William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare(1564-1616)(1564-1616)

Tuulike VallisteTuulike Valliste

2009 2009

FactsFacts An English poet and playwrightAn English poet and playwright Greatest writer in the English languageGreatest writer in the English language England's national poetEngland's national poet The “Bard of Avon”The “Bard of Avon”

National Portrait Gallery, LondonNational Portrait Gallery, London

His actual birth date is unknown, but is traditionally His actual birth date is unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, St George's Dayobserved on 23 April, St George's Day

He was born in StratfordHe was born in Stratford--Upon-AvonUpon-Avon Son of John Shakespeare (a successful glover and Son of John Shakespeare (a successful glover and

alderman) and Mary Ardenalderman) and Mary Arden He was the third child of eight and the eldHe was the third child of eight and the eldestest

surviving sonsurviving son

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's birthplaceWilliam Shakespeare's birthplace

FamilyFamily At the age of 18, he married the 26-year-old Anne At the age of 18, he married the 26-year-old Anne

Hathaway (1556-1623)Hathaway (1556-1623) They had three children- Susanna, Hamnet and JudithThey had three children- Susanna, Hamnet and Judith Hamnet died at the age of 11Hamnet died at the age of 11

Early lifeEarly life Shakespeare attended the Christian Holy Trinity Shakespeare attended the Christian Holy Trinity

church- studying the Book of Common Prayer and church- studying the Book of Common Prayer and the English Biblethe English Bible

Around the age of 11 he entered the school of Around the age of 11 he entered the school of Stratford- studied theatre and acting, as well as Latin Stratford- studied theatre and acting, as well as Latin literature and historyliterature and history

SignatureSignature

The Lost YearsThe Lost Years There were no documented facts about the life of There were no documented facts about the life of

William Shakespeare between leaving school in 1578 William Shakespeare between leaving school in 1578 and marrying Anne Hathaway in 1582and marrying Anne Hathaway in 1582- - the First Lost the First Lost YearsYears

The Second Lost Years- between 1582 and 1592 there The Second Lost Years- between 1582 and 1592 there were only four documented facts aboutwere only four documented facts about ShakespeareShakespeare

1) 2 Entries for the Baptism of his children in 1583 1) 2 Entries for the Baptism of his children in 1583 and 1585and 1585

2) In 1589 a court documents name William 2) In 1589 a court documents name William Shakespeare and his parents in a land disputeShakespeare and his parents in a land dispute

3) In 1592 he is referred to in a very famous pamphlet 3) In 1592 he is referred to in a very famous pamphlet called the “Groatsworth of Wit” (a Groat was a coin called the “Groatsworth of Wit” (a Groat was a coin worth a small amount of money)worth a small amount of money)

TheatreTheatre Several of his plays were on the London stage by Several of his plays were on the London stage by

15921592 Shakespeare's plays were performed only by the Lord Shakespeare's plays were performed only by the Lord

Chamberlain's MenChamberlain's Men→ the King's Men→ the King's Men The Globe was built in 1599 (on the south bank of the The Globe was built in 1599 (on the south bank of the

Thames)Thames) The Blackfriars indoor theatre was tThe Blackfriars indoor theatre was takenaken over in 1608 over in 1608 Most of his greatest plays were written for the Globe- Most of his greatest plays were written for the Globe-

“Hamlet”, “King Lear”“Hamlet”, “King Lear”

TheThe Globe TheatreGlobe Theatre

Poems and sonnetsPoems and sonnets In 1593 and 1594 Shakespeare published two In 1593 and 1594 Shakespeare published two

narrative poems on erotic themes- “Venus and narrative poems on erotic themes- “Venus and Adonis”, “The Rape of Lucrece”Adonis”, “The Rape of Lucrece”

He wrote 154 sonnetsHe wrote 154 sonnets The “Sonnets” were the last of his non-dramatic The “Sonnets” were the last of his non-dramatic

works to be printedworks to be printed He had two contrasting series- one about He had two contrasting series- one about

unconuncontrtrollable lust for a married woman (the “dark ollable lust for a married woman (the “dark lady”) and one about conflicted love for a fair young lady”) and one about conflicted love for a fair young man (the “fair youth”)man (the “fair youth”)

XCIXCI

Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,Some in their wealth, some in their bodies' force,Some in their wealth, some in their bodies' force,Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill,Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill,Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:But these particulars are not my measure;But these particulars are not my measure;All these I better in one general best.All these I better in one general best.Thy love is better than high birth to me,Thy love is better than high birth to me,Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,Of more delight than hawks or horses be;Of more delight than hawks or horses be;And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:Wretched in this alone, that thou mast takeWretched in this alone, that thou mast takeAll this away and me most wretched make.All this away and me most wretched make.

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

WorksWorks Comedies- “A You Like It”, “Pericles, Prince of Comedies- “A You Like It”, “Pericles, Prince of

Tyre”, “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, “Twelfth Tyre”, “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, “Twelfth Night”, “The Winter's Tale”Night”, “The Winter's Tale”

HisHisttories- “King John”, “Richard II”, “Henry IV”, ories- “King John”, “Richard II”, “Henry IV”, “Henry V”, “Richard III”“Henry V”, “Richard III”

Tragedies- “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet”, “King Tragedies- “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet”, “King Lear”, “Othello”, “Anthony and Cleopatra”, “Titus Lear”, “Othello”, “Anthony and Cleopatra”, “Titus Andronicus”, “Macbeth”Andronicus”, “Macbeth”

Poems- “The Birth of Merlin”, “Lost Plays”Poems- “The Birth of Merlin”, “Lost Plays”

Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus, and the Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Henry Fuseli, 1780-5.Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus, and the Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Henry Fuseli, 1780-5.Kunsthaus Kunsthaus ZürichZürich

Why did Shakespeare move from Why did Shakespeare move from Stratford-Upon-Avon to London?Stratford-Upon-Avon to London?

There is speculation that William might have There is speculation that William might have offended Sir Richard Lucy by poaching a deer on his offended Sir Richard Lucy by poaching a deer on his grounds and had to leave Stratford to avoid grounds and had to leave Stratford to avoid prosecution prosecution

But it is reasonable to assume that there must have But it is reasonable to assume that there must have been a strong reason to leave his wife, children and been a strong reason to leave his wife, children and family to follow the life of an actor in Londonfamily to follow the life of an actor in London

DeathDeath It is not clear as to how or why Shakespeare diedIt is not clear as to how or why Shakespeare died In 1664 the reverend John Ward, vicar of StratfordIn 1664 the reverend John Ward, vicar of Stratford,,

recorded that "Shakespeare, Drayton and Ben recorded that "Shakespeare, Drayton and Ben Johnson had a merry meeting, and it seems drank too Johnson had a merry meeting, and it seems drank too hardhard, , for Shakespeare diedfor Shakespeare died

ShakespeareShakespeare has been commemorated in many statues has been commemorated in many statues and memorials around the world- Southwark and memorials around the world- Southwark Cathedral and Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey Cathedral and Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey

The stone slab covering his grave is inscribed The stone slab covering his grave is inscribed with a curse against moving his bones with a curse against moving his bones

Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare, Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare, To digg the dvst encloased heare.To digg the dvst encloased heare.Blest be ye man yt spares thes stones,Blest be ye man yt spares thes stones,And cvrst be he yt moves my bones. And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.   Translated this reads as:Translated this reads as:

Good friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbearGood friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbearTo dig the dust enclosed here;To dig the dust enclosed here;Blest be the man that spares these stonesBlest be the man that spares these stonesAnd curst he that moves my bones.And curst he that moves my bones.

Shakespeare's funerary monument in Stratford-upon-AvonShakespeare's funerary monument in Stratford-upon-Avon

Used sourcesUsed sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespe

are#Later_years_and_deathare#Later_years_and_death http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/+ + picturespictures

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