Shakespeare and Macbeth Born in Stratford upon Avon on April 26th, 1564 and died on April 26th, 1616. Wrote 36-37 plays Father of English literary study Wrote in a time of flexibility in the English language since English grammar and syntax were not set in stone. ( Latin was used also)

Wrote in three modes: Histories, Tragedies, and Comedies (See board) Histories combined both elements of the Tragedy and Comedy. There was a noble death and usually a marriage or light humor to make the play more enjoyable.

His early plays were known as the problem plays and his masterpieces: His early plays were known as the problem plays and his masterpieces: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Ceasar, Othello, and Hamlet were written during his Golden era. This led the general public to come up with the idea that Shakespeare wasn’t really Shakespeare.

The controversy is that Shakespeare is a combination of three people: The controversy is that Shakespeare is a combination of three people: Ben Johnson, Sir Walter Raleigh, or Christopher Marlowe (Dr. Faustus). Reason being is that there were no copyright laws and if you sold a play, it was no longer yours.

Background to Macbeth Based on the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 where Catholic zealots (fanatics) threatened to blow up King James’ Protestant Parliament. Also, based on the reign of a true King Duncan in Scotland in roughly 1000 AD. Mainly about murder, power, and most importantly, AMBITION.