William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Life and TimesLife and Times

Childhood and EducationChildhood and Education

1564 (most likely April 23rd) Parents were John and Mary Shakespeare John was a merchant while Mary took care

of their 8 children of whom Shakespeare was the 3rd eldest

Shakespeare was educated at the Stratford grammar school where he learned English and Latin

Other influences include the Church, as everyone attended church and received training in the many stories of the bible.

Marriage and DeathMarriage and Death

Married Anne Hathaway on Married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582, who at the time November 28, 1582, who at the time was 3 months pregnant and also 8 was 3 months pregnant and also 8 years older than himyears older than him

They had 3 children, Daughter They had 3 children, Daughter Susanna and twins Hamnet and Susanna and twins Hamnet and JudithJudith

Died on April 23, 1616Died on April 23, 1616

Shakespeare’s WorldShakespeare’s World

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England Queen Elizabeth 1558 – 1603Queen Elizabeth 1558 – 1603 Elizabeth was 25 years old when she Elizabeth was 25 years old when she

became Queen of England in 1558 became Queen of England in 1558 She held reign for 45 years until her death She held reign for 45 years until her death

in 1603 in 1603 She remained unmarried throughout her She remained unmarried throughout her

entire life and used her position as an entire life and used her position as an unmarried monarch to her political unmarried monarch to her political advantage in Europe.advantage in Europe.

Shakespeare’s WorldShakespeare’s World

Move into the CitiesMove into the Cities London became one of the most populated London became one of the most populated

cities in the world cities in the world Also, it was one of the most vile, unhealthy and Also, it was one of the most vile, unhealthy and

pungent citiespungent cities Created opportunities for Theatres and Created opportunities for Theatres and

entertainment companies to attract mass entertainment companies to attract mass crowds for their performancescrowds for their performances Plague Plague Bear BaitingBear Baiting

Shakespeare’s Career and The Shakespeare’s Career and The GlobeGlobe

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre The original globe was built in 1599 by the The original globe was built in 1599 by the

Burbage brothers Cuthbert and Richard Burbage brothers Cuthbert and Richard Shakespeare invested some money in the Shakespeare invested some money in the

theatre to have part ownership as well as some theatre to have part ownership as well as some other members of Lord Chamberlain's Men other members of Lord Chamberlain's Men

Three levels of the theatre represent the Three levels of the theatre represent the class structure of Elizabethan Englandclass structure of Elizabethan England Bottom – 1 penceBottom – 1 pence Middle – 3 penceMiddle – 3 pence Top – 6 penceTop – 6 pence

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Shakespeare as Pop CultureShakespeare as Pop Culture

In Elizabethan Culture everyone went to In Elizabethan Culture everyone went to the plays the plays

Shakespeare and Marlowe were two of the Shakespeare and Marlowe were two of the biggest playwrights and were always biggest playwrights and were always competingcompeting

The plays were the equivalent to The plays were the equivalent to Television todayTelevision today

Also, the playhouse was where everyone Also, the playhouse was where everyone went to be “seen” and to make went to be “seen” and to make appearances in societyappearances in society

Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

Shakespeare wrote plays for three main Shakespeare wrote plays for three main Genres:Genres: ComediesComedies

RomancesRomances

TragediesTragedies HistoriesHistories

Has an amazing ability to capture the human Has an amazing ability to capture the human condition or main archetypes condition or main archetypes

Shakespeare speaks across time to all humans Shakespeare speaks across time to all humans and what struggles and joys we all experience.and what struggles and joys we all experience.

Reduced Shakespeare Company Reduced Shakespeare Company version of Shakespeare’s version of Shakespeare’s

biographybiography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4HdGJcJVohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4HdGJcJVo