William Shakespeare Introduction Shakespeare’s Life His Family The Playwright His Works His Inspiration His Genius Why He is Appealing

Shakespeare’s Life Lived during the days of Queen Elizabeth World’s greatest and most famous poet, playwright Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on- Avon Baptized April 26; 1 of 8 children

His Family Life 1582 married Anne Hathaway 1583 first child born, Susanna 1585 twins born, Hamnet and Judith

The Playwright 1592 become a famous playwright and actor Rival was Robert Greene Was an actor for 20 years from Charter Member of Lord Chamberlain’s Men 1603 Lord Chamberlain’s Men became the King’s Men

His Works Wrote 154 sonnets. 37 plays. 2 book length narratives poems Works consisted of Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies Masterpieces: Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear Great Tragedies: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Romeo and Juliet

More Info. on Works All plays were written for kings; Shakespeare was paid $40 per play His plays were popular and pleased the audiences His plays were published 7 years after his death 1623 the First Folio was published-this is a collection of the supposed “true original copies” of Shakespeare’s plays

What Inspired Will? Most of his characters were REAL people-many based on historical figures Shakespeare got ideas from other plays and poems rather than his own personal experiences or current events from local material Shakepeare’s Romeo & Juliet was based on the long narrative poem The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet written by Arthur Brookein Julius Caesar was written; it was inspired by Plutarch’s Lives of noble Grecians and Romans

What was his Genius? Had an understanding of the people Skilled with words Everyone should know about Shakespeare for the English Language and theater has never been the same since.

Why does he appeal to us? He speaks words that we wish we had said. People are always quoting him. –“It was Greek to me” –“A sorry sight” –“In a pickle” –“To be or not to be” – “All that glitters is not gold” –“elbow room” –“The long and short of it”

Why does he appeal to us? He appeals to all kinds of people in all times, nations, ages, and levels He is serious, funny, angry, ironical… He does not make moral judgements. He captures in words and actions all the great problems that have tormented human beings throughout the ages. We take comfort in the fact that the hero has flaws and is not perfect.