William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Brief BiographyBrief Biography

““reconstruction of a reconstruction of a dinosaur from a few bits dinosaur from a few bits of bone stuck together of bone stuck together

with plaster”with plaster”

-Mark Twain on the creation of -Mark Twain on the creation of Shakespeare’s biographyShakespeare’s biography

Shakespeare’s FamilyShakespeare’s Family

Born in Stratford-Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England upon-Avon, England on April 23, 1564on April 23, 1564 Population of London: Population of London:

200,000200,000 33rdrd of 8 children of 8 children Father – John Father – John

Shakespeare, a glove Shakespeare, a glove maker and wool maker and wool merchantmerchant

Mother – Mary Arden Mother – Mary Arden (gentry: wealthy)(gentry: wealthy)

Shakespeare’s EducationShakespeare’s Education

Likely attended Stratford Grammar Likely attended Stratford Grammar SchoolSchool

Likely learned Latin and some GreekLikely learned Latin and some GreekStudents commonly attended classes Students commonly attended classes

from dawn to dusk six days a weekfrom dawn to dusk six days a week

Players in Elizabethan TimesPlayers in Elizabethan Times

In 1573, Queen Elizabeth passed In 1573, Queen Elizabeth passed laws requiring all players to be laws requiring all players to be licensed, which meant they had to be licensed, which meant they had to be sponsored by a member of either the sponsored by a member of either the royal or legal courtroyal or legal court

However, actors were considered to However, actors were considered to be among the lowest of the low in be among the lowest of the low in societysociety

First TheatreFirst Theatre

In 1577, James Burbage In 1577, James Burbage opened the first public opened the first public theatre in Shoreditch, theatre in Shoreditch, just north of the London just north of the London city limits, called the city limits, called the TheatreTheatre

His son, Richard His son, Richard Burbage, an actor, led Burbage, an actor, led the Lord Chamberlain’s the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London’s most Men (London’s most popular acting company)popular acting company)

Marriage at 18 & ChildrenMarriage at 18 & Children

In 1582, he married In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway who Anne Hathaway who was 26, and was 26, and pregnantpregnant

First daughter – First daughter – Susanna (1583)Susanna (1583)

1585 – twins 1585 – twins Hamnet and Judith Hamnet and Judith bornborn Hamnet died when Hamnet died when

1111

Shakespeare in LondonShakespeare in London

At 28, Shakespeare left his family for At 28, Shakespeare left his family for London, perhaps as a member of the London, perhaps as a member of the Queen’s Men (elite troupe of actors)Queen’s Men (elite troupe of actors)

In 1594, Shakespeare joined the Lord In 1594, Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Menthe King’s Men

The GlobeThe Globe

In 1598, Richard Burbage lost the lease to In 1598, Richard Burbage lost the lease to his father’s theatrehis father’s theatre

Before the landowner confiscated the Before the landowner confiscated the building, he and his players, in the dead of building, he and his players, in the dead of night, dismantled the building, transported night, dismantled the building, transported it piece by piece across the frozen River it piece by piece across the frozen River Thames, and reassembled it on the south Thames, and reassembled it on the south bank of the riverbank of the river

They called it the Globe! Shakespeare was the They called it the Globe! Shakespeare was the primary shareholder.primary shareholder.

Performing for RoyaltyPerforming for Royalty

Shakespeare wrote and performed Shakespeare wrote and performed for both Queen Elizabeth I and King for both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I (1603)James I (1603)““That Scottish play” (That Scottish play” (MacbethMacbeth) was ) was

written for King Jameswritten for King James

Shakespeare’s DeathShakespeare’s Death

April 23, 1616April 23, 1616 Population of London: Population of London:

400,000400,000 Tomb in Holy Trinity Tomb in Holy Trinity

Church, Stratford Church, Stratford where he was where he was baptisedbaptised

Tradition has it he Tradition has it he died of a fever after died of a fever after an evening’s an evening’s drinkingdrinking

Shakespeare’s Last Will and Shakespeare’s Last Will and TestamentTestament

His daughter Susanna inherited the His daughter Susanna inherited the bulk of her father’s estatebulk of her father’s estate

““I give unto my wife my second best I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture.”bed with the furniture.” The “first best bed” was the one guests The “first best bed” was the one guests

were offered when visitingwere offered when visiting His wife had slept in the second best His wife had slept in the second best

bed her entire married lifebed her entire married life According to Elizabethan law, a wife was According to Elizabethan law, a wife was

entitled to one-third of her husband’s entitled to one-third of her husband’s estate, so Shakespeare did not feel the estate, so Shakespeare did not feel the need to be more specific in his willneed to be more specific in his will

Shakespeare’s EpitaphShakespeare’s Epitaph

““Good frend for Jesus Good frend for Jesus sake forbeare,sake forbeare,

To digg the dust To digg the dust encloased heare,encloased heare,

Blese be ye man yt Blese be ye man yt spares thes stones,spares thes stones,

And curst be he yt And curst be he yt moves my bones.”moves my bones.”

When were women finally allowed When were women finally allowed to act?to act?

In 1642, the Puritans shut down the In 1642, the Puritans shut down the theatres for twenty yearstheatres for twenty years

When they opened during the When they opened during the restoration of the monarchy under restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II, women were finally King Charles II, women were finally allowed to perform onstageallowed to perform onstage

The first woman appeared on a The first woman appeared on a public stage in 1660public stage in 1660

Shakespeare’s LegacyShakespeare’s Legacy

37 plays (histories, tragedies, 37 plays (histories, tragedies, comedies)comedies)

154 sonnets154 sonnets2 narrative poems2 narrative poems

Shakespeare’s EnglishShakespeare’s English

Early Modern EnglishEarly Modern English NOTNOT “Old “Old English”English”

Of the approximately 25,000 Of the approximately 25,000 different words Shakespeare used in different words Shakespeare used in his plays, at least 2,000 of them his plays, at least 2,000 of them were ones he either invented or were ones he either invented or recorded for the first timerecorded for the first time

Shakespearean StyleShakespearean Style

Shakespeare often wrote in Shakespeare often wrote in BLANK BLANK VERSEVERSE (the lines do not have to (the lines do not have to rhyme)rhyme)

When they do rhyme, it is usually to When they do rhyme, it is usually to mark the end of a scene, because mark the end of a scene, because there were no curtains, and the there were no curtains, and the rhyme itself gave the clue to the rhyme itself gave the clue to the audience that the scene was about to audience that the scene was about to changechange

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

A typical line will have five, two-syllable A typical line will have five, two-syllable units, with the emphasis on the second units, with the emphasis on the second syllable (10 syllables in total per line)syllable (10 syllables in total per line)

Considered one of the most successful Considered one of the most successful ways to write poetry that has a natural ways to write poetry that has a natural spoken formspoken form

Kings and upper classes speak in iambic Kings and upper classes speak in iambic pentameter (verse) while the lower classes pentameter (verse) while the lower classes speak in prose (normal, everyday speech)speak in prose (normal, everyday speech)