William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

The History that Shaped the The History that Shaped the ManMan

Dates to RememberDates to Remember

Allegedly born April 23, Allegedly born April 23, 15641564

(Stratford-upon-Avon)(Stratford-upon-Avon)

Died April 23, 1616Died April 23, 1616

EducationEducationThe grammar school he attended in The grammar school he attended in

Stratford excelled our understanding Stratford excelled our understanding of grammar school.of grammar school.

Latin and Classical Greek studies Latin and Classical Greek studies were part of the curriculum.were part of the curriculum.

How long he received formal How long he received formal education cannot be completely education cannot be completely substantiated, but his works substantiated, but his works suggests a solid education.suggests a solid education.

Never proceeded to university Never proceeded to university schooling.schooling.

Marriage and ChildrenMarriage and Children

Married Anne Hathaway on Nov. 28, Married Anne Hathaway on Nov. 28, 1582.1582.

(William age 18, Anne age 26)(William age 18, Anne age 26)First child: SusannaFirst child: SusannaSet of Twins: Hamnet and JudithSet of Twins: Hamnet and JudithHamnet dies at age 11. August 11, Hamnet dies at age 11. August 11,

15961596

The “Lost Years”(1585-1592)The “Lost Years”(1585-1592)

The lost years followed the birth of The lost years followed the birth of the twins.the twins.

It’s rumored that Shakespeare It’s rumored that Shakespeare worked as an assistant schoolmaster worked as an assistant schoolmaster in Lancashire for a time.in Lancashire for a time.

Finally turns up again in London Finally turns up again in London around 1592.around 1592.

Career HighlightsCareer Highlights

By 1594, Shakespeare was not only By 1594, Shakespeare was not only acting and writing for the Lord acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlains’ Men (King’s Men) after Chamberlains’ Men (King’s Men) after the ascension of James I in 1603, but the ascension of James I in 1603, but was a managing partner in the was a managing partner in the operation as well.operation as well.

With Will Kempe, a master comedian, With Will Kempe, a master comedian, and Richard Burbage, a leading and Richard Burbage, a leading tragedian, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men tragedian, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men became a favorite London Troupe, became a favorite London Troupe, patronized by royalty.patronized by royalty.

Career Highlights cont. . . Career Highlights cont. . . Never before had a playwright enjoyed Never before had a playwright enjoyed

sufficient acclaim to see his works published sufficient acclaim to see his works published and sold as popular literature in the midst of and sold as popular literature in the midst of his career.his career.

Shakespeare’s ownership share in both the Shakespeare’s ownership share in both the theatrical company and the Globe itself made theatrical company and the Globe itself made him as much an entrepreneur as artist.him as much an entrepreneur as artist.

Granted coat of arms in 1596.Granted coat of arms in 1596. Success allowed him to purchase “New Place” Success allowed him to purchase “New Place”

and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611.and retire in comfort to Stratford in 1611. ““New Place” was the 2New Place” was the 2ndnd largest home in town. largest home in town. (3 stories, 2 barns, 2 orchards, and 10 (3 stories, 2 barns, 2 orchards, and 10

fireplaces)fireplaces)

““The Wooden O” TheatreThe Wooden O” TheatreThe GlobeThe Globe

See Text Page 729See Text Page 729

Death of ShakespeareDeath of Shakespeare

His Will:His Will:

Wife Anne—second best bedWife Anne—second best bed

Susanna—bequeathed his propertiesSusanna—bequeathed his properties

Judith—300 poundsJudith—300 poundsBuried at Holy Trinity ChurchBuried at Holy Trinity ChurchThere are no direct descendants of There are no direct descendants of

the poet alive today.the poet alive today.

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England

Elizabeth I was 25 years old when she Elizabeth I was 25 years old when she became Queen of England in 1558. Her 45-became Queen of England in 1558. Her 45-year reign, which ended with her death in year reign, which ended with her death in 1603, saw England's emergence as a nation 1603, saw England's emergence as a nation of tremendous political power and of tremendous political power and unparalleled cultural achievement. Because unparalleled cultural achievement. Because so much of this English renaissance is so much of this English renaissance is directly attributable to Elizabeth's personal directly attributable to Elizabeth's personal character and influence (as well as to the character and influence (as well as to the unprecedented length of her reign), it is unprecedented length of her reign), it is appropriate that the last half of the appropriate that the last half of the sixteenth century in England is identified as sixteenth century in England is identified as the Elizabethan Period. the Elizabethan Period.

The very fact that Elizabeth became Queen The very fact that Elizabeth became Queen at all almost indicates some predestination at all almost indicates some predestination toward greatness and defiance of normal toward greatness and defiance of normal expectations. The daughter of Henry VIII expectations. The daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn (who and his second wife, Anne Boleyn (who later was executed for treason), Elizabeth later was executed for treason), Elizabeth was third in line of succession, following was third in line of succession, following her younger half-brother Edward (son of her younger half-brother Edward (son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour) and her older Henry VIII and Jane Seymour) and her older half-sister Mary (daughter of Henry VIII and half-sister Mary (daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon). Under normal Catherine of Aragon). Under normal circumstances, it would be unlikely that circumstances, it would be unlikely that she would ever assume the throne. she would ever assume the throne.

