2. EARLY LIFE Born April 23, 1564 in a town called Stratford-on- Avon (north of London) Born April 23, 1564 in a town called Stratford-on- Avon (north of London) Parents John, glove- Parents John, glove- maker and local politician, and Mary, daughter of a wealthy landowner Shakespeare’s family home in Stratford-on-Avon

3. Had 7 brothers and sisters Had 7 brothers and sisters Attended King’s Grammar School as a boy and learned rhetoric, logic, history, and Latin Attended King’s Grammar School as a boy and learned rhetoric, logic, history, and Latin King’s Grammar School

4. ADULT LIFE In 1582, Shakespeare (age 18) married his already pregnant fiancé Anne Hathaway (age 26) In 1582, Shakespeare (age 18) married his already pregnant fiancé Anne Hathaway (age 26) Anne gave birth to twins in 1585 Anne gave birth to twins in 1585 Sometime between 1585 and 1592 he moved to London to pursue the theatre Sometime between 1585 and 1592 he moved to London to pursue the theatre

5. CAREER Once in London, he became a member and part owner of the acting troupe Lord Chamberlain’s Men Once in London, he became a member and part owner of the acting troupe Lord Chamberlain’s Men The troupe, with Shakespeare as a primary investor, built the Globe Theater in 1599 The troupe, with Shakespeare as a primary investor, built the Globe Theater in 1599 In 1613, during a production of Shakepeare’s Henry VIII, a cannon misfired and set fire to the thatched roof, burning the building to the ground In 1613, during a production of Shakepeare’s Henry VIII, a cannon misfired and set fire to the thatched roof, burning the building to the ground

6. A new globe theatre was built in 1614, but torn down in 1644 to make room for houses A new globe theatre was built in 1614, but torn down in 1644 to make room for houses A modern A modern construction of construction of the theatre was the theatre was opened in 1997 opened in 1997 on the original on the original grounds grounds

7. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Shakespeare is confirmed to have written 38 plays Shakespeare is confirmed to have written 38 plays 14 comedies 14 comedies 10 histories 10 histories 10 tragedies 10 tragedies 4 romances 4 romances He possibly wrote three He possibly wrote three more, that have been lost more, that have been lost

8. Wrote more than 150 sonnets and various other poems Wrote more than 150 sonnets and various other poems Sonnet is a poem with 14 lines; a Shakespearean sonnet has two stanzas of 6 lines and ends with a couplet Sonnet is a poem with 14 lines; a Shakespearean sonnet has two stanzas of 6 lines and ends with a couplet

9. 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!)

10. 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)

11. Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.” EME was not very different from “Modern English,” Shakespeare coined over 1600 words still used today including countless, critical, excellent, lonely, majestic, obscene and its.

12. Elizabethan theatre has had a very important effect on today’s theatre, and other parts of every day life. For example: Elizabethan theatre has had a very important effect on today’s theatre, and other parts of every day life. For example: Names coined by Shakespeare: Names coined by Shakespeare: - Imogen in the play Cymbaline, - Imogen in the play Cymbaline, - Jessica in the play The Merchant of Venice - Jessica in the play The Merchant of Venice - Miranda in the play The Tempest - Miranda in the play The Tempest - Olivia in the play Twelfth Night - Olivia in the play Twelfth Night - Cordelia in the play King Lear - Cordelia in the play King Lear

13. “If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", if your lost property has vanished into thin air, if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, laughed yourself into stitches, if you have too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare!”

14. Shakespeare died April 23 (his birthday) in 1616 Shakespeare died April 23 (his birthday) in 1616