Upper-Intermediate Lesson 31 Shakespeare Upper-Intermediate Lesson 31

Today we are going to learn: About William Shakespeare His influence on the modern English language and culture

William Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets and a number of poems! that we know of. is the second most quoted English writer after the writers of the Bible. Shakespeare wrote an average 1.5 plays a year since he first started writing in 1589. Vocabulary 17,000 – 29,000 words 7,000 words he used only once

William Shakespeare 26 April 1564 – baptized in Stratford 27 Nov 1582 Married Ann Hathaway 1592 mentioned as an actor and playwright in London 1594 founder of The Chamberlain’s Men, performed in front of Queen Elizabeth I

William Shakespeare 1603 bought a large house in Stratford 1603 company became The King’s Men under the patronage of James I 1611 retired to Stratford 25 April 1616 buried, Stratford

Works

Influence on modern English introduced almost 3,000 words to the English language. HOT-BLOODED DISHEARTEN EVENTFUL ADDICTION EYEBALL ARCH-VILLAIN FASHIONABLE ASSASSINATION INAUDIBLE BELONGINGS MANAGER COLD-BLOODED UNCOMFORTABLE

Influence on modern English Love is blind You’ve got to be cruel to be kind In my mind’s eye I haven’t slept a wink Brevity is the soul of wit It’s Greek to me Tell the truth and shame the devil As dead as a doornail

Influence on modern English He is also credited with inventing the given names Olivia, Miranda, Jessica and Cordelia, which have become common over the years (as well as others, such as Nerissa and Titania, which have not).

Less known facts There are more than 80 variations recorded for the spelling of Shakespeare’s name. In the few original signatures that have survived, Shakespeare spelt his name “Willm Shaksp,” “William Shakespe,” “Wm Shakspe,” “William Shakspere,” ”Willm Shakspere,” and “William Shakspeare”. There are no records of him ever having spelt it “William Shakespeare”.

Less known facts It’s likely that Shakespeare wore a gold hoop earring in his left ear Shakespeare’s parents were probably illiterate, and his children almost certainly were. Nobody knows what Shakespeare did between 1585 and 1592. Some scholars think that he was a fraud

Authorship Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (Oxfordian theory) Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe Mary Sidney Herbert Several group theories 

Actor Shakespeare was also an actor who performed many of his own plays as well as those of other playwrights. There is evidence that he played the ghost in Hamlet and Adam in As You Like It.

The Globe theatre

The Globe theatre 1599 built Thomas Platter saw a production of Julius Caesar there, he also watched a session of bear-baiting. Commented on the stench from dogs and bears 1613 burnt to the ground

Shakespeare’s Globe Sam Wanamaker Elizabethan plan opened in 1997 under the name "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre“ stages plays every summer (May to October). 225 yards (205m) from the original site

Royal Shakespeare Company Stratford-upon-Avon Since 1961 3 permanent theatres Plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries Modern plays

Today we have learned: About William Shakespeare His influence on the modern English language and culture