1. William Shakespeare Twelfth Night

2. His life William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Born in Stratford-upon-Avon
The exact date of his birth is unknown, but some believe he was born on April 23, 1564
By the age of seven, William was able to read and write
He attended Stratford grammar school until he was 15, where he would have studied Greek and Latin literature and Christian ethics (including knowledge of the Bible)
William was an intellectual, though he didn't attend the university for various reasons. This upset some of his fellow playwrights because they believed that a dramatist should be educated

3. William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway (he was 18, she was 26).
Anne was already three months pregnant.
Children: Susanna, Judith and Hamnet - Hamnet dies at the age of 11

4. Now, with a family of three and a wife to take care of, Shakespeare took off to London.
he became quite a successful player in London

5. In January 1593, the plague forced many London theaters to close
Becomes key member of an acting troupe known as “Lord Chamberlain’s Men”
Performed at the Globe Theater
The theater held people

6. William Shakespeare died in Stratford-upon- Avon the same date that he was born, April 23, at the age of 52

7. William Shakespeare composed what many believe is the most extraordinary body of work in the history of world drama
He wrote 36 plays and 154 sonnets

8. Words, words, words
Shakespeare's surviving works add up to a staggering 884,647 words and 118,406 lines.
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play, clocking in at 4,042 lines. His shortest is The Comedy of Errors, with 1,787.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Shakespeare coined more than 500 new words, many of which are still commonly used in English speech. Popular Will-isms include: amazement, bump, lonely, countless, useful, radiance and lacklustre.

9. A VERY brief history of the times
Europe is split during the 16th century
The Reformations - Catholics & Protestants
Henry VIII of England is having several issues with the Catholic church, the least of which is he wants to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon (Spanish) because she won’t have a male heir.
In the meantime he starts the Church of England (Anglican) and makes himself the head of the church.
Separation granted! Henry moves onto Anne Boleyn…3 years later…she is beheaded

10. The further adventures of Henry
New wife! Jane Seymour…finally produces a male heir named Edward.
What happened to Jane?
She died.
Three more wives…
Unsuccessful conflicts that cost lots of $$$$
Religious issues

11. Henry’s pride and joy Edward takes over
The young Protestant King catches Tuberculosis and dies.
Who is next in line to the throne?
The daughter of Catherine of Aragon
MARY - as in Bloody Mary

12. 1553 - 1558 First female monarch of England
Known for her fierce treatment of Protestants: many were burned at the stake
She - and her Spanish husband - were HATED by the English
Childless she dies and in comes Elizabeth I

13. Queen Elizabeth
“The Virgin Queen” is considered one of the country's most successful and popular monarchs
Elizabeth was a different kind of Queen: quick-witted, clever and able to use feminine wiles to get her own way.
November 17, 1558 she became Queen
She never married and once said, “I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England.”

14. Knowing the religious issue could, and would, separate her nation - something other Monarchs hoped for - she acted diplomatically. Although Protestant she employed Catholics and ushered in an era of religious tolerance.
Died on March 24, 1603

15. Important people of the day
Nicolaus Copernicus ( )
Francis Bacon ( )
Martin Luther ( )
Ben Jonson ( )
John Donne ( )
Edmund Spenser ( )
Sir Walter Raleigh ( )
Christopher Marlowe ( )

16. Shakespeare & Hollywood
Shakespeare has inspired many Hollywood films, such as:
reproductions of his plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet,
movies that are based on the plots of his plays, such as:
“She’s the Man” (based on Twelfth Night)
“Ten Things I hate about You” (based on The Taming of the Shrew)
“O” (based on Othello)

17. Shakespeare has become a part of our pop culture!

18. So the big question… why do we study Shakespeare?
To appreciate Shakespeare’s genius language skills
to enrich reading skills
To relate personally to some of his characters
To notice how our language is changing (would Will know what it means to text or google?)
To enjoy dramatic interpretations of the play
For entertainment! To have fun! (it’s not meant to be a hardship!!)