William Shakespeare A Biographical Sketch Birth and Boyhood

William Shakespeare A Biographical Sketch

Birth and Boyhood • Born (approximately) in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564 • Third of eight children – Father was a successful glover and leading townsman – Mother was the daughter of a wealthy landowning farmer • Studied Latin and Classical culture (evident in his writings) Shakespeare’s childhood home in Stratford-upon-Avon

Marriage • At the age of 18, Shakespeare married 26 year old Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant (gasp!) • The couple had three children: – Susanna, born in May of 1583 – Twins Hamnet and Judith, born in February 1585 • No historical references exist about Shakespeare after the twins’ birth until 1592, when he is mentioned in reference to stage plays.

Shakespeare: the Actor, Playwright, and Poet • Left for London in 1586 • Wrote and acted for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which was later called the King’s Men under King James I • Performed predominately at the Globe Theatre in London, England

The Globe Theatre • Located in Southwark, a suburb of London, on the bank of the River Thames. • Built in 1599. • Open-air building which held nearly 3, 000 people.

The Globe Theatre Cont. • Advertising the plays was illegal so the flag atop theatre signaled what type of play was being performed. – Red flag: history – Black flag: tragedy – White flag: comedy • Females were not allowed to be actresses; males played ALL the parts in the play. • The theatre caught on fire in 1613 and burned to the ground. It was later rebuilt.

Royalty and Shakespeare • Queen Elizabeth I loved plays and granted permission and protection for acting companies. • Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night especially for the Queen.

Royalty and Shakespeare Cont. • The reign of King James I began in 1603 after the death of Queen Elizabeth. • King James continued to protect the acting company, which was renamed The King’s Men. • Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to thank the King for his patronage.

Shakespeare’s London • During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, London’s population would reach 200, 000. It was a growing, economically and culturally rich city. • Challenges: – the plague – religious conflict – strict social hierarchy • Theatre-going society. All social classes attended—from the aristocracy to the working -class and often vulgar “groundlings. ”

Elizabethan London Modern Day London

Death • Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. • His body lies in Holy Trinity Church at Stratford -upon-Avon. • His tombstone reads: Good friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbear To dig the dust enclosed here; Blest be the man that spares these stones And curst be he that moves my bones.

Works of Shakespeare • Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. • Plays are separated into three categories: – Histories • Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Henry V… – Comedies • A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew… – Tragedies • Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello…

Histories • Primarily based on the lives of English kings • “English history plays”

Comedies • Usually involves a happy ending • More light-hearted tone and style • Greater emphasis on situations rather than characters • A struggle for young lovers to overcome difficulty • Multiple, intertwining plots • Use of all types of comedy

Tragedies • Protagonist is an admirable, but flawed, character who has the audience’s sympathy • Protagonist is capable of both good and evil • In the end, the protagonist always dies…seemingly by his/her own hand

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet • First printed edition: 1597 (pirated) • Written during the period that Shakespeare was writing his sonnets • Evidence suggests that the play was often performed by Shakespeare’s company during his lifetime • Plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose as Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1582

A still from the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli version of Romeo and Juliet A still from the 1996 Baz Luhrmann version of Romeo + Juliet A 19 th Century painting of Romeo and Juliet

The End.