William Shakespeare

A Brief Overview of His Life, Literature,

and Theatre

His Life Born in Stratford-on-Avon in England Christened on April 26, 1564 Father John Shakespeare was a glove maker Mother Mary Arden Shakespeare came from a

wealthy family. Attended primary school for seven years Schooled in Latin and the Bible and received an

excellent education

Shakespeare’s birthplaceShakespeare’s elementary schoolShakespeare’s classroom

His Life Married Anne Hathaway He was 18; she was 26 and already

pregnant. They had three children; daughters married eventually

but son died at age 11. There is a period of seven years where there are no

records of Shakespeare’s life. Some believe he was an assistant school teacher;

others believe he had to flee due to illegal hunting of animals.

Shakespeare’s needs and ambitions soon drew him to London.

Shakespeare’s wifeShakespeare’s childrenLondon during Shakespeare’s time

His Literature Author of more than 36 plays and more

than 150 poems Wrote comedies, tragedies, and histories Romeo and Juliet is considered a tragedy – a play

that has serious and important actions that ends unhappily for a main character.

Romeo and Juliet, written between 1594 and 1596, is one of the earliest plays Shakespeare wrote.

His Theatre Several of Shakespeare’s plays were on

stage by 1592 in London. He was earning a living as an actor and playwright. His wife and children did not come to London with

him. He became a partner in the Lord Chamberlain’s

Men, an acting company, later to be called the King’s Men.

Very popular group and Shakespeare was able to publish his work and sell it well

His Theatre By 1597, Shakespeare had published

15 plays. By 1599, Shakespeare and his business

partner built their own theatre called The Globe. It was destroyed by fire in 1613, and a second

Globe Theatre was built on the same site by 1614. The Globe was officially closed in 1642 by the

Puritan religion, and demolished in 1644. The Globe was thought to be a three-story, open

air theatre that could hold up to 3000 spectators.

His Death Legend says Shakespeare died on his

birthday, April 23, 1616. However, church records show he was already

interned in the church on April 5, 1616. In his will, he left the majority of his possessions to

his eldest daughter. He left the “second-best bed” in the house to his

wife, which might have been their marital bed and significant to the couple, and not the insult it sounds.

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