Shakespeare’s Life

OutlineOutlineShakespeare’s Early LifeShakespeare’s Early LifeThe Young Actor and The Young Actor and Playwright Playwright

Fame and Success Fame and Success Shakespeare’s Later LifeShakespeare’s Later Life

William Shakespeare’sWilliam Shakespeare’sEarly lifeEarly life

John Shakespeare,John Shakespeare,Williams FatherWilliams Father

Son of a tenant farmer from Snitterfield.Son of a tenant farmer from Snitterfield. Went to Stratford-upon-Avon to take an Went to Stratford-upon-Avon to take an

apprenticeship as a glove maker.apprenticeship as a glove maker. After seven years as an apprentice he After seven years as an apprentice he

established his own shop.established his own shop. He did really well and purchased lands He did really well and purchased lands

and houses. He first appeared in local and houses. He first appeared in local records on April 29, 1552.records on April 29, 1552.

Became involved in local politics.Became involved in local politics. In September 1556 he was elected In September 1556 he was elected

aletaster then constable. He kept being aletaster then constable. He kept being elected various positions until in 1568 he elected various positions until in 1568 he was elected bailiff, which is like a police.was elected bailiff, which is like a police.

Eventually he was granted his coat of Eventually he was granted his coat of arms.arms.

He married Mary Arden sometime He married Mary Arden sometime between 1556 and 1558.between 1556 and 1558.

In 1592, he was included in a list of nine In 1592, he was included in a list of nine who do not obey the laws of going to who do not obey the laws of going to church every Sunday.church every Sunday.

Mary Arden,Mary Arden,Williams mother.Williams mother.

By marrying John, they both gave By marrying John, they both gave each other a higher status.each other a higher status.

She had a total of eight children: She had a total of eight children:

Joan. 1558-? Joan. 1558-? Margaret. 1562-1563 Margaret. 1562-1563

William. 1564-1600? William. 1564-1600? Gilbert. 1566-1611 Gilbert. 1566-1611 Joan. 1569-1646 Joan. 1569-1646 Anne. 1571-1579 Anne. 1571-1579

Richard. 1574-1613 Richard. 1574-1613 Edmund. 1580-1607 Edmund. 1580-1607

The exact date of Williams birth is The exact date of Williams birth is unknown. But It is known that he was unknown. But It is known that he was baptized on April 26, 1564 and it is baptized on April 26, 1564 and it is customary that parents baptize their customary that parents baptize their children 3 days after their birth. children 3 days after their birth.

He was lucky to not have died as an He was lucky to not have died as an infant because the bubonic plague infant because the bubonic plague visited Stratford and killed about one-visited Stratford and killed about one-sixth of the population. sixth of the population.

EducationEducation Education could only be Education could only be

afforded by the wealthy afforded by the wealthy during the renaissance.during the renaissance.

Neither John or Mary could Neither John or Mary could write. But it was usual. 70% write. But it was usual. 70% of men and 90% of women of men and 90% of women could not sign their names.could not sign their names.

John and Mary wanted to John and Mary wanted to make sure that William make sure that William could read and write. Since could read and write. Since John had a high standing in John had a high standing in his community. William his community. William went to school for free.went to school for free.

Women received little Women received little education. But men started education. But men started school at age five at “petty” school at age five at “petty” school.school.

Education Education (continued)(continued)

At ”petty” school you would learn At ”petty” school you would learn all the basic things. (i.e. the all the basic things. (i.e. the alphabet, sign of the cross… etc.)alphabet, sign of the cross… etc.)

After “petty” school he moved After “petty” school he moved onto Grammar school. William onto Grammar school. William Studied Greco-Roman Studied Greco-Roman Playwrights, rhetoric, logic, and Playwrights, rhetoric, logic, and numeration.numeration.

Shakespeare did not enjoy his Shakespeare did not enjoy his school years.school years.

It is not known much of his It is not known much of his school life, but it is known than school life, but it is known than he attended King Edward IV he attended King Edward IV Grammar school.Grammar school.

He leaved school at age fourteen He leaved school at age fourteen and did not go on to one of the and did not go on to one of the universities.universities.

Financial TroublesFinancial Troubles In about 1577, Johns fortunes In about 1577, Johns fortunes

began to decline.began to decline. He was unable to pay his He was unable to pay his

loans and he lost a part of loans and he lost a part of his wife’s inheritance.his wife’s inheritance.

His financial troubles His financial troubles continued for years. He had continued for years. He had several fines levied against several fines levied against him.him.

At age thirteen, William had At age thirteen, William had to leave grammar school. His to leave grammar school. His father needed his help at father needed his help at home. We know that he did home. We know that he did not sit around and do not sit around and do nothing. His plays show nothing. His plays show knowledge of Elizabethan knowledge of Elizabethan common occupations such as common occupations such as cobbling, baking, and cobbling, baking, and farming.farming.

