William Shakespeare His Life and Times

The Beginning April 23 or 26, 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon England 3rd of 8 children

His Parents John Shakespeare Mary Arden Leather craftsman Town official Successful businessman Became a respected leader Mary Arden Inherited an estate and farming land from her family Upper-middle class

The Early Years Young Shakespeare probably went to New King’s Grammar School in Stratford Studied Latin, grammar, and literature Never attended a university

The Early Years Left school at age 15 to work John Shakespeare suffers financially William begins to gain business knowledge and wealth The “dark years” period

Shakespeare’s Family William marries Anne Hathaway in 1582 Children Anne is 26 and pregnant William is 18 Children Susanna 1583 Twins Hamnet & Judith 1585 Hamnet dies 1596 Shakespeare leaves most of his assets to Susanna upon his death

The London Times Between 1585 and 1592 Shakespeare leaves Stratford and his family for London Brings plays and has some recognition as an actor, playwright by 1592 Joins theatre troupe The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1594-1603 Performed for Queen Elizabeth and King James I

The London Times 1599 - Shakespeare and his partners open the Globe Theatre Famous London landmark Seating for the wealthy and the commoners Destroyed and rebuilt several times 2000-3000 people Many of Shakespeare’s plays performed here 1603- forms new acting group, The King’s Men 1607-writes fewer plays Final play was Henry VIII

Elizabethan Theatre Plays performed during the day for lighting The wealthy paid for seats The “groundlings” stood in the courtyard Cost: 1 shilling to stand, 2 shillings to sit 1 shilling = 10% weekly income

Only men were permitted to perform Boys or effeminate men played female characters Costumes were the most valuable assets Made by the theater company or donated by nobility No scenery was used, but plenty of props

The Later Years Purchases land in Stratford in 1601 Retires and lives off his land assets and profits from his works and theatre investments Revises his will on March 25, 1616 Leaves his second best bed to his wife and most everything else to Susanna Dies April 23, 1616 Age 52 Buried at the Holy Trinity Church

Literary Works Shakespeare best known for his 37 plays and 154 sonnets First Folio of his plays published in 1623 3 kinds of plays Comedies Tragedies Histories

Comedies All’s Well that Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors The Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing The Taming of the Shrew

Tragedies Antony and Cleopatra Hamlet Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet

Histories Henry IV (Part I & II) Henry V Henry VI (Part I, II, & III) Henry VIII King John Richard II Richard III

Contribution to Literature Shakespeare uses over 20,000 words in his writing Average writer uses 7,500 English Dictionary only had 500 words then Invented 3,000 new words for the English Oxford Dictionary Huge influence on the development of Modern English Accommodation Lonely Assassination Majestic Baseless Monumental Bloody Obscene Countless Pious Courtship Radiant Exposure Suspicious Frugal Generous Hurry Impartial

Shakespeare Fun Facts The average American vocabulary is around 10,000-15,000 words if you are really smart. Shakespeare’s total vocabulary = 29,000 words. Shakespeare’s grandchildren all died before adulthood. Shakespeare’s family was illiterate. Shakespeare lived through the Black Plague which killed over 33,000 people when he was in London in 1603. The most insulting “insult” ever used in his writing was “You Bull’s Pizzle.” So many people have referenced Shakespeare’s work that if he were alive today, he would earn $55 million a year in royalties!

Why did Shakespeare write Julius Caesar? The play deals with the importance of upholding the ideals of the Roman Republic, but these were contrary to monarchical rule in England. The hot topic in England was who might succeed Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, who would be leaving the crown without an heir. The play focuses on the question of whether rulers who take the crown are fit for it, especially in the eyes of the people.