William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

The Bard of AvonThe Bard of Avon

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

One of the most famous writers of all One of the most famous writers of all time.time.

BornBorn April 23, 1564April 23, 1564 Stratford-on Avon: Stratford-on Avon:

a market town 100 miles northwest of a market town 100 miles northwest of London, EnglandLondon, England

The year he was born, 1/16 of population The year he was born, 1/16 of population of England died of the Black Plagueof England died of the Black Plague

His fatherHis fatherFather: John—a glove maker Father: John—a glove maker Elected alderman (councilman) in Elected alderman (councilman) in

15651565Father was elected mayor of Father was elected mayor of

Stratford in 1566Stratford in 1566Lost money and by 1577 had to Lost money and by 1577 had to

borrow money against his wife’s borrow money against his wife’s estateestate

His motherHis mother

Mother: Mary Arden, was fairly Mother: Mary Arden, was fairly wealthy in her own rightwealthy in her own right

SchoolSchool Went to grammar school until he was 13Went to grammar school until he was 13 Studied Studied

Latin grammar and LiteratureLatin grammar and LiteratureTheatre and actingTheatre and actingthe Biblethe BibleRhetoric (uses of language)Rhetoric (uses of language)

No further formal educationNo further formal education

Married November 1582Married November 1582Married at age 18Married at age 18Anne Hathaway (8 years older than Anne Hathaway (8 years older than

him)him)She was 26She was 26

His 3 ChildrenHis 3 Children

11stst child: Susanna in May of 1583 child: Susanna in May of 1583

She married John Hall a physician in She married John Hall a physician in 16071607

Their daughter Elizabeth (born 1608) Their daughter Elizabeth (born 1608) married twice but had no childrenmarried twice but had no children

2 were twins (Judith and Hamnet in 2 were twins (Judith and Hamnet in 1585)1585)

Son and heir Hamnet died at age 11 Son and heir Hamnet died at age 11 in 1596in 1596

Judith married Thomas Quiney in Judith married Thomas Quiney in 16161616

Had 3 children all who died without Had 3 children all who died without marryingmarrying

The Lost YearsThe Lost Years

For next 7 years not much is known For next 7 years not much is known about himabout him

Bought a house and called it “New Bought a house and called it “New Place”Place”

His CareerHis Career

He moved to London and his family He moved to London and his family stayed in Stratfordstayed in Stratford

By 1606 he was well known in By 1606 he was well known in London for his playsLondon for his plays

Moved back to Stratford in 1611Moved back to Stratford in 1611

CareerCareer By 1592 had become an By 1592 had become an

actor and playwrightactor and playwright 1594 was a charter member 1594 was a charter member

of Lord Chamberlain’s Men of Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later called King’s Men)(later called King’s Men)

This theatre company was This theatre company was supported by King Jamessupported by King James

Globe TheatreGlobe TheatreShakespeare and his company built Shakespeare and his company built

the Globe Theatrethe Globe TheatreMost of Shakespeare’s plays were Most of Shakespeare’s plays were

performed hereperformed here

Famous PlaysFamous Plays

Wrote 39 playsWrote 39 playsWrote comedies, tragedies, and Wrote comedies, tragedies, and

historieshistories

Some Famous PlaysSome Famous Plays Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (one of his early plays) (one of his early plays) Julius CaesarJulius Caesar HamletHamlet MacbethMacbeth OthelloOthello King LearKing Lear

PlaysPlays

None of his plays were published None of his plays were published until after his death because the until after his death because the printing press had just been inventedprinting press had just been invented

All plays were hand-copiedAll plays were hand-copied

Style of PlaysStyle of Plays

Written in iambic pentameterWritten in iambic pentameterBlank verseBlank verseRhyming couplets end scenesRhyming couplets end scenesLots of metaphorsLots of metaphorsUsed punsUsed puns

Also wrote poetryAlso wrote poetry

154 sonnets154 sonnetsLong poemsLong poems

Venus and AdonisVenus and Adonis

Rape of LucreceRape of Lucrece

A Lover’s ComplaintA Lover’s Complaint

SonnetsSonnets

Appeared, without his permission, in Appeared, without his permission, in 1609 and advertised as "never 1609 and advertised as "never before imprinted". before imprinted".

The publisher, although reputable, The publisher, although reputable, clearly wanted to make use of the clearly wanted to make use of the celebrity of William Shakespeare who celebrity of William Shakespeare who by 1609 was a famous member of by 1609 was a famous member of the Globe Theatre the Globe Theatre 

SonnetsSonnets

Shakespeare did not title or number Shakespeare did not title or number his sonnets. That was added by the his sonnets. That was added by the publisherpublisher

Sonnet formSonnet form 14-line 14-line Rhyme pattern is Rhyme pattern is abab cdcd efef ggabab cdcd efef gg, with the final , with the final

couplet used to summarize the previous 12 lines couplet used to summarize the previous 12 lines or present a surprise ending.or present a surprise ending.

Iambic pentameter. (An iamb is a metrical foot Iambic pentameter. (An iamb is a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable and one consisting of one stressed syllable and one unstressed syllable — as in unstressed syllable — as in dah-DUM, dah-DUM dah-DUM, dah-DUM dah-DUM dah-DUM dah-DUMdah-DUM dah-DUM dah-DUM.) .)

Shakespeare uses five of these in each line, Shakespeare uses five of these in each line, which makes it a pentameter. which makes it a pentameter. 

DiedDiedApril 23, 1616April 23, 1616On his 52On his 52ndnd birthday birthdayBuried under the old stone floor in Buried under the old stone floor in

the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford Carved over his grave is a curseCarved over his grave is a curse

TombstoneTombstoneGood friend for Jesus sake forbeare,Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,

To dig the dust enclosed here. To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these Blessed be the man that spares these stones,stones,And cursed be he that moves my And cursed be he that moves my bones.bones.

Shakespeare’s willShakespeare’s will

Left his estate to Susanna with the Left his estate to Susanna with the stipulation she was to pass it to the stipulation she was to pass it to the first child of her body. first child of her body.

His direct line was endedHis direct line was ended

He left his wife “the second best He left his wife “the second best bed.”bed.”

Left Judith 150 pounds and 150 in Left Judith 150 pounds and 150 in trusttrust

Left Elizabeth all the silverLeft Elizabeth all the silver