William Shakespeare1564-1616

Shakespeare born: April 23,1564• William Shakespeare was born in

England, but more precisely in a place called Stratford-upon-Avon.

Shakespeare Marries at 18• Shakespeare left school in 1578 (he was 14)

due to his father’s financial difficulties, so he never attended university like many of his fellow playwrights. He continued to read, write, and study on his own.

• He married Anne Hathaway

in 1582 when he was 18

years old. She was 3

months pregnant with

their first child.

Shakespeare’s Family• Records show that Shakespeare and

his wife had 3 children. Susana, their first, was born in 1583, and their twins, Judith and Hamnet were added in 1585.

“Lost Years” 1585-1592

• The information within these 7 years is missing, incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable, so scholars have called this the “lost years.”

• In 1593 all theaters were closed due to the plague.

• In 1594, Shakespeare joins the Lord Chamberlain men, one of the most popular acting companies in London at the time.

The Globe Theater• In 1599, Shakespeare joins other members of

the Lord Chamberlain Men to establish the Globe Theater, which was set up on the outskirts of London.

• The wealthy sat upstairs in seats; the poor stood at eye level with the stage.

Globe Theater to Shakespeare’s Globe• In 1613, the Globe Theater was burned

down. Another one was built, which closed in 1642.

• A theater reconstructed and named “Shakespeare’s Globe” opened in 1997 not far from the original site.

Shakespeare Dies• He died on April 23, 1616.

• It is believed that Shakespeare wrote the words he wanted on his grave before he died and purchased the burial site. He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, and his grave reads:

Good Friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear.

To dig the dust enclosed here

Blessed be the man that spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones.

Shakespeare’s Legacy• Shakespeare’s sonnets were published

while he was alive, but he did not live to see the first folio of his plays published in 1623.

• His legacy consists of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two narrative poems.

• He was known as one of the greatest English playwrights of his era, but has come to be seen as the “greatest playwright in the English language.”

Info taken from: http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/education/life-william-shakespeare