William Shakespeare

Author Background

Birth and Parentage Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-

upon-Avon in England. He was the son of John Shakespeare, a successful

glover and alderman (councilman). His mother was Mary Arden, the daughter of a

rich farmer. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564. His birthdate is unknown, but is traditionally

observed on April 23, 1564 (it was custom to baptize babies 3 days after birth).

Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616.

School Life Not much is known about Shakespeare’s

education. It is generally accepted that he was educated at

the King’s New School in Stratford, a free school that was chartered in 1553.

Curriculum was enforced by law, and therefore we know that Shakespeare would have been educated in Latin and the Classics.

There is no evidence, however, that Shakespeare received a university education.

Marriage At the age of 18, William Shakespeare married

26-year-old Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582.

The marriage seemed to have been organized very quickly.

Speculation is that Anne may have been pregnant, which might have expedited the marriage.

Children The hastiness of William and Anne’s marriage is

plausible due to the fact that six months after the marriage, Anne gave birth to a daughter, Susanna.

Susanna was baptized on May 26, 1583. Two years later, Anne gave birth to twins, a son

named Hamnet and a daughter named Judith. The twins were baptized on February 2, 1585. Unfortunately, Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son,

died of unknown causes and was buried on August 11, 1596.

It is speculated that Hamlet was a tribute to Shakespeare’s son.

The Lost Years After the birth of Shakespeare’s twins, very little

was recorded about William until 1592, leaving a seven year gap in his life known as the “lost years.”

Speculation about these years is that Shakespeare moved to London and began working for a theater company as a horse-minder, beginning his ascension to fame.

Other thoughts are that he became a schoolmaster.

One report even suggests that Shakespeare fled Stratford to escape prosecution for poaching.

Theater Career By 1592, Shakespeare developed a successful

career in theater in London. He was so famous that he was attacked by fellow

playwrights, who felt that Shakespeare, a relatively-uneducated man, was challenging the intellect of university graduates.

Robert Greene said of Shakespeare, “there is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in a Player’s hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you.”

Theater Career By 1594, Shakespeare was co-owner, actor,

player, member, and principal playwright for a theatrical troupe called Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

This company quickly became the most successful and popular play company in London.

The King’s Men When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, Lord

Chamberlain’s Men were awarded a royal patent by the new king, James I, and its name was changed to The King’s Men.

They were so successful that in 1599, the group built their own theater on the south bank of the Thames called The Globe Theater.

Shakespeare became so wealthy that he purchased the second-largest house in Stratford.

Acting Roles Not much is known about the roles Shakespeare

performed during his theater career in London. However, in his First Folio of 1623, it stated that

Shakespeare was one of “the Principal Actors in all these plays.”

Some biographers have written that Shakespeare often played “kingly” roles, such as the ghost of Hamlet’s father (the dead king of Denmark).

The Later Years Shakespeare retired to Stratford in 1613. He died on April 23, 1616, and was survived by

his wife, Anne, and daughters Susanna and Judith.

Most of Shakespeare’s estate was left to Susanna, while he left for his wife Anne “his second best bed.”

Shakespeare’s daughters married, but due to deaths, there are no direct descendants of Shakespeare living.

The Curse As a final poetic gesture, Shakespeare left an

inscription on the stone covering his grave that read the following:

Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare, To digg the dvst encloased heare. Blese be ye man yt spares thes stones, And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.

So, what was Shakespeare trying to say?

OGT Drama Terms

Dialogue Dialogue is a conversation between two or more

characters.

Monologue Monologue is a long speech spoken by one

character to one or more other characters.

Soliloquy Soliloquy is a speech in which a character speaks

his or her thoughts aloud, usually alone on stage.

Stage Directions Stage directions are information in the written

play, not intended to be spoken by actors. They provide information about scenery, props, lighting, costumes, and actors’ movements on stage.

Other Non-Drama Terms to Know

Drama will also make use of terms related to fiction in general, such as:o Ploto Settingo Characterso Point of Viewo Theme