As has often happened throughout history, As has often happened throughout history, events did not follow their predicted events did not follow their predicted course. The nine-year old Edward became course. The nine-year old Edward became King Edward VI on the death of Henry VIII King Edward VI on the death of Henry VIII in 1547, but he had little opportunity to in 1547, but he had little opportunity to establish himself as a monarch, dying at establish himself as a monarch, dying at the age of 15. He was succeeded by Mary I the age of 15. He was succeeded by Mary I (1553-1558), whose relentless efforts to (1553-1558), whose relentless efforts to return England to Catholicism brought return England to Catholicism brought about a true reign of terror and stifled any about a true reign of terror and stifled any possibility of forward movement in the possibility of forward movement in the nation. When Mary died suddenly in 1558, nation. When Mary died suddenly in 1558, Elizabeth I became Queen. Elizabeth I became Queen.

In both intellect and temperament, In both intellect and temperament, Elizabeth was well-suited for the role of Elizabeth was well-suited for the role of monarch. She was exceptionally well-monarch. She was exceptionally well-educated, having been tutored at her educated, having been tutored at her father's court by Roger Ascham, one of the father's court by Roger Ascham, one of the most outstanding scholars and thinkers of most outstanding scholars and thinkers of the age. Her intellectual interests were the age. Her intellectual interests were broad, ranging from history and science to broad, ranging from history and science to art, literature, and philosophy, and she was art, literature, and philosophy, and she was a remarkably astute political strategist. a remarkably astute political strategist.

Not only did she return the country to Not only did she return the country to internal political and religious stability in the internal political and religious stability in the wake of "Bloody Mary's" reign, she directed wake of "Bloody Mary's" reign, she directed England's course as it became a powerful England's course as it became a powerful force among European nations. force among European nations.

Elizabeth was an enormously popular Elizabeth was an enormously popular monarch, one of western monarch, one of western civilization's first true cult figures. civilization's first true cult figures. The following of "The Virgin Queen," The following of "The Virgin Queen," or "Gloriana," as she was called, was or "Gloriana," as she was called, was extensive; according to many extensive; according to many historians, every public historians, every public

appearance became an appearance became an

occasion for grandoccasion for grand

spectacle, great pageantry,spectacle, great pageantry,

and huge crowds. and huge crowds.

The prosperity, confidence, optimism, and The prosperity, confidence, optimism, and vigor which characterized Elizabeth's court vigor which characterized Elizabeth's court and reign carried over into many aspects and reign carried over into many aspects of life. of life.

The greatest literature created during the The greatest literature created during the Elizabethan Period falls into two Elizabethan Period falls into two categories: poetry and drama. categories: poetry and drama.

The other great literary achievement of The other great literary achievement of the Elizabethan Period was the drama, a the Elizabethan Period was the drama, a form which was rooted in centuries of form which was rooted in centuries of popular folk entertainment and which had popular folk entertainment and which had been adapted into the religious plays of been adapted into the religious plays of the middle ages. the middle ages.

In an era in which the lives of varied social In an era in which the lives of varied social classes rarely intersected, the theatre was a classes rarely intersected, the theatre was a true common denominator. Everyone, true common denominator. Everyone, regardless of social class, enjoyed the regardless of social class, enjoyed the spectacle of the Elizabethan theatre, and spectacle of the Elizabethan theatre, and playwrights found themselves writing for playwrights found themselves writing for highly diverse audiences which reflected the highly diverse audiences which reflected the ever-changing makeup and energy of ever-changing makeup and energy of society. It was not unusual for a crowd to society. It was not unusual for a crowd to take in a morning of public executions, bear-take in a morning of public executions, bear-baiting, street carnivals, and fairs before baiting, street carnivals, and fairs before settling down for an afternoon performance settling down for an afternoon performance at one of the public theatres in London such at one of the public theatres in London such as The Globe. The most successful as The Globe. The most successful playwright of the day—Shakespeare. playwright of the day—Shakespeare.

The last years of Elizabeth's reign The last years of Elizabeth's reign were not always politically smooth; in were not always politically smooth; in fact, by the 1590's there was at least fact, by the 1590's there was at least one serious threat of rebellion, as one serious threat of rebellion, as well as a series of bitter well as a series of bitter Parliamentary conflicts. But Elizabeth Parliamentary conflicts. But Elizabeth was steadfast as a monarch and held was steadfast as a monarch and held things firmly in control until her things firmly in control until her death in 1603. She was succeeded death in 1603. She was succeeded by her cousin, King James VI of by her cousin, King James VI of Scotland, who united the two nations Scotland, who united the two nations as King James I. as King James I.

England during the reign of Elizabeth I England during the reign of Elizabeth I was a country of tremendous ambition, was a country of tremendous ambition, achievement, promise, and gusto. The achievement, promise, and gusto. The accomplishments and spirit of the age accomplishments and spirit of the age are traceable to many sociological are traceable to many sociological

and cultural factors, but foremost and cultural factors, but foremost among these is the leadership of the among these is the leadership of the forceful, forceful,

resourceful, and shrewd resourceful, and shrewd

Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I.