1. His life, his theater, and his works
William Shakespeare
His life, his theater, and his works

2. England in the 15th Century
England was ruled by Elizabeth I, the second daughter of Henry VIII
Elizabeth’s father created the Anglican Church of England
Elizabeth was a Protestant who was at war with the Pope and Catholic countries like Spain

3. England in the 15th Century
Elizabeth was a very educated ruler and enjoyed the arts- paintings, music, and theater
During the time of Elizabeth, England was going through the Renaissance, “Rebirth of the arts”

4. Shakespeare’s Life
Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1563 in the town of Stratford on the Avon River
His ancestors were farmers
His father was a glove maker
His mother’s name was Mary Arden
His mother influenced his writing

6. Shakespeare’s Life
At a young age, Shakespeare married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, but he was not a good husband
Shakespeare left Stratford and his wife and went to London to make money as an actor and write plays
At first, Shakespeare did not write his own plays; he reworked older plays
In his lifetime, Shakespeare would write 37 plays and 150 sonnets (poems)

8. Shakespeare’s Life
Shakespeare wrote many of his plays for his star actor, Richard Burbage
Shakespeare and his company of actors were financed by a wealthy man named Lord Chamberlain and later, King James I
Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe Theater

9. Shakespeare’s Life Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous play
After becoming famous, Shakespeare retired to his home in Stratford called “New Place”
Shakespeare died on
his birthday in the
year 1613

10. Shakespeare’s Theater
The Globe Theater had 20 sides and was called the “wooden O”
The first Globe burned down during a performance of Henry VIII in It was rebuilt the next year.
The second Globe was torn down in 1664
A reconstruction of the Globe was completed in Plays are still performed today.

11. Globe

14. Shakespeare’s Theater
Rich spectators paid two pennies to sit in the galleries on wooden benches under the roof. For an extra penny, you could rent a cushion to sit on.
Common people (groundlings) paid a penny to stand in the open yard or “pit” to watch the play
Most important people could sit on the stage near the actors so they could be seen by everyone for six pennies
Women were not allowed on the stage

15. Shakespeare’s Theater
A play was divided into five acts
Each act was divided into three or more scenes
Plays were three or more hours long
Plays were performed in the afternoon and had to end before dark
Only men could be actors
Women’s parts were performed by young boys

16. Shakespeare’s Theater
Townspeople knew of an upcoming play by the sounding of the king’s trumpet and the raising of a flag at the theater
During plays, gods and angels were lowered to the stage from the “heavens”
During plays, a trap door in the floor showed the way to Hell
A boys chorus told the story and entertained the audience while actors were getting ready

17. Shakespeare’s Theater
There was no scenery in Shakespeare’s plays
Actors wore platform shoes, masks, and elaborate costumes
Masks were worn to amplify voices, show emotions, and change characters
Lighting was done with daylight and candles

18. Shakespeare’s Plays Shakespeare wrote three kinds of plays:
Comedies: Taming of the Shrew, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth
History: Richard III, Henry V, Henry VIII

19. Shakespeare’s Plays Shakespeare’s plays are difficult because:
Some words no longer exist in today’s language
Plays were written as poetry
Plays were meant to be seen; not heard
Little scenery was used
Parts of stories were left out of the play because the audience of the day knew the “history” behind the stories