Shakespeare His Life and Works

Early Years Born on April 23 rd, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon Father, named John was a glove maker and a politician. Mother, Mary Arden was from a wealthy, land owning family. At the age of 18, he married 26 year old Anne Hathaway in They had three children-Susanna, twins Hamnet and Judith.

The Elizabethan Age The reign of Queen Elizabeth ( ), hence the name “Elizabethan Theatre” brought greatness to England. The nation achieved the political and religious stability that permitted its arts and literature to thrive. Elizabeth was a great lover and patron of the arts.

The Age of Shakespeare England was at peace at home and abroad for the first time in generations. About twenty years after Elizabeth outlawed religious drama, commercial theatres began to open in London. In 1576, two commercial theatres opened in London, one was an outdoor (or “public”) theatre and the other an indoor (or “private”) theatre. When Shakespeare arrived in London around 1590 these theatres were well established.

Career Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a theatre company called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (1594) who performed for the Queen. After the death of Queen Elizabeth (1603) they became known as The King’s Men (after King James 1 st ). Women were not allowed on stage and all women’s parts were played by men or boys.

Theatre 1599 a partnership of company members built a theatre called The Globe bought another theatre called the Blackfriars. Records show that the company made him a wealthy man.

Works Shakespeare wrote over 37 plays, which was his greatest contribution to the theatre. He also wrote 154 sonnets and 2 prose poems. Shakespeare changed the old rules about theatre that came from Greek and Roman times. Subplots, different locations and longer periods of time. Large casts of characters, new language.

Later Life Shakespeare divided his time between London and Stratford during his career. He retired to Stratford and bought a family home in 1597.

Death and After He died on April 23 rd He was buried in a church in Stratford-upon-Avon The King’s Men owned his plays. In 1623 two friends in the company published the First Folio of his plays. Most Neoclassical writers of the 1600s and 1700s didn’t appreciate his work.

The Bard He was rediscovered in the 1800s. By then, women were allowed on the stage and performed in his plays. His nickname was “The Bard.” It means a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry).