Younger Years Born in Avon, England Parents –John and Mary He was baptized on April 26, 1564 –Important because we don’t know his real birthday so people assume his birthday is on April 23, 1564 –Baptisms typically happened a few days after the birth He grew up in Stratford, England That’s pretty much all we know about his childhood

Family In November 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hatheway –Shakespeare was 18 –Anne was 26 They had 3 children –Susanna (born only 6 months after they were married which caused speculation of their relationship) –Judith –Hamnet The boys were twins born in February 1585

Religion Shakespeare followed the Church of England –However, he kept his Roman Catholic Roots He zings the Church of England within his plays.

Leaving his Family and Going to London We don’t know anything else about Shakespeare until 1592 Shakespeare is living in London He angers a fellow poet, Robert Greene –Robert Greene wrote a statement saying that Shakespeare thinks he is just as good as the other playwright's of the day (paraphrased) –This is important because it shows that Shakespeare’s reputation for poetry had become significant enough to make a failing competitor (Robert Greene) envious. At this time, a playwright had to live in London in order to ever be successful He had to leave him family behind in Stratford –He couldn’t afford to bring his family with him because he still wasn’t making any money.

English Renaissance

Education Middle class is educated. Guild schools (trade schools) are formed and take over most of the education of the middle class. Also, there are secular schools which are not concerned with religion. During the Renaissance 50% of the population was literate

Class Structure Middle class jobs became more stable and more highly paid. Therefore, they were able to afford luxuries like nicer homes and leisurely activities. They started to go to the playhouses, enjoy music, and art.

Shakespeare’s Lexicon Lexicon is a list of words that a person uses and understands. An average person’s lexicon consists of 9,000 to 10,000 words. Shakespeare had a lexicon of 30, ,000 words!!! Shakespeare also added 2,000 words to the English language!!

Shakespeare does not write in OLD ENGLISH!!! English Language History –Old English –Middle English –Modern or Shakespearean English –Present Day English

The Theatres in England The Theatres were closed in 1593 due to the plague! They reopened 21 months later in 1594.

Shakespeare and his Men Shakespeare was one of the founding members of the theatre group The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1594 Shakespeare’s theatre group also owned The Blackfriars, another theatre in London. After Elizabeth I died, the name was changed to The King’s Men for King James I

Shakespeare’s Globe In 1613, the Globe Theatre opened. It could hold about 3,000 people The second was used until 1644, but the Puritans tore it down due to their beliefs that theatrical arts were “uncivilized” The third one was built in 1997 and you can visit it today!

After Shakespeare’s Death Seven years after his death, the first collection of his works were printed by John Eminge and Henry Condell. It was called the First Folio. It consisted of 36 plays!