William Shakespeare

1564-1616

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Elizabethan Dress of the Day

                  

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William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in the town of Stratford-Upon-Avon

                                                                            

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Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon

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Nash’s House

When Shakespeare retired from London and the theater, he retuned to Stratford and bought this house. He was very wealthy.

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Royal Shakespeare Company

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This stage in Stratford shows Shakespeare’s plays. (I saw “A Winter’s Tale” here.

He was the third of 8 children and the oldest son of the family.

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When Shakespeare was older he should have apprenticed to his father, but because of financial problems his father was having he apprenticed to a butcher nearby.

                                                                            

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At the age of 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 years older then he was.

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Shakespeare’s family

• Daughter, Susanna, was born in 1583

• Twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born in 1585

• Son, Hamnet, dies in 1596 and Shakespeare is not there

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He moved to London, without his wife and children, in 1588 after being banned from Stratford for poaching deer in the park of Sir Thomas Lucy, a local justice of the peace.

                                                               

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After being in London for only four years he attained success as an actor and a playwright. Although his plays were generally popular the plays were looked down upon by the learned, who considered being a playwright a vulgar occupation.

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The Globe Theater in London

The Original Globe

The Rebuilt Globe Theater in London

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Inside the Globe

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Shakespeare wrote many different kinds of plays. All of his plays are divided into four periods.

• The first period leads up to 1594.• The second period is the time from

1594-1600• The third period is the time

between 1600-1608• The fourth and final period is any

time after 1608.

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After 1613 Shakespeare moved back to Stratford and became a leading citizen. He died on April 23, 1616 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity. His family is buried along with him.

                                                  

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Shakespeare’s Resting Place

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Summary• April 23, 1564- Shakespeare’s birthday• November 27, 1582- marries Anne Hathaway• 1590-leaves for London• 1594-Forms The Chamberlain’s Men acting

company• 1596-Shakespeare is London's leading playwright• 1599-Globe Theatre built in London• 1600-1608-Period of his great tragic plays• 1603-His company becomes The Kings Men

performing frequently for James I• 1613-Retires to Stratford• April 23, 1616-Death of Shakespeare

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