William Shakespeare: The Man, The Myth, and the Legend Mrs. Sforzini

The Birth of the Sweet Swan of Avon Born April 23, 1564 (general consensus) Born April 23, 1564 (general consensus) Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town located in Warwickshire, England Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town located in Warwickshire, England Parents were Mary Arden and John Shakespeare, one of 8 children Parents were Mary Arden and John Shakespeare, one of 8 children Shakespeare was born in this room

Love and Marriage Shakespeare Anne Hathaway Shakespeare Anne Hathaway or or Shakespeare Anne Whateley? Shakespeare Anne Whateley? Anne was older than Shakespeare by 8 years and was already several months pregnant (1582) Anne was older than Shakespeare by 8 years and was already several months pregnant (1582)

Children Shakespeare had three children Shakespeare had three children - Susanna (1583?) - Twins Hamnet and Judith (1585) (named after close friends) (named after close friends) Hamnet died at the age of 11 years, cause of death is unknown. Hamnet died at the age of 11 years, cause of death is unknown. Shakespeare speaks from personal experience regarding the death of a son? Shakespeare speaks from personal experience regarding the death of a son?

A Fathers Grief? In a passage from King John, written between 1595 and 1597: In a passage from King John, written between 1595 and 1597: Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: I am not mad: I would to heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, what grief should I forget! Preach some philosophy to make me mad, And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal; For being not mad but sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be deliver'd of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself…I am not mad; too well, too well I feel The different plague of each calamity....I tore them from their bonds and cried aloud O that these hands could so redeem my son, As they have given these hairs their liberty! 'But now I envy at their liberty, And will again commit them to their bonds, Because my poor child is a prisoner. And, father cardinal, I have heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; For since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. But now will canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the native beauty from his cheek And he will look as hollow as a ghost…and, rising so again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more. (III.iv.45-91) Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: I am not mad: I would to heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, what grief should I forget! Preach some philosophy to make me mad, And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal; For being not mad but sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be deliver'd of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself…I am not mad; too well, too well I feel The different plague of each calamity....I tore them from their bonds and cried aloud O that these hands could so redeem my son, As they have given these hairs their liberty! 'But now I envy at their liberty, And will again commit them to their bonds, Because my poor child is a prisoner. And, father cardinal, I have heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; For since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. But now will canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the native beauty from his cheek And he will look as hollow as a ghost…and, rising so again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more. (III.iv.45-91)

Shakespeare: The Man He invented his own words (at least 1700 we still use today) He invented his own words (at least 1700 we still use today) - birthplace - Olympian - torture - impartial Influenced some of the other Greats (writers that is) Influenced some of the other Greats (writers that is) Bought the biggest house in his hometown Bought the biggest house in his hometown Shakespeare The biggest house

All Good Things Must Come To an End He died April 23, 1616 He died April 23, 1616 Circumstances surrounding his death are unusual: Circumstances surrounding his death are unusual: Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting and it seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a fever there contracted."

Where Hes Buried Hes buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon Hes buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon On his grave is written: On his grave is written: Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.

Shakespeare: The Myth Some believe that Shakespeare did not write his literature Some believe that Shakespeare did not write his literature The big debate – The big debate – Shakespeare a.k.a. Sir Francis Bacon Shakespeare a.k.a. Christopher Marlowe Shakespeare a.k.a. Queen Elizabeth I Shakespeare a.k.a. Queen Elizabeth I

Shakespeare: The Legend His vocabulary, literature, and his ideas continue to live on today (school, theater, language, wedding vows) His vocabulary, literature, and his ideas continue to live on today (school, theater, language, wedding vows) - Faeries and their powers from MSND - Faeries and their powers from MSND - Romeo and Juliet plot (West Side Story, Twilight, etc) - Romeo and Juliet plot (West Side Story, Twilight, etc) Next to the Bible, he is the most alluded to in pop- culture Next to the Bible, he is the most alluded to in pop- culture His home and church are sought out as a Mecca of the lovers of Shakespeare His home and church are sought out as a Mecca of the lovers of Shakespeare Shakespeare is, and will always be considered, as one of the greatest writers of all time Shakespeare is, and will always be considered, as one of the greatest writers of all time