1. Learning About William Shakespeare!

2. Shakespeare Is Born! Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
He was born in no one is sure of the date
Traditionally his birthday is celebrated on April 23

3. Wedding Bells Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582
She was eight years older
Their first child was Susanna
They then had twins, Hamnet and Judith

4. The “Upstart Crow”
Little is known about Shakespeare’s life until 1592 when a jealous playwright refers to him as an “upstart crow.”

5. Shakespeare, the Playwright
By 1592, Shakespeare was becoming established in the London theatre scene

6. Shakespeare’s Theatre
The Globe
The year is 1598
If you’re a groundling you pay 1 pence to stand on the floor in front of the stage
Only the rich can afford to buy a seat

7. The Tragedies
A protagonist falls from grace and dies along with most of the rest of the cast.
A drama with an unhappy ending
Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Othello, King Lear

8. Romeo and Juliet
Two “star-crossed” lovers forbidden by their families to be together
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore are thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name! “

9. Macbeth
Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become King. He and his wife do everything in their power to make the vision come true.
“Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

10. Hamlet Hamlet is called home from school for his father’s funeral.
Soon after his mother marries his uncle.
His father’s ghost returns to inform Hamlet that he was murdered by the uncle, Claudius.
“To be or not to be…”
“Neither a borrower or a lender be”

11. The Comedies
Has a happy ending, usually involving the marriage of any single characters
The “lovers” are usually separated and then reunited.

12. Much Ado About Nothing First performed in 1598 or 1599
Follows the romance of Claudio and Hero who are kept apart by the evil Don John.
Beatrice and Benedick (see picture) have a love-hate relationship that ends in marriage.

13. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
First performed between 1594 and 1596
Fairies, magic, and mistaken identities.
Many “happily ever after” marriages in the end.

14. Shakespeare’s Death
Shakespeare died on April 23 and was buried on April 25 in Stratford-upon- Avon
In his will he left his wife his “second best bed.”