English poet and playwright English poet and playwright Greatest writer in England Greatest writer in England World’s pre-eminent dramatist World’s pre-eminent dramatist

Interesting Facts: Nobody knows Shakespeare’s actual birthday Nobody knows Shakespeare’s actual birthday Shakespeare never published any of his plays Shakespeare never published any of his plays Shakespeare’s family were all illiterate Shakespeare’s family were all illiterate William Arden, a relative of Shakespeare's mother Mary Arden, was arrested for plotting against Queen Elizabeth I, imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed. An “enemy of the state” William Arden, a relative of Shakespeare's mother Mary Arden, was arrested for plotting against Queen Elizabeth I, imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed. An “enemy of the state”

His Education Loved to write. Loved to write. Most probably educated at King’s New School in Stratford. Received intensive education in Latin grammar and the classics Most probably educated at King’s New School in Stratford. Received intensive education in Latin grammar and the classics

Inspired by 1. Birds 2. Great writers  Geoffrey Chaucer  Plutarch

Plays were extremely dramatic, which led to his success Plays were extremely dramatic, which led to his success Drama was the ideal means to capture the diverse interests of his time Drama was the ideal means to capture the diverse interests of his time

Elizabethan England, ruled by Queen Elizabeth I Elizabethan England, ruled by Queen Elizabeth I Writers were deeply influenced by Italian sonnets Writers were deeply influenced by Italian sonnets

List of Significant Historical Events List of Significant Historical Events  Crowning of Queen Elizabeth (1558)  Putting to death of Mary Queen of Scots (1587)  The defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588)  The Essex Rebellion (1601)

The people in power had a heavy impact on Shakespeare’s works The people in power had a heavy impact on Shakespeare’s works Queen Elizabeth, a great patron of arts, aided Shakespeare by quashing Puritans, who wanted to shut down theatres, and changing the dominant language in England from Latin to English, leading to Shakespeare writing most of his plays in English Queen Elizabeth, a great patron of arts, aided Shakespeare by quashing Puritans, who wanted to shut down theatres, and changing the dominant language in England from Latin to English, leading to Shakespeare writing most of his plays in English

People in England during that time had a strong sense of social class, classified according to wealth, occupation and ancestry People in England during that time had a strong sense of social class, classified according to wealth, occupation and ancestry Social classes determined many factors, from what a person could wear, what he could do, and even what jobs his children could take on. Social classes determined many factors, from what a person could wear, what he could do, and even what jobs his children could take on.

Social Classes  The Nobility; rich and powerful  55 rich families, led by a duke, baron or earl  The Gentry; most important social class  5% of the population, knights, squires, and gentlemen who did not work with their hands

Social Classes  The Yeomanry; middle-class people  Could survive comfortably, but could also be wracked by disease or misfortune  Yeomen farmers, tradesmen and craft workers  The Poor  The sick, disabled, old and feeble and wounded soldiers  Due to exposure

Theatres Theatres  English Renaissance Theatre, also known as Elizabethan Theatre  Globe Theatre, where most of his plays were held in the mid afternoon No lighting No lighting Weather permitting Weather permitting

Open-air theatres during that era compelled actors to shout out their lines, stress their enunciation, engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures Open-air theatres during that era compelled actors to shout out their lines, stress their enunciation, engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures Despite costumes and props being utilized, changes in scenes were not made during curtain closings, as there were no curtains or stagehands Despite costumes and props being utilized, changes in scenes were not made during curtain closings, as there were no curtains or stagehands These changes were made during speeches and narrative situations These changes were made during speeches and narrative situations

A cultural movement from the 14 th to the 17 th Century in art and literature A cultural movement from the 14 th to the 17 th Century in art and literature Marked the transition from the medieval era to modern era Marked the transition from the medieval era to modern era Significant events and changes Significant events and changes  The Black Death  Reduced the population of Europe by over 50%  1 st Printing press in the world was invented  Columbus almost discovers America  Granada, the last Moslem presence in Spain, falls

The upheaval in the accepted social hierarchy allowed Shakespeare to explore the humanity of every character regardless of social position The upheaval in the accepted social hierarchy allowed Shakespeare to explore the humanity of every character regardless of social position Even the high-ranking monarchs were given human emotions and were capable of making mistakes Even the high-ranking monarchs were given human emotions and were capable of making mistakes After the Renaissance, Shakespeare was able to utilize Greek and Roman classics when writing his plays After the Renaissance, Shakespeare was able to utilize Greek and Roman classics when writing his plays

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