The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

Shakespeare was born in 1564 in a town called Stratford-upon-Avon. It was north of London. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in a town called Stratford-upon-Avon. It was north of London.

His father, John Shakespeare, owned a shop as a glove maker and also held several government positions, including Mayor of Stratford. His father, John Shakespeare, owned a shop as a glove maker and also held several government positions, including Mayor of Stratford.

William Shakespeare’s house 5

As a child William was sent to the local grammar school that he had attended for six years. He studied Latin and Greek and read widely the books current in his day. As a child William was sent to the local grammar school that he had attended for six years. He studied Latin and Greek and read widely the books current in his day. 6

King’s New School

In 1582 at the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway who was 26. He had a daughter Susanna and twins named Hamnet and Judith. William Shakespeare’s family

William Shakespeare’s wife Anne Hathaway 9

L Little is known of his life between when he left Stratford and arrived in London to advance his literary career and become an actor.

Shakespeare arrived in London in the year 1586 or At that time drama was rapidly gaining popularity among the people. Shakespeare arrived in London in the year 1586 or At that time drama was rapidly gaining popularity among the people.

He became a shareholder in an acting company called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”.

After the accession of James I in 1603, the company was granted permission to change its name to "the King’s Men” He wrote during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth (Elizabethan period) and King James I (Jacobean period )

Shakespeare and his partners in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theater company built the Globe Theater in London in The original theater was burned to the ground in 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII.

The Globe Theater 1599 The Globe Theater 1599 Burned in 1613

The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London

The Globe Theater

His first play performed at the Globe Theater was Julius Caesar. The cost of attending a show 1 shilling to stand 2 shillings to sit in the balcony

During the years of the plague, he would write poetry since the theaters were often closed.

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.” A mix of old and very new Rural and urban words/images Understandable by the lowest peasant and the highest noble EME was not very different from “Modern English,”

William Shakespeare’s works Shakespeare produced 38 plays, 2 narrative poems and 154 sonnets. Shakespeare produced 38 plays, 2 narrative poems and 154 sonnets. 23

His plays can be divided into four types: historical plays, comedies, tragedies and romantic tragi- comedies. His plays can be divided into four types: historical plays, comedies, tragedies and romantic tragi- comedies.

The Plays 14 comedies 10 histories 10 tragedies 4 romances The Poetry Two major poems Venus and Adonis Rape of Lucrece 154 Sonnets 154 Sonnets

The first period (1590 ～ 1600) Henry VI (1590 ～ 91) Henry VI (1590 ～ 91) Richard III (1592 ～ 93) Richard III (1592 ～ 93) The Comedy of Errors (1592) The Comedy of Errors (1592) Titus Andronicus (1593) Titus Andronicus (1593) The Taming of the Shrew (1593 ～ 94) The Taming of the Shrew (1593 ～ 94) His major dramas may fall into three periods

The second period (1601 ～ 1608) Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1600 ～ 01) Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1600 ～ 01) Troilus and Cressida (1602) Troilus and Cressida (1602) All's Well That Ends Well (1604) All's Well That Ends Well (1604) Measure for Measure (1604 ～ 05) Measure for Measure (1604 ～ 05) Othello, the Moore of Venice (1604 ～ 05) Othello, the Moore of Venice (1604 ～ 05)

The third period (1609 ～ 1612) Cymbeline (1609 ～ 10) Cymbeline (1609 ～ 10) The Winter's Tale (1610 ～ 11) The Winter's Tale (1610 ～ 11) The Tempest (1611 ～ 12) The Tempest (1611 ～ 12) Henry VIII (1613) Henry VIII (1613)

Tragedies Hamlet Hamlet Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Othello Othello King Lear King Lear Macbeth Macbeth

Comedies Comedies The Taming of the Shrew The Taming of the Shrew Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing As You Like I As You Like I Twelfth Night Twelfth Night Midsummer Night’s Dream Midsummer Night’s Dream

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At the end of his life, he returned to Stratford-upon-Avon to retire. He died on April 23,1616, the 52nd anniversary of his birthday.

He is considered the greatest dramatist in the world and the greatest English poet.