William William Shakespeare.Shakespeare.Life of William Shakespeare.Life of William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare.William Shakespeare.

Birth of William Birth of William Shakespeare.Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare, the greatest English William Shakespeare, the greatest English playwright and poet, was born in the family of playwright and poet, was born in the family of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23 1564. His Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23 1564. His mother was a farmer’s daughter from Wilmot mother was a farmer’s daughter from Wilmot and his father, a wool seller, became the and his father, a wool seller, became the mayor of Stratford in 1568. Being rich and mayor of Stratford in 1568. Being rich and prosperous in 1560-1569 Shakespeare’s family prosperous in 1560-1569 Shakespeare’s family started losing their wealth and about 1580 started losing their wealth and about 1580 William had to leave the Grammar school, William had to leave the Grammar school, which was one of the best in the country, in which was one of the best in the country, in order to earn his living. It is supposed that order to earn his living. It is supposed that having left the school William helped his having left the school William helped his father in their family business for a while. father in their family business for a while.

Weeding of Shakespeare.Weeding of Shakespeare.

In November 1585 he married Anne In November 1585 he married Anne Hathaway. Perhaps, William had to do Hathaway. Perhaps, William had to do that as his first child, a daughter called that as his first child, a daughter called Susannah, was born in May of the Susannah, was born in May of the following year. In February his wife following year. In February his wife presented William with twins. At the end presented William with twins. At the end of 1580 Shakespeare left Stratford for of 1580 Shakespeare left Stratford for London. It is still unknown why he did London. It is still unknown why he did that since those years are considered that since those years are considered “dark” or “lost” years of his life.“dark” or “lost” years of his life.

London.London. LondonLondon

   At the beginning of 1590s Shakespeare    At the beginning of 1590s Shakespeare arrived in London. Soon after his first play, arrived in London. Soon after his first play, chronicle “Henry IV”, was created. Having chronicle “Henry IV”, was created. Having become an outstanding public person become an outstanding public person Shakespeare was immediately given a jealous Shakespeare was immediately given a jealous attack by Robert Green, the leader of the attack by Robert Green, the leader of the group of playwrights “University Wits”, which group of playwrights “University Wits”, which reigned on London stage. The latter called reigned on London stage. The latter called him “a shaker of a spear” and “a crow him “a shaker of a spear” and “a crow dressing up in our feathers” (the changed dressing up in our feathers” (the changed citation from “Henry IV”.)citation from “Henry IV”.)

A New Playwright Is on StageA New Playwright Is on Stage

      In 1592-1594 during the epidemic of plague all London In 1592-1594 during the epidemic of plague all London theatres were closed and Shakespeare used that theatres were closed and Shakespeare used that unexpected pause to create some plays: the chronicle unexpected pause to create some plays: the chronicle “Richard III”, "The Comedy of Errors", “Taming the “Richard III”, "The Comedy of Errors", “Taming the Obstinate “, the first tragedy “Titus Andronicus” made up Obstinate “, the first tragedy “Titus Andronicus” made up in a popular style of “a bloody tragedy”.He also published in a popular style of “a bloody tragedy”.He also published poems “Venus and Adonis” and “Lucrezia” under his own poems “Venus and Adonis” and “Lucrezia” under his own name. After the plague Shakespeare joined The Lord name. After the plague Shakespeare joined The Lord Chamberlain's Troupe called after its patron Lord Chamberlain's Troupe called after its patron Lord Hansdon. “University Wits” didn't exist any more since Hansdon. “University Wits” didn't exist any more since some of them died while he others stopped writing. So some of them died while he others stopped writing. So Shakespeare's epoch began. That is what one of his Shakespeare's epoch began. That is what one of his contemporaries F. Merezh wrote: “Like Plautus and contemporaries F. Merezh wrote: “Like Plautus and Seneca who were considered by the Romans the best at Seneca who were considered by the Romans the best at comedy and tragedy, Shakespeare is considered to be the comedy and tragedy, Shakespeare is considered to be the superb at both kinds of plays in England.”superb at both kinds of plays in England.”

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre       In 1590s (the first period of his creativity) Shakespeare wrote In 1590s (the first period of his creativity) Shakespeare wrote

