therefore, although Therefore, although

Shakespeare later Shakespeare later moved to London and moved to London and was influenced by the was influenced by the city, the countryside city, the countryside and it’s natural and it’s natural surroundings certainly surroundings certainly influenced his writing.influenced his writing.

His ParentsHis Parents

His father was a prosperous His father was a prosperous glovemakerglovemaker

His mother was from a His mother was from a good familygood family who had somewho had some fortune fortune (she inherited (she inherited considerable farm property)considerable farm property)

His parents were His parents were respected by his respected by his neighbors neighbors (a very important status (a very important status to have during those times) to have during those times)

EducationEducation Attended what was called Attended what was called

“grammar school”“grammar school” At grammar school he At grammar school he

mainly learned mainly learned LatinLatin grammar grammar

Later, in London, he Later, in London, he learned learned FrenchFrench

Studied many plays Studied many plays (based on (based on mythology and mythology and historyhistory))

Travelling playersTravelling players (actors) (actors) came to Stratford to came to Stratford to perform- this was his perform- this was his introduction to drama!introduction to drama!

““Travelling Players” by Brian O’Neil Travelling Players” by Brian O’Neil (painting)(painting)

MarriageMarriage Married at the age of Married at the age of 1818 Married Married Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway Anne was Anne was 8 8 years older than years older than

ShakespeareShakespeare They had They had 3 children3 children: Susanna : Susanna

(born 1583) and(born 1583) andtwins Hamnet (male) twins Hamnet (male)

and Judith (female)and Judith (female) (born (born

1585)1585)

Note:Note: It is probably no coincidence It is probably no coincidence that one of Shakespeare’s that one of Shakespeare’s famous characters has a name famous characters has a name very similar to that of his only very similar to that of his only son. That character and play, of son. That character and play, of course, is known as course, is known as HamletHamlet. . Tragically, his son Hamnet died Tragically, his son Hamnet died at the age of 11 of unknown at the age of 11 of unknown causes.causes.

““The Lost Years”The Lost Years” The period from The period from 1585- 1585-

15921592 is known as “the is known as “the lost years”lost years”

We know very little We know very little about Shakespeare’s about Shakespeare’s life during this timelife during this time

Some believe Some believe Shakespeare may have Shakespeare may have worked as a worked as a law clerk, law clerk, tutor, horse-holder, tutor, horse-holder, assistant to his father assistant to his father or even as a soldieror even as a soldier

His Move to LondonHis Move to London At some point before At some point before

Shakespeare was 28 Shakespeare was 28 years old he moved to years old he moved to LondonLondon

He became an He became an actor actor before he became a before he became a playwrightplaywright

The first play he probably The first play he probably wrote was wrote was Henry VIHenry VI, a , a history playhistory play

Many believe he received Many believe he received more money from his more money from his share as an actor,share as an actor, since since the plays he wrote and the plays he wrote and sold would only have sold would only have earned him a few earned him a few pounds!pounds!

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare wrote three three different different kinds of plays:kinds of plays:

1)1) Tragedies (e.g. Tragedies (e.g. Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, MacbethHamlet, Macbeth))

2)2) Comedies (e.g. Comedies (e.g. A Midsummer A Midsummer Night’s DreamNight’s Dream))

3)3) Histories (e.g. Histories (e.g. Henry V, King JohnHenry V, King John))

““Romeo and Juliet” (painting on canvas)Romeo and Juliet” (painting on canvas)(Tragedy)(Tragedy)

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Tragedies:Tragedies:

Often depicted the Often depicted the fall of people in fall of people in high positions or high positions or the fall of a hero the fall of a hero and/or those he and/or those he loved.loved.

MacbethMacbeth (stage production) performed as an opera (stage production) performed as an operain Torontoin Toronto(Tragedy)(Tragedy)

King LearKing Lear (stage production) at the (stage production) at the Orlando Theater FestivalOrlando Theater Festival

(Tragedy)(Tragedy)

Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing (from the 1993 film) (from the 1993 film)(Comedy)(Comedy)

Shakespeare’s Comedies:Shakespeare’s Comedies:

Were a lighter form of drama which aimed to Were a lighter form of drama which aimed to amuse audiences and often ended happily.amuse audiences and often ended happily.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream A Midsummer Night’s Dream (stage production) by (stage production) by The Texas Bard Theatre CompanyThe Texas Bard Theatre Company

Note:Note: Nick Bottom has been turned into a donkey Nick Bottom has been turned into a donkey(Comedy)(Comedy)

Henry VHenry V performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company inin

Stratford and LondonStratford and London(History)(History)

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Histories:Histories:

Were based on the Were based on the lives of real people lives of real people and most and most concerned the rise concerned the rise and fall of English and fall of English kings and nobility.kings and nobility.

