1. The World’s Greatest Dramatist

2.  Born in 1564 in a small town in England named Stratford-upon-Avon.  Married at age 18 to Anne Hathaway.  Moved to London and became a well known poet, actor, and playwright by his mid 20’s.  Written in 1595, Romeo and Juliet was one of his first major plays.  Nicknamed “The Bard” which is short for “The Bard of Avon” (Bard meaning famous poet and Avon, his hometown).

3.  Shakespeare was in charge of his own theater company called The King’s Men.  They performed at their own theater called The Globe.  The theater later caught fire and burned down during the staging of Henry VIII, when cannon fire set the thatched roof ablaze.

4.  Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets (poems) and 38 plays throughout his career, which lasted from 1590-1613 (23 years).  He wrote plays for Queen Elizabeth as well as her successor, King James.  He retired in 1613 and died in 1616, at the age of 52.

5.  Words and phrases that may be new to you. thee/thou (you) thy (yours) soft (wait a minute) marry (an interjection such as indeed) doth (does) hath (has)

6.  Shakespeare writes in blank verse, which is poetry without rhyme.  It has 10 syllables per line, which is called iambic pentameter (penta means 5 and meter means measure).  The sentence structure may seem backward. Instead of writing “I hit him” he writes “Him I hit” (think of Yoda- “ When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not”).