“A man for all time.” – Ben Jonson William Shakespeare

His Life born April 1564 (St. George’s Day) Stratford-upon-Avon died April 23, 1616 parents John Shakespeare and Mary Arden parents wealthy and successful third child of eight Joan, Margaret, William, Gilbert, Joan, Anne

Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare’s birthplace

Stratford-upon-Avon Present Day

Shakespeare’s Townhome

His Life (cont) married Anne Hathaway November 27, 1582 Anne was 26, Will was 18 children Susanna (1583) – oldest and Will’s favorite twins (1585) – Hamnet and Judith grandchildren Susanna Hall’s children – Elizabeth (1608) Judith Quinney’s children – Shakespeare, Richard, and Thomas

His Career wrote 37 plays and about 154 sonnets Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies started out as an actor Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London theater co.) principal playwright for Lord Ch. Co – Lord Ch. Co. build Globe Theater where most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed.

Elizabethan Era named for Queen Elizabeth ( ) The “Renaissance” Period “Renaissance” means REBIRTH rebirth of Humanism rebirth of cultural achievements rebirth of music, literature, plays, art, other talents

Queen Elizabeth

The Elizabethan Stage Plays produced for general public open air theaters – roofless plays performed during afternoon or early evening no artificial lighting courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

Staging Areas stage – platform extended into the pit dressing and storage rooms in galleries behind and above stage second-level gallery – upper stage famous balcony scene in R & J trap door ghosts “heavens” angelic beings

Audience/Spectators wealthy got benches “groundlings” lower class stood and watched from the courtyard (pit) all but wealthy were uneducated/illiterate audience interacted

Actors considered indecent (inappropriate) for a woman to appear on stage only men and boys young boys whose voice had not changed played women’s roles

Some Famous Quotes “To be or not to be,--that is the question.” ---Hamlet “All the world’s a stage.”---As You Like It "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet".---Romeo and Juliet "Off with his head!“---King Richard III "Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”---Romeo and Juliet "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them".---Twelfth Night "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me".---Julius Ceasar "This above all: to thine own self be true". ---Hamlet

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