2. The contents Who was William Shakespeare? Early life Grammar school Why did he choose theatre?Why did he choose theat Нas William ever been in love?Нas William ever been in love? The lost years The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theat The first period of his creative work Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare’s tragedies The first period His sonnets Later years His will

3. Who was William Shakeaspeare? “ He was not of an age but for all time” these words were said by Bengamin Jonson (1573-1637) a playwright and a player, and a good friend of Shakespeare, about the greatest of all poets. The great poet and dramatist William Shakespeare is often called by people “Our National Bard”, “The Immortal Poet of Nature” and “Great Unknown”.

4. Early life The facts are very few. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, on April 23, 1564 in the family of John Shakespeare, a glovemaker and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a landed local heiress. William, according to the church register, was the third of eight children in the Shakespeare household three of whom died in childhood. John Shakespeare had a remarkable run of success as a merchant, alderman, and high bailiff of Stratford, during William’s early childhood. His fortunes declined, however, in the late 1570s.

5. Grammar School Young Shakespeare studied at the Grammar School where, besides reading and writing, he was taught Latin and logic. These schools were only for boys. Boys wrote with quills. It was hard. School teachers were very strict.

6. Why did he choose theatre? At that time there were no theatres in England, groups of professional actors traveled from town to town and performed in different places, usually out of doors. Sometimes actors come to Stratford. So Shakespeare had a lot of opportunities to be attracted to the stage in his youth. Classical plays were acted at schools with educational purposes in view.

7. Has William ever been in love? In 1582 at the age of 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway,a farmer`s daughter. During this years his three children were born: Susannah,the eldest, then twins – a son, Hamnet and another girl, Judith.

8. The lost years In We know that in 1593 and 1594 he wrote early poems, ”Venus and Adonis” and “Lucrece”.

9. The Globe Theater Later, he became a member of the company known as “Chamberlain’s Men” which played at the “Theatre”, and he wrote for the company. Shakespeare was already reaching the height of his fame when the Globe Theatre was built in 1593. The famous Globe Theatre was the center of London’s theatrical life. Shakespeare played on its stage and wrote plays for this theatre. At the same time, Shakespeare was an actor, a poet and a writer of drama. He wrote 154 sonnets, 2 long poems and 37 plays where he showed his creative genius.

10. The first perid of his creative work The first period (1590-1600) of his creative work consist of comedies and histories. In this period Shakespeare wrote such histories as “King Henry 5”, “King Richard 2”, “King Richard 3 “ and others. Here the author showed historical events and dramatic characters.

11. Romeo and Juliet “Romeo and Juliet” is one of Shakespeare’s best plays. It is a tragedy. This play is full of love, youth and humanism. A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun for sorrow will not show his head. Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardon’d, and some punishèd; For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

12. Shakespeare’s tragedies All of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies appeared between 1600 - 1608. This was the second period of his creative work. In the plays of this period the dramatist reaches his full maturity. He presents great human problems. This period began with the tragedy “Hamlet”, which was a great success. The following plays belonging to the second period; “King Lear”, “Othello”, “Macbeth”.

13. The third period Shakespeare’s plays of the third period (1609 - 1611) are called romantic dramas: “The Tempest”, “The Winter’s Tale”, “Henry 8”.

14. His sonnets Shakespeare is also known as author of 154 sonnets. The poem usually presents a problem or premise in the first 12 lines and offers a solution or conclusion in the final couplet. Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets were numbered by later publishers. They fit loosely together to form a story.

15. Later years Shakespeare’s success is apparent when studied against other playwrights of this age. His company was the most successful in London in his day. He had plays published and sold in octavo editions, or “penny-copies” to the more literate of his audiences. Never before had a playwright enjoyed sufficient acclaim to see his works published and sold as popular literature in the midst of his career. In addition, Shakespeare’s ownership share in both the theatrical company and the Globe itself made him as much an entrepeneur as artist. While Shakespeare might not be accounted wealthy by London standards, his success allowed him to purchase New House and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611.

16. His will William Shakespeare wrote his will in 1611, bequeathing his will properties to his daughter Susanna, married in 1607 to Dr. John Hall. To his surviving daughter Judith, he left £ 300, and to his wife Anne left “my second best bed.” William Shakespeare allegedly died on his birthday, April 23, 1616. Shakespeare is buried in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.