Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Biography  remains a mysterious figure with regards to personal history.  Only two primary sources for information on the Bard: his works, and various legal and church documents  born in Stratford-upon-Avon, allegedly on April 23,  Father initially a successful merchant, but fortunes declined in late 1570s  attended the free grammar school in Stratford, but historians do not know for how long  Marries at age 18, has a daughter and a set of twins, one who dies in childhood  For the seven years following the birth of his twins, Shakespeare disappears from all records, turns up in London some time in  allegedly died on his birthday, April 23, 1616

Shakespeare's Works  38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 epic narrative poems  His plays generally fall into four categories:  Pre-1594 – has roots in Roman and medieval drama  1594–1600 – Histories; portraying the lives of kings and royalty in most human terms. Begins interweaving comedy and tragedy  1600–1608 – The great tragedies  Post romantic tragicomedy

Shakespeare's Globe  Shakespeare's theater company erected the Globe Theatre circa 1598 in London's Bankside district  Open-air, octagonal amphitheater  In 1613, the original Globe Theatre burned to the ground when a cannon shot during a performance of Henry VIII ignited the roof  Rebuilt, then closed by Puritans in Torn down to build tenement housing on the site  The foundations of the Globe were rediscovered in 1989, the latest Globe Theatre was completed in 1996; Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the theatre on June 12, 1997 with a production of Henry V.

Elizabethan England  The reign of Queen Elizabeth I ( ) saw England emerge as the leading naval and commercial power of the Western world.  London was the heart of England, a leading center of culture as well as commerce. Dramatists and poets were among the leading literary artists of the day.  London’s population grew 400% during the 1500s, swelling to nearly 200,000 people  Elizabethan society was based on a system of precedence (one’s ranking in society) and one’s preferment status (the king or queen’s view of one’s standing). Upward class mobility became possible for many people