William Shakespeare’s

Life and Times

Young Shakespeare Shakespeare (1564-

1616) Born and raised in

Stratford-on-Avon Father was once

mayor of the town Mother was

daughter of father’s landlord

William Shakespeare Attended primary school

and Latin grammar school

1583: Married Anne Hathaway & had 3 children

The Dark Years: lack of info about Shakespeare between 1585 and 1592

London in Shakespeare’s Time

Shakespeare moved to London.

Conditions in London were not pleasant:– Homes of the poor

were small and dirty– Sewage ran in open

ditches in the streets– Overcrowding and

unemployment were major problems.

London Bridge

Heads of traitors were displayed on pikes on the city’s main bridge.

The Globe The most famous London Playhouse Flew a flag to announce a performance Acting companies used boys to play female

roles. Shakespeare was a member of Lord

Chamberlain’s Company (a traveling company of professional actors), later called The King’s Men.

Objections to Theaters

Large assemblies of people Spread diseases Politics FiresTheaters were often located outside the city

walls to avoid censorship by London’s Lord Mayor.

The New Globe

The wealthy’s view of the stage

“The Heavens” as seen by the groundlings

Romeo and Juliet

Written between 1591-1595 highly moral tone (theme): disobedience, in

addition to fate, is what brings about the deaths of the two lovers

Feud--a prolonged conflict between families.

The feud is so old that the cause has been forgotten.

The Balcony Scene

“Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?”

Remember:

Wherefore means “Why”

Star-Crossed Lovers

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy.

In a tragedy, the main character(s) face negative episodes and tend to die.

The End

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