William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Considered the greatest English-speaking writer in history and known as England’s national poet.

Childhood

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a bustling market town 100 miles northwest of London, and baptized there on April 26, 1564.

His father, John Shakespeare was a man of many trades, from farming to leather work

John boosted his social status by marrying Mary Arden, the daughter of an aristocratic landowner

William was the third of eight Shakespeare children, of whom three died in childhood.

Education

Attended Stratford Grammar School free of charge until the age of 14

He studied Latin and Greek as well as British and world history

His education and passions are visible through his work of Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Henry IV.

Family ValuesAt 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway (1556-1616), a woman eight years his senior, in a ceremony thought to have been hastily arranged due to her pregnancy.

A daughter, Susanna, was born less than seven months later in May 1583. Twins Hamnet and Judith followed in February 1585. Susanna and Judith would live to old age, while Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died at 11.

He left his family to pursue his acting and writing in London.

Writings

Around 1595: Known knows for sure when exactly the plays were written.

Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Cleopatra, Coriolanus

Shakespeare’s Quotes

Hamlet: To be or not to be: that is the question.

Romeo and Juliet: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.

Macbeth: Fair is foul, and foul is fair.

Julius Caesar: Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me your ears

Twelfth Night: If music be the food of love, play on…

Post Fame

Returned to his family in Stratford and retired there.

Shakespeare died at age 52 of unknown causes on April 23, 1616, leaving the bulk of his estate to his daughter Susanna.

Stratford, England

The Shakespearean Theatre

Produced in public theaters

Public theaters were built around roofless courtyards with sunlight

Performances were only performed during the day.

Globe Theater

No one knows exactly what the Globe Theater truly looks like.

It is round or octagonal

It was open to the sky to let light in.

Held between 2500-3000 people.

Globe TheatreThe stage was a platform that extended into the pit

Actors entered and left the stage from doors located behind the platform

There was a second level gallery right above the stage and used as an upper stage

Romeo and Juliet Balcony scene was showcased between the second and first level

There was no scenery: dialogue was used to set the scence

Theater Goers

Wealthier playgoers sat in the benches.

Less wealthy spectators sat in the pit close to the stage.

Hazelnuts were Elizabethan popcorn.

Actors

Wore elaborate clothing

Only men and boys were allowed to perform

Women did not perform on stage

It was not considered proper for women

Boys of 11-13 performed female roles: before their voices changed

Globe Theater Replica

Directions: Now use the information from the lecture and from the textbook (p. 764-765) to create a replica of the Shakespearean Globe Theatre.

1. In groups draw your own Shakespearean Globe Theatre.

2. Next, on each level or space of the Theatre include an organized review of Shakespeare’s life.

Globe Theater Replica Example

The final product is a visual representation of Shakespeare’s life through the levels and architecture of the Globe Theater.

Shakespeare

Born April 6th

Left Family to Pursue Acting and writing in LondonRetired and died

in Stratford, England.