THE LIFE OF WILLIAM

SHAKESPEARE1564-1616

SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTH Baptized on April 26th, 1564 Exact date of birth is unknown Assumed he was born on April 23rd

Baptism usually took place 3 days after birth Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon in a house on Henley

Street (London) Father: John Shakespeare Mother: Mary Arden One of eight children

Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-Upon-Avon(place of Shakespeare’s baptism and burial)

Shakespeare’s birthplace, House on Henley Street

SHAKESPEARE’S MARRIAGE Married Anne Hathaway on November

28th, 1582 Shakespeare, 18 Anne, 26 (considered middle-aged)

6 mos. later, Susanna is born 1585 Anne gives birth to twins

Hamnet and Judith Hamnet dies of unknown causes at age 11

FOUR PERIODS OF SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE – DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING First period

Cheerful period, showing youthful love and imagination A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet,

The Comedy of Errors Probably all composed before 1595

Second period 1595-1601Less exaggeration, deeper insight to human

nature Sense of sadness

As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, Henry IV, V

FOUR PERIODS OF SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE Third period

1601-1608 Time that Shakespeare may have been ‘out of sorts’ Father dies in 1601 Wrote many tragedies

Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Julius Caesar Fourth period

1608-1613 Calm strength and sweetness Mother dies in 1608 Recollection of her kindness may have spurred the

more positive outlook on life Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest

SHAKESPEARE’S LOST YEARS First Lost Years

1578-1582 Leaving school and marrying Anne

Second Lost Years 1582-1592

Not much information about S during this time period

People believe during these lost years Shakespeare: Perfected his craft Established himself as a dramatist Gained experience at the theatre Helped out with the family business (trading in malt,

corn, wool and leather)

SHAKESPEARE’S DEATH Much like Poe, Shakespeare’s death is

also a mystery Possibly because of drinking

Dies on his 53rd birthday, April 23rd, 1616 S gives all of his land to his eldest

daughter and gives Anne the “second-best bed”A possible hint to their unhappy marriage

THE ORIGINAL GLOBE THEATRE

THE CURRENT GLOBE

THE GLOBE THEATRE Opened in 1599 in Bankside, Southward,

London Octagonal shaped building Open air arena – circular shape Two doors

Main entrance and exit door Arena projected halfway into the pit

“Apron” stageStage extended past proscenium arch Surrounded by three tiers of roofed galleries

with balconies

THE GLOBE THEATRE CONT. Shakespeare became part owner of the

Globe Virtual tour of the Globe

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/about-us/virtual-tour

Destroyed by a fire on June 29th, 1613