1. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE The Bard – World’s Greatest Writer The famous Chandos Portrait

2. The Droeshout Engraving
Engraving in the Famous First Folio edition done by Martin Droeshout

3. Stanley Wells of the Shakespeare Trust with The Cobbe Portrait

4. Biographical Data Birth Date: Place of Birth:
April 23, * Stratford Upon Avon
Feast of St. George
Shakespeare’s Birthplace as it stands today

5. Parents John Shakespeare Mary Arden
A Glover
Rose to become Chief Burgess
Fell out of Political Grace.
Mary Arden
Daughter of well-to-do nearby Farming Gentry
William Shakespeare had Brothers and Sisters

6. Glover’s Workshop At the Shakespeare Trust

7. Childhood Home of Shakespeare’s Mother - Mary Arden

8. Marriage & Family Wife – Anne Hathaway Three Children:
Wife Ann is 26 years old to Shakespeare’s 18 years.
First child is born 6 months after marriage.
Three Children:
Suzanne
The twins:
Hamnet
Judith

9. Early London Years Composed Plays: Comedies and Histories
Sharply Criticized by Robert Greene

10. Comedy: Much Ado about Nothing

11. History: Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 Henry V

12. Early Years – London Composed Sonnets
Most likely composed when the theaters were closed by plague
Addressed to…
The dashing Young Earl of Southampton, his Patron.
The Dark Lady – Perhaps a Mistress in London.

13. The Globe Theater - Southwerk

14. The Globe Theater - Southwerk

15. The Globe Theater - Southwerk

16. The Globe Theater –Original site Behind the wall & marker, Archaeologist strive to learn about the original Globe.

17. Maturation as an Artist
Upon the death of his son Hamnet, Shakespeare becomes more reflective, and his themes become deeper.
His greatest Tragedies come late in his career:
Othello
Hamlet
King Lear
Macbeth

18. The Four Major Tragedies

19. His Last Play The Tempest
Shakespeare Composes his final play, The Tempest
In this work, his magician Prospero, is to end his career and burn his books. A parallel to Shakespeare’s retirement.

20. Retirement
Shakespeare retires from his London Career and returns to Stratford a relatively wealthy man of significant high status.
He builds the finest home in Stratford which he calls “New Place”.

21. New Place
New Place, is the site of Shakespeare's former home, and is now occupied by this garden.
The house that once stood here has been demolished, but was originally one of the grandest in Stratford, and was bought by Shakespeare at the height of his success.
He lived here after his return from London, until his death.

22. Death of Shakespeare April 23, 1616
He dies, according to tradition, following a night out drinking with friends who came up from London. Supposedly a bad batch of pickled herrings seems to blame for his death.
In a strange behest, he wills his wife, Anne, his second best bed.
He is buried inside of Holy Trinity Church. This is due to his service to the church, not due to his fame as a playwright.

23. The Will of Will

24. Shakespeare Buried inside of Holy Trinity Church - Stratford

25. Shakespeare’s Epitaph

26. The End