The Life of Shakespeare

Early Life Born in Stratford-upon-Avon Father sold leather goods Father served in local government Mother had 8 children

Schooling Grammar school 6 days week, went from 6am-7pm Mandatory church attendance Later apprenticed father’s business

Marriage Marriage to Anne She was 8 years older They had 3 children

Early Theatrical Life theatres closed due to plague Venus and Adonis - first poem Member of Lord Chamberlin’s Men Wrote sonnets

Momentous for Shakespeare Became part owner of the Globe

Types of Literature Classical plays History plays Narrative poems and sonnets Comedies

Troupe Change Queen Elizabeth died, and Chamberlin’s Men became King’s Men Performed 11 performances for King –7 were Shakespeare’s plays

Later Life Did real estate investment in Stratford Money comfort allowed him to write deeper stories and less entertainment

The Ending Wrote final plays in Believed to have left acting at 1611 Retired with family Died of unknown illness in 1616

Understanding the Plays Play within a play Disguises Love at first sight Fluid action Asides Soliloquies

Understanding the Language Vocabulary Puns Banter Innuendos Deliberate misunderstandings Strong emotions

Poetry within Plays Prose vs. poetry Iambic pentameter (often unrhymed) Couplets often end scene or act

Types of Humor Word play Wit (banter) Actions Situational Character