1. Shakespeare: His Life and Times

2. Early Life Believed to be born on April 23, 1564. Died on April 23, 1616. Lived in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Parents were John Shakespeare and Mary Arden Mary—daughter of wealthy landowner. John—glovemaker, local politician. (alderman)

3. Location of Stratford-upon-Avon

4. Stratford-upon-Avon in Shakespeare’s Time

5. Stratford-upon-Avon Today

6. Shakespeare’s Birthplace

7. Scholars ascertained that he attended King’s New School in Stratford. Shakespeare would have studied reading, writing, and the classics like Latin and Greek (evidenced in his writings.) Because of the uncertainty in his educational background, there are questions concerning his work and whether he existed or not. Education

8. King’s New School

9. Married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant out of wedlock. (He was 18 and she was 8 yrs his elder.) Had a daughter prior to twins in 1585- Hamnet & Judith Hamnet died from the plague at age 11. Sometime between 1583-1592, he moved to London and began working in theatre. The years 1583-1592 are known as ‘The Lost Years’ No one knew where he was or what he was doing during those years. Married Life

10. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

11. In 1594, he was the principal playwright of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, an acting company. The company’s name later changed to The King’s Men. He was an actor, playwright, and producer. Globe Theater was built in 1599 with Shakespeare as a primary investor. Burned down in 1613 during one of Shakespeare’s plays. Theatre Career

12. The Rebuilt Globe Theater, London

13. The Globe Theater

14. The Plays 37 plays firmly attributed to Shakespeare. 14 comedies 10 histories 10 tragedies 4 romances 154 sonnets. May have written three other plays, but records do not exist.

15. Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English.” Old English is the language of Beowulf: Hwaet! We Gardena in geardagum Þeodcyninga Þrym gefrunon Hu ða æÞelingas ellen fremedon! (Hey! We have heard of the glory of the Spear- Danes in the old days, the kings of tribes, how noble princes showed great courage!)

16. Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare did not write in “Middle English.” Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory: We redeth oft and findeth y-write— And this clerkes wele it wite— Layes that ben in harping Ben y-founde of ferli thing… (Sir Orfeo)

17. Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.” EME was not very different from “Modern English,” except that it had some old holdovers.