1. The Life of Shakespeare

2. Early Life Born in Stratford-upon-Avon Father sold leather goods Father served in local government Mother had 8 children

3. Schooling Grammar school 6 days week, went from 6am-7pm Mandatory church attendance Later apprenticed father’s business

4. Marriage Marriage to Anne She was 8 years older They had 3 children

5. Early Theatrical Life 1593 - theatres closed due to plague Venus and Adonis - first poem Member of Lord Chamberlin’s Men Wrote sonnets

6. 1594-1599 Momentous for Shakespeare Became part owner of the Globe

7. Types of Literature Classical plays History plays Narrative poems and sonnets Comedies

8. Troupe Change Queen Elizabeth died, and Chamberlin’s Men became King’s Men Performed 11 performances for King –7 were Shakespeare’s plays

9. Later Life Did real estate investment in Stratford Money comfort allowed him to write deeper stories and less entertainment

10. The Ending Wrote final plays in 1613-14 Believed to have left acting at 1611 Retired with family Died of unknown illness in 1616

11. Understanding the Plays Play within a play Disguises Love at first sight Fluid action Asides Soliloquies

12. Understanding the Language Vocabulary Puns Banter Innuendos Deliberate misunderstandings Strong emotions

13. Poetry within Plays Prose vs. poetry Iambic pentameter (often unrhymed) Couplets often end scene or act

14. Types of Humor Word play Wit (banter) Actions Situational Character