1. William Shakespeare historical and social context
Work of
Salvatore Morelli
Maria Teresa Capasso
Filomena Chiacchio
Carmine Cirotto
Maria Pia De Cristofaro
Antonella Damiano

2. The historical and social context
Elizabeth I Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, declared tolerance of the Puritans and forbade Catholicism. For political reasons she rather diminished the number of ecclesiastical and increased the power of Commons.
Elizabeth did enrich the English crown and, with help of corsairs, unexpectedly she won almost impossible fights against the Spanish fleet.
Throughout the Elizabethan age craft and manufacturing activities received a great impetus and the power of the military and merchant fleet of the country was strengtened too.
And in this prosperous period for England lived William Shakespeare, whose greatest work is undoubtedly Romeo and Juliet

4. The biography
William Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized there on 26th April 1564.
He was child of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden.
Shakespeare was probably educated at the King’s New School.
At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna and the twins Hamnet and Judith.
He was an actor, poet and playwright, widely considered as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He was often called England’s national poet.
His works consist in 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. Among his most important works are: Romeo and Juliet, Dream of a Midsummer Night, Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest. He died on 23rd April 1616.

8. Technical part: Salvatore Morelli
Historical and social context: Filomena Chiacchio and Carmine Cirotto, with the help of Salvatore Morelli
The biography: Maria Teresa Capasso
Images: Maria Teresa Capasso and Maria Pia De Cristofaro