William Shakespeare “Not for an age, but for all time.”

Reliable Sources of Information Church records: – Christenings (baptisms) – Marriages – Deaths Court records: – Lawsuits – Payments – Wills – Property ownership – Legal offenses/charges Royal court records: – Royal decrees or commissions – Treasury invoices & receipts Primary Source Accounts – Letters – Diaries

Timeline Born April 23, 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon Baptism/christening on April 26, 1564 Holy Trinity Church parish register entry: "Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere" (William son of John Shakespeare).

Family of Origin Father: John Shakespeare – glover by trade (craftsman; merchant class) – held civic offices in Stratford (alderman--a member of a county council, next in status to the Mayor) Mother: Mary Arden – Family of means with large farm/estate William was the third of eight children (two older siblings died before he was born)

Education Father’s position as Alderman included a free education for his sons in Stratford King Edward VI Grammar School— – Studied Latin grammar from age 7 -14, – Well read in Latin & Greek literature (classical lit.), Ovid especially influenced his writing – Able to translate both from Latin to English and vice versa (may have learned Greek) – Rhetoric— Master of language usage Structuring arguments

The Family He Made Married Nov. 27, 1582 – Wife: Anne Hathaway – William—18; Anne—26 Children: – Susannah—born May 25ish, 1583 (six months) – Twins, Hamnet and Judith, baptized Feb. 7, 1585 – Hamnet died at 11; buried Feb. 7, 1596

The Road to the Family Farm Walking map from Stratford to Wilmcote via Shottery

Career Moved to London—left family behind in Stratford to make his way in the London theater scene By 1592—well established in the theater as both actor and playwright

Career Started writing plays by 1588, seven of them in production by 1592 Became famous in 1593 – published Venus and Adonis, – An erotic narrative poem By 1594—charter member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (acting company that later became The King’s Men); included – Richard Burbage, great tragic actor – Will Kempe, popular clown (comic actor and dancer)

Writings Poems – Narrative (early in career) Venus and Adonis Rape of Lucrece – Sonnets 154 Published in 1609 Plays (37 in full) – Histories – Comedies – Tragedies – Romances (fantastical elements)

Prosperity Applied to Heralds’ College for a family Coat of Arms in 1596 – Signify high social standing – Father had already applied and been turned down once?? Bought New Place – Grand house in Stratford – Beautiful gardens

New Place

Timeline (contd.) 1603: Elizabeth I died – James VI of Scotland (her nephew) becomes James I of England, Scotland, and Ireland Took over patronage of Shakespeare’s company, and they become The King’s Men : Most of his greatest plays written— – Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Anthony & Cleopatra, et al. 1608: obtains Blackfriars Theater (next slide) 1609: Sonnets published 1613: Globe burns down – Performance of Henry VIII – Rebuilt in 1614

The Blackfriars 1608: The King’s Men obtain the BlackFriars Theater – roofed/indoor theater – winter home for King’s Men performances

Retirement ~1611: retired to Stratford March 1616: wrote his will April 23, 1616: died – Buried in Holy Trinity Church

The First Folio

In 1623 (7 years after his death), two friends/members of his company collect and publish 36 of Shakespeare’s plays in a large Folio edition John Heminge & Henry Condell Included tribute by friendly rival Ben Jonson: – "To the Memory of My Beloved the Author, Mr. William Shakespeare and What He Hath Left Us“To the Memory of My Beloved the Author, Mr. William Shakespeare and What He Hath Left Us – “He was not of an age, but for all time!”