The Bubonic Plague and The Bubonic Plague and ShakespeareShakespeare

In 1592, the In 1592, the bubonic bubonic plagueplague struck London struck London

It killed It killed ten percentten percent of the cityof the city

The theatre was The theatre was closed between 1592- closed between 1592- 15941594

Shakespeare Shakespeare concentrated on concentrated on writingwriting during this during this timetime

His SuccessHis Success

Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare wrote a total of:a total of:

38 plays38 plays

154 sonnets154 sonnets

2 long narrative 2 long narrative poemspoems

Several other poemsSeveral other poems

His SuccessHis Success He was a member of the He was a member of the Lord Lord

Chamberlain’s Men (later called The Chamberlain’s Men (later called The King’s Men)King’s Men) acting troupe. These actors acting troupe. These actors remained in the troupe over the course remained in the troupe over the course of Shakespeare’s professional life and of Shakespeare’s professional life and they received money from the Lord they received money from the Lord Chamberlain!Chamberlain!

His love for England was apparent in his His love for England was apparent in his plays and he was popular with plays and he was popular with Queen Queen Elizabeth IElizabeth I and later and later King James IKing James I..

There is no questions that he was, by his There is no questions that he was, by his early thirties, a respectably prosperous early thirties, a respectably prosperous citizencitizen

DeathDeath

Shakespeare died on Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 (he April 23, 1616 (he lived to be 52 years old)lived to be 52 years old)

There are different theories about how he There are different theories about how he died, but most agree the cause of his died, but most agree the cause of his death is unknowndeath is unknown

He is buried at Church of the Holy Trinity He is buried at Church of the Holy Trinity in in Stratford-Upon-AvonStratford-Upon-Avon

There are There are many monuments dedicatedmany monuments dedicated to to him throughout the worldhim throughout the world

His plays were collected and published by His plays were collected and published by two of his actor friendstwo of his actor friends after his death after his death

ReferencesReferencesImages:Images:- Stratford home and countryside (photos) from - Stratford home and countryside (photos) from

http://www.ambassador-tours.com/images/garden/Stratford-Upon-Avon.jpghttp://www.ambassador-tours.com/images/garden/Stratford-Upon-Avon.jpg-“Travelling Players” by Brian O’Neil (painting) from -“Travelling Players” by Brian O’Neil (painting) from www.theothersidegallery.orgwww.theothersidegallery.org- 15- 15thth Century London (replica photo) from http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8540a/21913/ Century London (replica photo) from http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/8540a/21913/- Romeo and Juliet (painting) by - Romeo and Juliet (painting) by http://english149-w2008.pbwiki.comhttp://english149-w2008.pbwiki.com- Macbeth (stage photograph) by www.malabar.net - Macbeth (stage photograph) by www.malabar.net - King Lear (stage photograph) by- King Lear (stage photograph) bywww.shakespearefest.orgwww.shakespearefest.org- Much Ado About Nothing (film photo) from - Much Ado About Nothing (film photo) from

http://www.celluloidheroreviews.com/2007/11/29/much-ado-about-nothing/http://www.celluloidheroreviews.com/2007/11/29/much-ado-about-nothing/- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (stage photograph) by - A Midsummer Night’s Dream (stage photograph) by

http://dancehunter.blogspot.com/2006/04/bard-hits-burbs-texas-repertory.htmlhttp://dancehunter.blogspot.com/2006/04/bard-hits-burbs-texas-repertory.html- Henry V (stage photograph) by www.dailyinfo.co.uk - Henry V (stage photograph) by www.dailyinfo.co.uk - Bubonic plague (drawing) from hawtaction.com - Bubonic plague (drawing) from hawtaction.com - Macbeth original play from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth- Macbeth original play from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth- Shakespeare Portrait #1: www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_hist.. - Shakespeare Portrait #1: www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_hist.. - Shakespeare Portrait #2: librarykvpattom.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/s.. - Shakespeare Portrait #2: librarykvpattom.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/s.. - Shakespeare Photograph (actor) #3: blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/brown/archives/Sir%20W... - Shakespeare Photograph (actor) #3: blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/brown/archives/Sir%20W... - Shakespeare Drawing: etc.usf.edu/clipart/700/794/shakespeare_2_lg.gif - Shakespeare Drawing: etc.usf.edu/clipart/700/794/shakespeare_2_lg.gif

Information:Information:- “Getting Acquainted with Shakespeare” (handout) (1985) by J. Weston Walch- “Getting Acquainted with Shakespeare” (handout) (1985) by J. Weston Walch- Shakespeare Teacher’s Guide (1999) by Shirley Eley Nachtrieb, McDonald Publishing- Shakespeare Teacher’s Guide (1999) by Shirley Eley Nachtrieb, McDonald Publishing- Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare: The World as Stage (article)- Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare: The World as Stage (article)