almost all his chronicles and most of his comedies. In 1595-96 almost all his chronicles and most of his comedies. In 1595-96 he published “Romeo and Juliet” soon after “The Merchant of he published “Romeo and Juliet” soon after “The Merchant of Venice”, which was called “serious” later on.Venice”, which was called “serious” later on.   In the autumn of 1599 The Globe Theatre was opened. Above    In the autumn of 1599 The Globe Theatre was opened. Above the entrance one could see the Latin quotation “Totus mundis the entrance one could see the Latin quotation “Totus mundis agit histrionem” which meant “The whole world is a theater”. agit histrionem” which meant “The whole world is a theater”. Shakespeare became one of its co-owners, its actors and the Shakespeare became one of its co-owners, its actors and the main playwright. That year he wrote the tragedy “Julius main playwright. That year he wrote the tragedy “Julius Caesar” and the comedy “As You Like it”. The melancholic Caesar” and the comedy “As You Like it”. The melancholic characters of these plays were developed and opened the way characters of these plays were developed and opened the way to his “Hamlet” written a year later. “Hamlet” started the to his “Hamlet” written a year later. “Hamlet” started the period of “great tragedies” (1601 -1606) when “Othello”(l 604), period of “great tragedies” (1601 -1606) when “Othello”(l 604), “King Lear”(1605), “Macbeth” (1606) were written. The tone of “King Lear”(1605), “Macbeth” (1606) were written. The tone of his comedies had become much more serious and even gloomy his comedies had become much more serious and even gloomy sometimes in such plays as “Throil and Cressinda” (1601-sometimes in such plays as “Throil and Cressinda” (1601-1602), “All's Well That Ends Well” (1603), “An eye for eye” 1602), “All's Well That Ends Well” (1603), “An eye for eye” (1604).(1604).

Unexpected leaving for Unexpected leaving for StratfordStratford

On March 28 1603 Queen Elizabeth I died. The English throne was inherited by On March 28 1603 Queen Elizabeth I died. The English throne was inherited by Jacob I, the son of Mary Stuart, the former Scottish Queen executed by Elizabeth. Jacob I, the son of Mary Stuart, the former Scottish Queen executed by Elizabeth. The new king signed the patent according to which he became the patron of Lord The new king signed the patent according to which he became the patron of Lord Chamberlain's troupe of actors. From then on all its members would be called “the Chamberlain's troupe of actors. From then on all its members would be called “the servants of His Majesty The King of England”. After 1606 the last period of servants of His Majesty The King of England”. After 1606 the last period of Shakespeare's career started. It came to the end in 1613 with his leaving for Shakespeare's career started. It came to the end in 1613 with his leaving for Stratford. In 1607-08 some more historical plays “Antonius and Cleopatra”, Stratford. In 1607-08 some more historical plays “Antonius and Cleopatra”, “Coriolanus”, “Timonus Athenian” were created. They were followed by romantic “Coriolanus”, “Timonus Athenian” were created. They were followed by romantic plays "The Winter Fairy Tale” and “The Storm” (1610-12).plays "The Winter Fairy Tale” and “The Storm” (1610-12).   The reason for Shakespeare's unexpected discontinuance of such a successful    The reason for Shakespeare's unexpected discontinuance of such a successful career was, most likely, an illness. In the March of 1616 Shakespeare made and career was, most likely, an illness. In the March of 1616 Shakespeare made and signed his last will which subsequently would cause so much misunderstanding signed his last will which subsequently would cause so much misunderstanding about his personality, authorship and all other staff called now “a Shakespearian about his personality, authorship and all other staff called now “a Shakespearian question”. Shakespeare is supposed to die on his birthday the 23rd of April. Two question”. Shakespeare is supposed to die on his birthday the 23rd of April. Two days later he was buried at the Holy Trinity Church in the suburb of Stratford, days later he was buried at the Holy Trinity Church in the suburb of Stratford, which was recorded in its metric book.which was recorded in its metric book.   During Shakespeare’s life his works weren’t collected. His plays, poems, sonnets    During Shakespeare’s life his works weren’t collected. His plays, poems, sonnets were separately printed. His plays first appeared as so-called “piracy editions” were separately printed. His plays first appeared as so-called “piracy editions” with a lot of mistakes and spoilt texts. As a rule they were followed by the later with a lot of mistakes and spoilt texts. As a rule they were followed by the later edition prepared and corrected by the author. These books were printed in quarto. edition prepared and corrected by the author. These books were printed in quarto. After Shakespeare’s death his friends actors Heming and Condella prepared and After Shakespeare’s death his friends actors Heming and Condella prepared and published the complete set of Shakespeare’s works including 36 plays called “the published the complete set of Shakespeare’s works including 36 plays called “the First Folio”. 18 of them had never been printed before.First Folio”. 18 of them had never been printed before.

      Shakespearian QuestionShakespearian Question

Shakespeare’s last will has always been a Shakespeare’s last will has always been a source of afflictions and doubts for his source of afflictions and doubts for his biographers. It writes about houses and biographers. It writes about houses and property ring as memories for friends but it property ring as memories for friends but it doesn’t say a word about his books and doesn’t say a word about his books and manuscripts as if Shakespeare was an ordinary manuscripts as if Shakespeare was an ordinary city-dweller not a famous writer. The will city-dweller not a famous writer. The will became the first occasion to set so-called became the first occasion to set so-called Shakespearian question: whether Shakespeare Shakespearian question: whether Shakespeare was really the author of his works.was really the author of his works.

William Shakespeare.William Shakespeare.