William Shakespeare Brief Biography

“reconstruction of a dinosaur from a few bits of bone stuck together with plaster” -Mark Twain on the creation of Shakespeare’s biography

Shakespeare’s Family Born in Stratford-upon- Avon, England on April 23, 1564 Born in Stratford-upon- Avon, England on April 23, 1564 Population of London: 200,000 3 rd of 8 children 3 rd of 8 children Father – John Shakespeare, a glove maker and wool merchant Father – John Shakespeare, a glove maker and wool merchant Mother – Mary Arden (gentry: wealthy) Mother – Mary Arden (gentry: wealthy)

Shakespeare’s Education Likely attended Stratford Grammar School Likely attended Stratford Grammar School Likely learned Latin and some Greek Likely learned Latin and some Greek Students commonly attended classes from dawn to dusk six days a week Students commonly attended classes from dawn to dusk six days a week

Players in Elizabethan Times In 1573, Queen Elizabeth passed laws requiring all players to be licensed, which meant they had to be sponsored by a member of either the royal or legal court In 1573, Queen Elizabeth passed laws requiring all players to be licensed, which meant they had to be sponsored by a member of either the royal or legal court However, actors were considered to be among the lowest of the low in society However, actors were considered to be among the lowest of the low in society

First Theatre In 1577, James Burbage opened the first public theatre in Shoreditch, just north of the London city limits, called the Theatre In 1577, James Burbage opened the first public theatre in Shoreditch, just north of the London city limits, called the Theatre His son, Richard Burbage, an actor, led the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London’s most popular acting company) His son, Richard Burbage, an actor, led the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (London’s most popular acting company)

Marriage at 18 & Children In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway who was 26, and pregnant In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway who was 26, and pregnant First daughter – Susanna (1583) First daughter – Susanna (1583) 1585 – twins Hamnet and Judith born 1585 – twins Hamnet and Judith born Hamnet died when 11

Shakespeare in London At 28, Shakespeare left his family for London, perhaps as a member of the Queen’s Men (elite troupe of actors) At 28, Shakespeare left his family for London, perhaps as a member of the Queen’s Men (elite troupe of actors) In 1594, Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men In 1594, Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men

The Globe In 1598, Richard Burbage lost the lease to his father’s theatre In 1598, Richard Burbage lost the lease to his father’s theatre Before the landowner confiscated the building, he and his players, in the dead of night, dismantled the building, transported it piece by piece across the frozen River Thames, and reassembled it on the south bank of the river Before the landowner confiscated the building, he and his players, in the dead of night, dismantled the building, transported it piece by piece across the frozen River Thames, and reassembled it on the south bank of the river They called it the Globe! Shakespeare was the primary shareholder. They called it the Globe! Shakespeare was the primary shareholder.

Performing for Royalty Shakespeare wrote and performed for both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I (1603) Shakespeare wrote and performed for both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I (1603) “That Scottish play” (Macbeth) was written for King James “That Scottish play” (Macbeth) was written for King James

Shakespeare’s Death April 23, 1616 April 23, 1616 Population of London: 400,000 Tomb in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford where he was baptised Tomb in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford where he was baptised Tradition has it he died of a fever after an evening’s drinking Tradition has it he died of a fever after an evening’s drinking

Shakespeare’s Last Will and Testament His daughter Susanna inherited the bulk of her father’s estate His daughter Susanna inherited the bulk of her father’s estate “I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture.” “I give unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture.” The “first best bed” was the one guests were offered when visiting The “first best bed” was the one guests were offered when visiting His wife had slept in the second best bed her entire married life His wife had slept in the second best bed her entire married life According to Elizabethan law, a wife was entitled to one-third of her husband’s estate, so Shakespeare did not feel the need to be more specific in his will According to Elizabethan law, a wife was entitled to one-third of her husband’s estate, so Shakespeare did not feel the need to be more specific in his will

Shakespeare’s Epitaph “Good frend for Jesus sake forbeare, To digg the dust encloased heare, Blese be ye man yt spares thes stones, And curst be he yt moves my bones.”

When were women finally allowed to act? In 1642, the Puritans shut down the theatres for twenty years In 1642, the Puritans shut down the theatres for twenty years When they opened during the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II, women were finally allowed to perform onstage When they opened during the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II, women were finally allowed to perform onstage The first woman appeared on a public stage in 1660 The first woman appeared on a public stage in 1660

Shakespeare’s Legacy 37 plays (histories, tragedies, comedies) 37 plays (histories, tragedies, comedies) 154 sonnets 154 sonnets 2 narrative poems 2 narrative poems

Shakespeare’s English Early Modern English NOT “Old English” Early Modern English NOT “Old English” Of the approximately 25,000 different words Shakespeare used in his plays, at least 2,000 of them were ones he either invented or recorded for the first time Of the approximately 25,000 different words Shakespeare used in his plays, at least 2,000 of them were ones he either invented or recorded for the first time

Shakespearean Style Shakespeare often wrote in BLANK VERSE (the lines do not have to rhyme) Shakespeare often wrote in BLANK VERSE (the lines do not have to rhyme) When they do rhyme, it is usually to mark the end of a scene, because there were no curtains, and the rhyme itself gave the clue to the audience that the scene was about to change When they do rhyme, it is usually to mark the end of a scene, because there were no curtains, and the rhyme itself gave the clue to the audience that the scene was about to change

Iambic Pentameter A typical line will have five, two-syllable units, with the emphasis on the second syllable (10 syllables in total per line) A typical line will have five, two-syllable units, with the emphasis on the second syllable (10 syllables in total per line) Considered one of the most successful ways to write poetry that has a natural spoken form Considered one of the most successful ways to write poetry that has a natural spoken form Kings and upper classes speak in iambic pentameter (verse) while the lower classes speak in prose (normal, everyday speech) Kings and upper classes speak in iambic pentameter (verse) while the lower classes speak in prose (normal, everyday speech)