The Life and Work of William Shakespeare

With Mr. Andrew Mitchell

Life of Shakespeare

• Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.

• Little is known about Shakespeare’s Childhood.

• Married Anne Hathaway at age 18.

Career of Shakespeare

• Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor and writer.

• Also owned a playing company called Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

• Wrote most of his plays and sonnets between 1589-1613.

• Retired in 1613, at age 49.

The Globe Theater

• Built in 1599, by Shakespeare’s play company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

• Caught fire in 1613, during a performance of Henry VII.

• A second Globe was built on the same spot a year later.

• Finally closed by the Puritans in 1642.

Some of His Famous Works

• Romeo and Juliet • Julius Caesar • Hamlet• Macbeth• A Midsummer Night’s Dream• The Sonnets

Post Career

• After retirement, he went to live in his birth town, Stratford-upon-Avon.

• Died 3 years later on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52.

• His friends published The First Folio, a collection of his most popular plays, in 1623.

Interesting Shakespeare Facts

• Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, was 26 years old when they married. Shakespeare was only 18.

• Shakespeare had 3 children: Hamnet, Susanna and Judith.

• Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets during his career.

Quiz Review

• Which play Did Shakespeare NOT write?– Romeo and Juliet– Fiddler on the Roof – Hamlet– Macbeth

CORRECT!

WRONG