The Life and Times of The Life and Times of William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

1564-16161564-1616

• Shakespeare was born in 1564 in a Shakespeare was born in 1564 in a town called Stratford-upon-Avon. It town called Stratford-upon-Avon. It was north of London. was north of London.

• His father, John Shakespeare, owned His father, John Shakespeare, owned a shop as a glove maker and also a shop as a glove maker and also held several government positions, held several government positions, including Mayor of Stratford. including Mayor of Stratford.

He learned Latin in his grammar He learned Latin in his grammar school as a child.school as a child.

In Stratford-Upon Avon, he watched In Stratford-Upon Avon, he watched pageants and shows during pageants and shows during holidays, enjoyed fairs twice a year holidays, enjoyed fairs twice a year and enjoyed traveling companies of and enjoyed traveling companies of actors which would perform there.actors which would perform there.

• In 1582 at the age of 18, he married In 1582 at the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway who was 26.Anne Hathaway who was 26.

• He had a daughter Susanna and He had a daughter Susanna and twins named Hamnet and Judith.twins named Hamnet and Judith.

He left Stratford for London to He left Stratford for London to advance his literary career and advance his literary career and become an actor. become an actor.

In London he became a shareholder In London he became a shareholder in an acting company called The in an acting company called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men as well as Lord Chamberlain’s Men as well as the primary playwright and an the primary playwright and an actor. actor.

He would often perform at the He would often perform at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.court of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the years of the plague, he During the years of the plague, he would write poetry since the would write poetry since the theaters were often closed. It was theaters were often closed. It was considered by the Elizabethans to considered by the Elizabethans to be more important to write poetry be more important to write poetry than to write plays.than to write plays.

He wrote 154 sonnets during “a He wrote 154 sonnets during “a time when sonneteering was in time when sonneteering was in vogue in London.” vogue in London.”

After the plague he wrote about 2 After the plague he wrote about 2 plays a year. Shakespeare wrote a plays a year. Shakespeare wrote a total of 37 plays. This made William total of 37 plays. This made William a wealthy man. a wealthy man.

His first play performed at the His first play performed at the Globe Theater was Globe Theater was Julius CaesarJulius Caesar. .

In 1599 he became partial owner of In 1599 he became partial owner of the Globe Theater. He held 10% of the Globe Theater. He held 10% of its shares. its shares.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth, After the death of Queen Elizabeth, her successor King James I licensed her successor King James I licensed Shakespeare and his acting group Shakespeare and his acting group to be called “The King’s Men”. to be called “The King’s Men”.

At the end of his life, Bill returned to At the end of his life, Bill returned to Stratford-upon-Avon to retire. He Stratford-upon-Avon to retire. He died in 1616. died in 1616.

He is considered the greatest He is considered the greatest dramatist in the world. dramatist in the world.

He is considered the greatest He is considered the greatest English poet.English poet.

He had a clear understanding of He had a clear understanding of human nature and created dramatic human nature and created dramatic situations that relate to all human situations that relate to all human beings. (universality) beings. (universality)