A Midsummer Night’s A Midsummer Night’s DreamDream

William Shakespeare

His Life and TimesApril 23,1564

April 23,1616

What do you know about…

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html

Born April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-AvonApril 23rd is St. George’s Day in England

Parents were John and Mary Arden Shakespeare

John was a glove maker and town official.

They lived and worked on Henley Street in Stratford.

Gardens at Henley Street

Second floor bedroom on Henley

Mary Arden’s parents lived at Wilmcote.

She was the youngest of eight daughters.

She could read and do math, but probably could not write much more than her signature.

Back of the Ardens’ house

William was born inthe reign of Elizabeth I,one of the greatest rulersof England. Her rule became known as theElizabethan Age.It was the age of exploration. Virginia wasnamed for her.

http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/gallery.html

Elizabeth I, Armada Portrait, c1588http://www.elizabethi.org/us/armada

William was baptized at Holy Trinity Church on April 26, 1564, as Gulielmus Filius Johannes

Shakespeare, son of John.

King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys

While there are no records that William attended grammar school, historians accept that he did attend the School since his father was a town official and merchant.

•Boys began school at 7:00 A.M., went home for lunch, and finished at 5:00 or 6:00 P.M.

•Only families who could afford it sent their sons to school.

Desk from Guildhall School where Shakespeare studied...

LatinGreekMathematicsAncient historyAstronomyMythologyDramaPoetry

When William was a boy of 11, Elizabeth I visited nearby Kenilworth Castle.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/stusweb/kenilworth.html

http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/gallery3.html

Kenilworth Castle today

On November 28, 1582 the Bishop of Worcester issued the marriage bond for "William Shagspere" and "Ann Hathwey

of Stratford."

William was 18, and Anne was 26 when they were married.

Another view of the thatching.

What Shakespeare did between his wedding and when he first appeared in London is based on theory. A WilliamShagspere or Shakstick taught in counties in the north of England. With a grammar school education, he would have been qualified for these boys’ only private schools.

Anne and William had 3 children in this time, Susannah first and twins Judith and Hamnet, who died when he was11.

The burial register states Hamnet, son of William Shakespeare, 11th of August, 1596.

William Shakespeare’s name appears in London records around 1590, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream is first

presented by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men troupe between 1595 and 1598. A copy of the play was published in 1600.

. www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/bridge01.htm

The river is the Thames.This is Southwark Cathedralin the foreground, whereShakespeare worshipped…

http://www.southwark.anglican.org/cathedral/

Where he had to pay extrato have his brother Edmondburied in the morning ratherthan in the afternoon whenhis plays were performed...

And where we canfind a memorial toShakespeare.

The cathedral is not far from the Globe Theatre where hiscompany, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, performed theirplays. Shakespeare owned a 13% share in the company, whichchanged its name in 1603 to the King’s Men when King James Iinherited the throne when his cousin Elizabeth I died.

http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/TT/Globe/slide10.html

the Globe Theatre during Shakespeare’s time

The new Globe Theater was opened in 1998. It sits 3 blocks from the site of Shakespeare’s Globe which is underneath a parking lot and an apartment building.

http://shakespeares-globe.org/navigation/frameset.htm

thatching the roof of the New Globe Theatre in 1998

Globe Theatre, then and now

The New Globe Theatre in London

Audience members in front of the stage are called groundlings.

Stage Left

A groundling’s view

View from the first tier of seats

Balcony and roof of stage

In the "Accounts of the Revels at Court" from 1604, there is an entry that says: "By the Kings Maiesties plaiers. Hallamas Day being the first of Nouembar, A play in the Banketinge house att Whithall called The Moor of Venis. Shaxberd."

A play is about to begin…

All the world’s a stage,And all the men and women merely players.

http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/TT/Globe/

Types of Shakespeare’s Plays

ComediesAll’s Well That Ends WellAs You Like ItThe Comedy of ErrorsCymbelineLove’s Labours LostMeasure for MeasureThe Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merchant of VeniceA Midsummer Night’s DreamMuch Ado about NothingPericles, Prince of TyreTaming of the ShrewThe TempestTroilus and CressidaTwelfth NightTwo Gentlemen of VeronaWinter’s Tale

HistoriesHenry IV, Part IHenry IV, Part IIHenry VHenry VI, Part IHenry VI, Part IIHenry VI, Part IIIHenry VIIIKing JohnRichard IIRichard III

TragediesAntony and CleopatraCoriolanusHamletJulius CaesarKing LearMacbethOthelloRomeo and JulietTimon of AthensTitus Andronicus

Words & phrases from Shakespeare Moonbeam (A Midsummer Night's Dream) or goodness’ sake – Henry VIII Dead as a doornail – 2 Henry VI Knock knock! Who’s there? – Macbeth Star-crossed lovers – Romeo & Juliet Bedroom – A Midsummer’s Night Dream Play fast and loose – King John Wild-goose chase – Romeo & Juliet A rose by any other name – Romeo & Juliet Too much of a good thing – As You Like It Fancy-free (Midsummer Night's Dream) Assassination – Macbeth Ladybird – Rome & Juliet Zany – Love’s Labor Lost http://www.rhymezone.com/g/shakespeare/coinages//

Shakespeare retired to Stratford in 1611 to his newly purchasedhome, New Place, one of the best houses in town. It was torn downin the late 1600’s by a man who grew tired of tourists.

Google images

His mulberry tree in the garden

More garden views

Shakespeare’s holdings in Stratford

William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, and was buriedinside Holy Trinity Church near the altar.

Altar at Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried

His memorial overlooking his grave

Shakespeare’s monument at Stratford-on-Avon

All’s Well That Ends WellBirth and death datesHometownParents’ namesWife’s and children’s namesBurial placeTheatre’s place and nameActing troupeActors’ qualitiesNumber and types of playsRulers of England

Shakespeare’s cousin, Edgar Arden, was hanged, drawn, and quartered for his supposed aid to a Catholic plot to assassinate Elizabeth I in 1573.

Bibliography http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html

• http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/gallery.html

• http://members.lycos.co.uk/stusweb/kenilworth.html

• http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/gallery3.html

• www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/bridge01.htm

• http://www.southwark.anglican.org/cathedral/

• http://www.folger.edu/public/exhibit/gallery.asp

• http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/TT/Globe/slide10.html

• http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/TT/Globe/

• http://ise.uvic.ca/Library/chrono.html http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/events/event250.html http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/events/event128.html http://www.bardweb.net/man.html http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit-the-houses/mary-ardens-farm.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Arden's_House_(rear_view)_-Wilmcote.jpg