1. William Shakespeare Life and Times

2. The Basics about Shakespeare
Not born into wealth or nobility
Didn’t continue a formal education at a university
Did not marry into wealth
Talent as an actor was mediocre
Plays mostly depended on the patronage of the wealthy

3. Despite all this…
Shakespeare is the most studied and performed playwright in the entire world.

4. Shakespeare’s Birth
Born to John Shakespeare (a glove maker) and Mary Arden in Stratford upon Avon, England.
Exact Birth date is unknown, historians believe it is April 23, 1564.
Scholars assume this because at the time infants were baptized 3 days after birth. We only have his baptism record.

5. Childhood He was the 3rd of 8 children.
Most boys went to a local grammar school where they studied philosophy, grammar, and Latin.
It’s been said that he attended the King’s new School, but there is no official record of his attendance.

6. Midlife
In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway. She was 8 years his Senior and 3 months pregnant.
Had a daughter Susanna in 1583 and twins Hamnet and Judith 2 years later. His only son Hamnet drowned as a child.
Then for 7 years, Shakespeare goes off the radar, these years are known as the “Lost Years.”

7. Queen Elizabeth the First
Queen of England 1558
45 year reign
Loved the theatre.
Helped London to become a cultural center where the arts thrived.

8. Queen Continued She was a determined leader
Est. England as a leading military power
Funded expeditions that brought new wealth like tobacco and gold from Latin Am.
Known as the “Virgin Queen” because she never married or had children.
With her permission, professional theatres were built for the first time.
She changed the public’s view of theatre and the arts.

9. King James I
Elizabeth dies in 1603, King James the IV of Scotland became King James the first of England.
Gave a royal license to Shakespeare’s acting company and renamed it the King’s men.
Commissioned to perform 13 plays a year. (This is when Shakespeare's most famous works were created).
Globe theatre created: legitimized the popularity of theatre in England.

10. Shakespeare’s Death Revised his will in 1616
Left most of his estate to his 2 daughters
Only left his “second best bed” to his wife
He died a month later on April 23, 1616
Buried at the holy trinity church

11. Being Published
Shakespeare is responsible for 37 known plays and 154 sonnets
His plays were published after his death in 1623 by friends who wanted to honor him.
This collection is know as The First Folio.
None of Shakespeare’s original works have been found.