1. William Shakespeare Born: 1564 Birthplace: Stratford-on-Avon
Died: April 1616
Just one month after he made his will

4. Shakespeare’s Father Made gloves for a living An important man in town
His business ran into problems when Shakespeare was 13
Shakespeare had to leave school to learn a trade

5. Marriage Marries Ann Hathaway when he’s 18
Father of three children by age 21
Tried teaching school to support family
Moves to London at age 23

6. London Elizabeth I reigns from 1558-1603
The Elizabethan Age – literature & theater thrive!
Shakespeare arrives in London in 1587
Shakespeare tours with an acting company
Age 27 – begins to find success as a playwright

7. Work in the Theater THE PLAGUE!! Theaters close for 2 years
Reopen in 1594
Shakespeare joins Lord Chamberlain’s Men
He’s a leading actor and popular playwright
Retires from the theater – 1610 (age 46)
Returns to Stratford-on-Avon

8. The Globe
1599 – Lord Chamberlain’s Men have a theater built – THE GLOBE
Shakespeare is a shareholder (part owner)
3 stories high
Octagon shaped
Stage reaches out into center open air court
Stage surrounded by seats

11. Globe cont. Stage surrounded by tiers of seats with a roof over them
Middle & upper class – covered seats
Lower class – paid 1 penny to stand in uncovered courtyard
Burns down in 1613, rebuilt 1614

13. Elizabethan Theater Audiences did not sit quietly
They hissed, cheered, threw rotten eggs and vegetables on stage
Wanted excitement, laughs, and romance
Plays staged without sets
Elaborate costumes and props
Ex: pig bladder full of red liquid worn inside actor’s costume

14. Elizabethan Theater cont.
Plays started at 2:00 to make most of light
Women not allowed to act in plays
Female roles played by young male actors
Physically small
Higher voices
No facial hair

15. Romeo and Juliet Based on:
“The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet” – poem by Arthur Brooke (love story)
Local feud – Danvers vs. Long family. Henry Danvers kills Henry Long (feud)
Mercutio – may have been based on Shakespeare’s friend Christopher Marlowe
Marlowe – playwright, killed in a tavern fight