William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

THE bard.THE bard.

aka POETaka POET

Shakespeare…the man, the Shakespeare…the man, the legendlegend

► Born 1564 in Stratford Born 1564 in Stratford upon Avonupon Avon

► Family LifeFamily Life Dad, John Shakespeare, Dad, John Shakespeare,

was a merchantwas a merchant Mom, Mary Arden, Mom, Mary Arden,

daughter of affluent daughter of affluent landowning farmerlandowning farmer

33rdrd of 8 kids of 8 kids Schooling – until age Schooling – until age

1414

Shakespeare…the man, the Shakespeare…the man, the legendlegend

1578-15821578-1582

► Leaves school at Leaves school at age 14age 14

►Marries Anne Marries Anne Hathaway at 18Hathaway at 18

The man, the legend. The man, the legend. MISSING!MISSING!

► THE LOST YEARSTHE LOST YEARS There is a period of There is a period of

time that time that biographers cannot biographers cannot account for, 1582-account for, 1582-15921592

Dad had financial Dad had financial problems?problems?

Legends – had to Legends – had to flee Londonflee London

Shakespeare…the man, the Shakespeare…the man, the legend…is found!legend…is found!

► 1585 – Shows up in 1585 – Shows up in LondonLondon He was married with He was married with

childrenchildren He showed up aloneHe showed up alone He was working as He was working as

an actoran actor

Shakespeare in LondonShakespeare in London

►WORKWORK Theater company – Theater company –

Lord Chamberlain’s Lord Chamberlain’s Men (name change Men (name change in 1603, King’s Men)in 1603, King’s Men)

Will in company until Will in company until retirement in 1610retirement in 1610

While in King’s MenWhile in King’s Men►Part owner of GlobePart owner of Globe►ActorActor►PlaywrightPlaywright

His WorkHis Work

► 37 plays, 154 sonnets37 plays, 154 sonnets► 3 Categories/genres: 3 Categories/genres:

Comedy, Tragedy, Comedy, Tragedy, HistoryHistory

► Romeo and Juliet = Romeo and Juliet = TragedyTragedy Written in his early yearsWritten in his early years Not originalNot original

► ““Tragicall Historye of Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet” by Romeus and Juliet” by Arthur BrookArthur Brook

But what was life like?But what was life like?► Renaissance – England’s Renaissance – England’s

Elizabethan Era, in Elizabethan Era, in honor of Queen honor of Queen Elizabeth 1Elizabeth 1 Queen Elizabeth was Queen Elizabeth was

Britain’s first female Britain’s first female monarch. Daughter of monarch. Daughter of Henry VII who had her Henry VII who had her mother’s head chopped of mother’s head chopped of since she never had a boysince she never had a boy

► Bubonic Plague caused Bubonic Plague caused the close of many the close of many theaterstheaters Many people wanted the Many people wanted the

theaters closed, but the theaters closed, but the Queen loved them, so the Queen loved them, so the show went on!show went on!

THE GlobeTHE Globe

► Built in 1599 by Burbage Built in 1599 by Burbage BrothersBrothers

► Will owned 10%Will owned 10%► Flag on topFlag on top

When waving, it meant When waving, it meant there was a show that daythere was a show that day

► Afternoon – need Afternoon – need daylightdaylight

► Only men can act Only men can act ► Burned down in 1613, Burned down in 1613,

Rebuilt in 1614, burned Rebuilt in 1614, burned down 30 years later by down 30 years later by PuritansPuritans