William Shakespeare PowerPoint Born on April 23, 1564 (St. George’s Day, The Patron Saint of England) Baptised on April 26, 1564 (actual birthday is unknown) Died on April 23, 1616 Was a playwright, poet and actor

Shakespeare’s Early Life Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England Was the son of John Shakespeare (glover and possible money lender) and Mary Arden (land owner) Was the third child of eight Educated at the King’s New School in Stratford

Shakespeare’s Education Attended school until the age of 15 The curriculum was dictated by law throughout England Was provided an intensive education in Latin grammar and the classics

Marriage and Family Married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18 Anne Hathaway was 8 years older than Shakespeare at the time Their first child was born 6 months after they were married Had three children: Judith, Susanna & Hamnet (twins) Has no living descendents (his grandchildren all died)

The Lost Years (1585-1592) Shakespeare left few historical traces after the birth of his twins The period between 1585-1592 is often referred to as the “Lost Years” Some scholars have suggested that Shakespeare may have been employed as a schoolmaster during this time (never proven)

Shakespeare’s Theatrical Career Lived most his life in London Wrote during the English Renaissance (Elizabethan Period) Credited with writing 37 plays (often disputed) and sonnets (154 poems) Never published any of his plays (Ben Johnson- “The Folio”)

The Globe Theater “totos mundus agit histrionem” The whole world is a playhouse Home of Lord Chamberlain’s Men acting company Built by buying shares Shakespeare was part owner Constructed with recycled (stolen) materials

History of the Globe Theater Opened in 1599 Burned down in 1613 Canon fire ignited roof Rebuilt in 1614 Torn down in 1644 Puritan intolerance

Fun for All at the Globe Theater Anyone with the price of admission could attend Educated and uneducated Royal patronage made it “respectable” Nobility could be seen by the masses A place to see and be seen Fashion trends could be set Networking

More About The Globe Theater Held approximately 3000 people Different colored flags were flown from the turret Black flag meant a tragedy; white flag meant a comedy; red flag meant a history Plays were typically about things outside the masses daily routine Royalty, Power, Wealth, etc. One of the first performances held at the theater was Julius Caesar

Design / Layout The Heavens The Lord’s Room The Stage The Yard The Hut The Tiring House The Galleries

William Shakespeare’s Writings (Blank Verse-Iambic Pentameter) Wrote Comedies (early) As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice Wrote Histories (early) Richard III, Henry IV Wrote Tragedies (…1608) Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet Wrote Romances (Tragic-Comedies- Last phase) The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest

Shakespeare’s Later Years and Death After 1607 wrote fewer plays and none are attributed to him after 1613 Died on April 23, 1616 Was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church In 1623 a funerary monument was erected in his memory

Shakespeare’s Unusual Epitaph “Good friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbear,” “To dig the dust enclosed in here.””Blessed be the man that spares these stones,” “And cursed be he who moves my bones.”

Shakespeare Trivia Shakespeare’s plays have been translated into every major living language His plays are performed more often than those of any other playwright Was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not take shape until the 19th century Favorite playwright of Queen Elizabeth (Lord Chamberlain’s Men) and King James (The King’s Men)

More Shakespeare Trivia Shakespeare often performed in his own plays Actors performing in Shakespeare’s time usually received only copies of their parts Boys and men played all the parts in Shakespeare’s plays in Elizabethan times No one knows how he died (kidney disease, “murder most foul” and too much to drink are some possibilities)

Final Facts and Some Rumors Shakespeare’s father was accused of being a money lender (not acceptable at the time) Shakespeare did not write his own plays Shakespeare’s family were illiterate Not one portrait was painted of Shakespeare while he was alive In his will he left his wife his “second-best” bed May have had a illegitimate son (Sir William Davanant, his godson)