William Shakespeare. Life of William Shakespeare Known as the world’s most performed & admired playwright Born approximately on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon,

William Shakespeare

Life of William Shakespeare

• Known as the world’s most performed & admired playwright• Born approximately on April 23,

1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d)

• Father: John Shakespeare– Whittawer: maker, worker and seller of leather

goods such as purses, belts & gloves– Also was a dealer of agricultural commodities such

as wool, grain, malt and other farm produce– Active in Stratford-upon-Avon government until

financial difficulties began

– Illiterate– Died 1601 (60 years old)


• Mother: Mary Arden– Married John Shakespeare in 1557– Had eight children• William was the 3rd child and first son

– Her role in the family was to bring up the Shakespeare family

– Died September 9th, 1608 of unknown causes (68 years old)


• Education– Attended the “Free School” Elementary School• Motivation = Parents’ Illiteracy• Studied Latin, Latin Grammar, ancient writers, and

mythology• Learned to write and recite Latin

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d)• Education (cont’d)– At age 13 or 14, Shakespeare was withdrawn

from school by his father so that he could help father run his business

– Also received education from his mandatory attendance at church, where he was influenced by the Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, & Foxe’s Acts & Monuments


• Married Anne Hathaway– November 28, 1582– William was 18; Anne was 26– Anne 3 months pregnant when they married– Marriage done in haste


• Children– 1st child: Susanna• Born 6 months after William & Anne married• May 26, 1583

– 2 years later:• Twins born: Hamnet & Judith–Hamnet died @ age 11 for unknown causes


• The “Lost” Years– 1586 to 1592– Shakespeare moved to London

• Believed that Shakespeare moved to London to avoid prosecution for poaching deer

• Leaves wife and children in Stratford– Became involved in the theatre

• Lord Chamberlain’s Men– Began writing poetry and plays– No record of Shakespeare’s activities until 1592 when

Shakespeare is criticized by a rival playwright


• Career– Gained fame about age 21– Member and part owner of Lord Chamberlain’s

Men (later became known as King’s Men)– Was an actor for about 20 years, which is where

he earned most of his money– Wrote 37 plays• Was paid approximately $40 to write a play

– Wrote 154 sonnets

Shakespeare’s Works

• Shakespeare’s Early Works can be divided into 4 groups:

1. The Classical Plays 2. The History Plays3. The Narrative Poems and Sonnets4. Experiments in comedy

Shakespeare’s Works (cont’d)

• 4 Major Works– Romeo & Juliet– Julius Caesar– Hamlet– Macbeth

Shakespeare’s Death

• Died April 23, 1616– 52 years old– Died of unknown causes

The Globe Theatre

Facts about the Globe Theatre• Built in 1599• Where most of Shakespeare’s plays were

performed• Built of the wood• London’s most magnificent theatre ever seen• Located across the Thames River• Shakespeare was co-owner of “The Globe

Theatre”• Motto: “All the world’s a stage”• Also known as the “Wooden O”

Facts about the Globe Theatre (cont’d)

• June 1613 – Theatre burned to the ground• Rebuilt in 1613• 1642 – Closed by the Puritans

Layout of “The Globe Theatre”• Could hold approximately 3,000 spectators• To advertise a play, a colored flag was flown

indicating the type of play that would be performed

• Large, circular or octagonal design, 3 stories high• At the base of the stage, was the “pit” for the

groundlings to stand and watch the play– Cost to stand: one penny

• Around the base was 3 levels of seating– First 2 levels = Twopenny Rooms– Third Level = Penny Gallery

Layout of “The Globe Theatre”

Facts about Performances

• Minimum scenery, natural lightning, words in play gave time & day of play

• NO female actresses• Minimum furniture props• Pig bladders filled with blood were used in

death/stabbing scenes• No curtains

Actors

• Had to be able to fence, tumble, dance, sing, and play two roles in one play

• Had to have strong voices with good elocution (no microphones)

• Lord Chamberlain’s Men– Acting company of “The Globe Theatre”– Company consisted of 10-12 adults, 6 boy

apprentices & 2-3 stage hands

Costumes

• Authentic to the actor’s times• Received by buying costumes cheaply from

servants who inherited them• Color of Costumes was symbolic

Women

• Theatre was not appropriate for women• Only the extremely wealthy women were

allowed in the theatre but had to be escorted by a Lord

• In the “Pit,” the Ladies of the Evening often solicited business from the groundlings before performance

William Shakespeare. Life of William Shakespeare Known as the world’s most performed & admired playwright Born approximately on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon,

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