William William ShakespeareShakespeare

1564 – 16161564 – 1616Actor, Poet, and PlaywrightActor, Poet, and Playwright

A)A) Shakespeare was born on Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in Englandupon-Avon in England

B)B) His father was a glove-maker His father was a glove-maker who was once the mayor of who was once the mayor of StratfordStratford

C)C) He attended school no He attended school no further than the eighth gradefurther than the eighth grade

D) In 1582 he married Anne D) In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and had three children Hathaway and had three children with herwith her

E) In 1590, Shakespeare traveled E) In 1590, Shakespeare traveled to London (without his family) to to London (without his family) to work as an actor and playwrightwork as an actor and playwright

F) Public and critical success F) Public and critical success quickly followed and he became quickly followed and he became the most popular playwright in the most popular playwright in EnglandEngland

G) Shakespeare prospered as an G) Shakespeare prospered as an actor, playwright, and manager actor, playwright, and manager of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men acting company. acting company.

H) Shakespeare’s financial H) Shakespeare’s financial success allowed him to become success allowed him to become part owner of the Globe part owner of the Globe Theatre (London’s most Theatre (London’s most popular playhouse).popular playhouse).

After the death of Queen After the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, Elizabeth I in 1603, Shakespeare’s acting company Shakespeare’s acting company became the King’s Men, under became the King’s Men, under King James I.King James I.

J) In 1612, Shakespeare returned to J) In 1612, Shakespeare returned to live with his family in Stratfordlive with his family in Stratford

K) On April 23, 1616 (his birthday?!) K) On April 23, 1616 (his birthday?!) Shakespeare died at the age of Shakespeare died at the age of 52 and was buried in Holy Trinity 52 and was buried in Holy Trinity ChurchChurch

The Globe TheatreThe Globe TheatreA)A) This theatre was the most popular This theatre was the most popular

playhouse in a suburb of Londonplayhouse in a suburb of LondonB) The Globe was an open-air B) The Globe was an open-air

building with so many sides it building with so many sides it appeared to be circularappeared to be circular

C) It held nearly 3,000 patronsC) It held nearly 3,000 patronsD) Only men were allowed to act! D) Only men were allowed to act!

(yes, they did play girl parts)(yes, they did play girl parts)

E) Laws prohibited theatre managers E) Laws prohibited theatre managers from advertising; plays were from advertising; plays were announced by trumpets playing and announced by trumpets playing and raising flags over the theatreraising flags over the theatre

F) Black flag= tragedy; white flag= F) Black flag= tragedy; white flag= comedy; red flag=historycomedy; red flag=history

G) The best seats in the house were G) The best seats in the house were the farthest from the stage (you the farthest from the stage (you could see the whole stage)could see the whole stage)

H) The wealthy paid the highest H) The wealthy paid the highest prices and sat on cushioned seatsprices and sat on cushioned seats

I) Servants and peasants paid the I) Servants and peasants paid the cheapest price and stood around the cheapest price and stood around the stage (for the entire performance)stage (for the entire performance)

J) In 1613, when a prop cannon was J) In 1613, when a prop cannon was fired during the first performance of fired during the first performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII, the Globe caught on fire , the Globe caught on fire and burned to the groundand burned to the ground

Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I

Elizabethan PeriodElizabethan PeriodA)A) Queen Elizabeth ruled England Queen Elizabeth ruled England

from 1558 to 1603from 1558 to 1603B) The last half of the 16B) The last half of the 16thth century century

is known as the Elizabethan is known as the Elizabethan Period because Elizabeth was Period because Elizabeth was so influential in leading the so influential in leading the English RenaissanceEnglish Renaissance

C) The Elizabethan Period C) The Elizabethan Period spanned most of Shakespeare’s spanned most of Shakespeare’s lifelife

D) Before Elizabeth, England D) Before Elizabeth, England looked to Europe (the continent) looked to Europe (the continent) for guidance in literature, for guidance in literature, fashion, and dramafashion, and drama

E) Latin was the language used E) Latin was the language used for writing important works of for writing important works of literatureliterature

F) Elizabeth spurred an F) Elizabeth spurred an awakening by encouraging awakening by encouraging the artsthe arts

G) Her support of the arts G) Her support of the arts encouraged England’s poets, encouraged England’s poets, musicians, and playwrightsmusicians, and playwrights

H) Shakespeare was Elizabeth’s H) Shakespeare was Elizabeth’s favorite playwrightfavorite playwright

I)I) Shakespeare was careful to Shakespeare was careful to show support for the queen, show support for the queen, particularly in his history plays particularly in his history plays that depicted her Tudor that depicted her Tudor ancestors as England saviorsancestors as England saviors

J) During Shakespeare’s time, his J) During Shakespeare’s time, his acting company performed at acting company performed at least 32 times for Elizabethleast 32 times for Elizabeth

K) Shakespeare valued her opinion K) Shakespeare valued her opinion above all others (hence why above all others (hence why King LearKing Lear has two endings) has two endings)