William Shakespeare A Biography

William Shakespeare The information we have about Shakespeare was taken from parish registers, municipal archives, legal documents involving property, theatrical records and business letters. William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford and baptized on April 26, 1564. He was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy landowner. William’s father was a glove maker, a grain dealer, and served in various civic offices as a member of town council, magistrate and as bailiff or mayor of Stratford.

Where Shakespeare was born: Map of England Stratford-upon-Avon

Education Due to his father’s standing, William received free tuition to the local grammar school where he studied rhetoric, Latin and Greek William was apprenticed to his father’s business around 1577 when his father’s fortunes began to decline Although William did not attend university and was not regarded as a man of learning, he did have a great deal of general knowledge.

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on Nov. 28, 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on Nov. 28, 1582. She was 8 yrs older than William and 3 months pregnant at the time of their marriage. Their first child, Susanna, was baptized on May 26, 1583 Twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born two years later in 1585 Hamnet, the only son, died at age 11.

Not only was Shakespeare a successful author, but he was also an actor! When the theatres reopened after the plagues of 1592-1593, Shakespeare was a partner in a company under the sponsorship of the Lord Chamberlain, head of the Royal household They were the most popular acting company in London, being invited to perform at court far more often than any other group. While the theatres were closed, Shakespeare wrote two long narrative poems which he dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, who was 19 yrs. Old. Speculation says that the money he received for these poems allowed him to become a partner with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

Shakespeare enjoyed great success at the Globe and Blackfriars theatres. It was thought he wrote two plays per year until he retired In 1597, he purchased New Place, the second largest home in Stratford In 1603, their acting company came under the patronage of King James and became known as the The King’s Men. Between Nov. 1604 and Oct. 1605, they performed 11 times before the King. Seven of these performances were plays by Shakespeare.

Shakespeare continued to invest in real estate in Stratford. He left the stage around 1611 and returned to Stratford He died April 23, 1616 and was buried at Holy Trinity Church.

Shakespeare’s Plays Comedies feature mistaken identities, women disguised as men, miscarried letters, and all sorts of silly complications that are happily resolved in the end. Many end with weddings being planned. Shakespeare wrote three types of plays: tragedies, comedies, and histories In tragedies the main character is doomed to die through his own character flaw (ex. Macbeth, Hamlet)

Plays cont’d… Histories told the stories of kings and noblemen in exciting situations. With the exception of Julius Caesar and Anthony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare wrote about English kings.

Shakespeare’s Language Shakespeare’s plays are written mainly in verse with some passages of prose.

PROSE Is a general term for writing that is not verse Has no capital letters at the beginnings of lines Fills up the width of the page Never rhymes at the end of a line Spoken by the common or lower class people such as the tradesmen and may be used for comic effect

Blank Verse Has capital letters at the start of each line Lines usually have 10 syllables (iambic pentameter) Lines have a regular rhythm Lines do not rhyme Hamlet’s soliloquy

Rhyming or Heroic Couplet Ends of lines rhyme in pairs Lines are usually ten syllables Can occur in blank verse Often used to indicate the end of a scene or act