WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Done By: Stanley Yuan

About Shakespeare

English poet and playwright widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist

Died in 23 April 1616 Often called England's national poet and

the "Bard of Avon” His works consisted of 38 plays, 154

sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems

Shakespeare’s Childhood

Born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon Baptised on 26 April 1564 Attended the local grammar school in

Stratford Studied primarily Latin rhetoric, logic,

and literature

Shakespeare’s Life

Son of John Shakespeare, a successful glover and alderman from Snitterfield, and of Mary Arden, a daughter of the gentry

Was the third child in eight Married Anne Hathaway, with whom he

had three children Susanna Hamnet Judith

Shakespeare’s Life

Began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company

Was inspired by great writers of his time Retired to Stratford around 1613, where

he died three years later

Interesting Facts

Considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others

Was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the 19th century

His plays have been translated into every major living language

England in Shakespeare’s time

Ruled by Queen Elizabeth I Lived during the Elizabethan Age Had three big epidemic of the plague Experienced the Spanish invasion Had much entertainment in London London was a rich city

England in Shakespeare’s time

English had a strong sense of social classes

People were split into four classes Most people born into a particular class

stayed there Social classes made a difference to

almost everything you do and everything that happens

Determined all sorts of things, from what a person could wear to where he could live to what jobs his children could get

Theatres

Were roofless, were dependent on sunlight

There were two plays everyday, both held in the afternoon Sun was too bright in the morning Not enough lighting at night

Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Global Theatre

Theatres

Had to pay to watch the play Spectators had to stand through the entire

play if they bought the cheapest ticket Could sit on the galleries if they paid for the

normal ticket The most expensive ticket allowed spectators

to sit on chairs on the stage

Influences

People believed in ghosts and spirits Shakespeare showed that people believed in

things like witches in his plays like Macbeth During the time Queen Elizabeth died in

1603, Shakespeare wrote tragedies People did not view Romance as

tragedies until Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet

The Renaissance

A French word meaning rebirth Cultural movement that spanned the

14th-17th Centuries Began in Northern Italy and spread

through Europe

Changes

People moved away from the restricted ideas of the middle ages

Became more interested in studying the world around them

Affected literature, philosophy, art, science, religion and politics Paintings became more lifelik

How the Renaissance affected Shakespeare Monarchs were given human emotions

and were capable of making mistakes Explored the humanity in every character

despite their social status Used the knowledge of Roman and Greek

classics in plays Suppressed by Catholics before the

Renaissance

Thank you!