1. William Shakespeare

2. Early Years Born: Stratford-Upon-Avon, England
Son of prominent town official
3rd child of 8
Received excellent education with heavy focus on grammar and literature (probably…)

3. Marriage and Family
Married at age 18 to Anne Hathaway (she was 26), who was pregnant with his child
1st child was daughter, Susanna
Twins, Hamnet and Judith
Hamnet passes away at age 11

4. “Lost Years”
The period between 1585 and 1592 is known as the “Lost Years” because there are no documentary records of Shakespeare’s activities.

5. Later Years Moved to London around 1591 and became an actor
Worked with the Lord Chamberlin’s company of players, later known as the King’s Men.

6. Works of Literature
Along with acting, he also wrote some of the most renowned pieces and studied literature written in the English language.
Poems : he is most remembered for his sonnets
Plays: Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories

7. Comedies All’s Well that Ends well As you like it Comedy of errors
Measure for measure
Midsummer night’s dream
Taming of the shrew
Much ado about nothing
Twelfth night
Merchant of venice

8. Tragedies Julius Caesar Hamlet Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet
King lear

9. Histories
King Henry V
King John
Richard II
Richard III

10. Works of Literature He wrote 37 (known) very successful plays
His vocabulary is considered to be extensive (between 17, ,000 words)
The typical, modern educated person has a vocabulary of about 15,000 words

11. Influence to the modern English language
I couldn’t sleep a wink
He was dead as a doornail
They hoodwinked us
We’d better lie low for awhile
It’s all Greek to me

12. Influence to the modern English language
Accommodation
Assassination
Dexterously
Dislocate
Obscene
Reliance
Premeditate
Lonely
Gloomy
FRETFUL
Suspicious
Hurry

13. Later Years
Returned to Stratford around 1610 where he lived as a country gentleman
Wealthy – he owned one of the largest homes in town
Died in Stratford in 1616 at the age of 52.
His death was a mystery (convenient).
It is rumored that he drank too much and contracted a fever or that he died from a cerebral hemorrhage.

14. Elizabethan Age
Shakespeare lived and wrote during what is known as the Elizabethan Renaissance, which lasted from about 1485 – 1660s
Named after Queen Elizabeth, who ruled England from

15. “God Save the Queen”

16. Elizabethan Age
During this time, society celebrated poets and the arts
This period is best known and remembered as a time of immense growth and inventiveness in the theater
Previously, drama was not held to such high esteem

17. Elizabethan Age England, as a nation, was flourishing
London was becoming one of the largest cities in Europe
Catholics were experiencing religious persecution
Women were still very much restricted in society
Most Londoners endured crowded living conditions and an unsatisfactory diet

18. Fashion

19. Fashion

20. Globe Theater

21. Globe Theater
Today’s experience in a theater v.s. an experience in the Globe

22. Globe Theater
To make up for the audience’s lack of hearing, the actors would exaggerate their gestures and facial expressions, unlike the more natural acting of today
Only male actors

23. Hamlet
A story of revenge, betrayal, ghosts, and desire (and potentially psychosis…)

24. Hamlet

25. Hamlet Prince of Denmark Grief-stricken Passive aggressive
Vengeful, but inactive
Genius or mental

26. Claudius King of Denmark Hamlet’s Uncle/Step-Father
Cunning, ambitious politician
The villain
Infrequently sympathetic

27. Gertrude Queen of Denmark Hamlet’s Mother Through the eyes of Hamlet:
Ruled by passion
Simple-minded
Tricked
A loving disgrace

28. Polonius The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’ court
Father of Laertes and Ophelia
Good intentions, but conniving
Sometimes comic relief

29. Laertes Son of Polonius Ruled by passions and desires Stays in France
Quick to take action
Foil to Hamlet (reflective and agonized)

30. Ophelia Hamlet’s love interest (temporarily) Sweet and innocent
Obedient
dependent

31. Horatio Hamlet’s Friend Went to school with Hamlet Even-tempered Loyal
Helpful

32. Reading the Play A serious threat to the well being of a nation
Corruption
War
Incest
Collusion
A whiny, over-emotional teenager
Upset with “Evil” Step-Father
Mental case who sees his dead dad

33. You decide…

34. Tragic Hero
AnyXbo