Financial Trouble Financial Trouble (Continued)(Continued)

William did have a William did have a basic education. basic education. (math, grammar, (math, grammar, reading, writing, and reading, writing, and Latin)Latin)

Shakespeare Shakespeare continued to educate continued to educate himself after leaving himself after leaving school.school.

His classmates His classmates debated on weather he debated on weather he had enough education had enough education to write plays.to write plays.

MarriageMarriage The next record of William The next record of William

Shakespeare after his Shakespeare after his christening is on November 27, christening is on November 27, 1582 for his marriage license. 1582 for his marriage license.

He married Anne Hathaway at He married Anne Hathaway at age 18. She was seven and a age 18. She was seven and a half years older than him.half years older than him.

She was the daughter of a small She was the daughter of a small farmer, little above the mark of farmer, little above the mark of a laboring man. He lived about a laboring man. He lived about 2 miles from Stratford.2 miles from Stratford.

They had their first child They had their first child Susanna in 1583. Then they had Susanna in 1583. Then they had twins Judith and Hamnet the twins Judith and Hamnet the following year. following year.

His only son died at age twelve His only son died at age twelve but his daughters survived. He but his daughters survived. He had no children after this.had no children after this.

His marriage did not have love His marriage did not have love or confidence.or confidence.

Marriage Marriage (Continued)(Continued)

From 1586 to 1611, From 1586 to 1611, Shakespeare spent Shakespeare spent most his time in most his time in London. Anne spent London. Anne spent her time with his her time with his parents in Stratford.parents in Stratford.

He did not treat his He did not treat his wife well. When he wife well. When he died, in his will he left died, in his will he left her his “second-best her his “second-best bed, with the bed, with the hangings.”hangings.”

ShakespeareShakespeareThe Young Actor and The Young Actor and

PlaywrightPlaywright

The Lost YearsThe Lost Years

During two major spans of Shakespeare’s life we During two major spans of Shakespeare’s life we know very little about. We refer to these years know very little about. We refer to these years as the “Lost Years.”as the “Lost Years.”

The two periods that these years fall into are, The two periods that these years fall into are, first, between 1578-1582. The second being first, between 1578-1582. The second being 1585-1592.1585-1592.

During the first period, Shakespeare left During the first period, Shakespeare left grammar school and married a lady named Anne grammar school and married a lady named Anne Hatheway.Hatheway.

During the second period covers the seven years During the second period covers the seven years in which he was perfecting his dramatic skills.in which he was perfecting his dramatic skills.

Jump Start CareerJump Start Career

No one is certain on how No one is certain on how Shakespeare started his career Shakespeare started his career in the theatre department.in the theatre department.

All we know is that Shakespeare All we know is that Shakespeare ended up in the city of London ended up in the city of London by the end of 1592. This was the by the end of 1592. This was the first year that he was really first year that he was really recognized in theatrerecognized in theatre..

Popular PlaysPopular Plays

Shakespeare was already a Shakespeare was already a respected player in London respected player in London from the beginning of his from the beginning of his career.career.

Many of his famous works Many of his famous works include: include: The Comedy of Errors, The Comedy of Errors, Henry VI, and Titus Andronicus.Henry VI, and Titus Andronicus.

Turning PointTurning Point

1593 was the turning point in 1593 was the turning point in Shakespeare’s career.Shakespeare’s career.

Since the theater’s had been closed Since the theater’s had been closed since 1592 due to an outbreak of the since 1592 due to an outbreak of the plague, Shakespeare left the theatre plague, Shakespeare left the theatre entirely to work on non-dramatic poetry.entirely to work on non-dramatic poetry.

He was soon recognized for it by the He was soon recognized for it by the Earl of Southampton by the end of Earl of Southampton by the end of 1593.1593.

Success!Success!Shakespeare wrote many of the most Shakespeare wrote many of the most

famous plays that we know today famous plays that we know today such as: such as: Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, King John, King John, andand Love’s Labour’s Lost. Love’s Labour’s Lost.

By this time Shakespeare was known By this time Shakespeare was known as both a writer and an actor. as both a writer and an actor.

He was very successful in his early He was very successful in his early years as both and went on to do years as both and went on to do even more great masterpieces.even more great masterpieces.

ShakespearShakespeare’s e’s

Fame and Fame and SuccessSuccess

Life After The Lost Life After The Lost YearsYears

At one point in time in Shakespeare’s life there are no record of what he did for seven years. This period is called “The Lost Years”. Suddenly we find record that he travels to London to start his acting career.

The ActorThe Actor Records say that Shakespeare arrived in London around the year 1588. It is thought that William was recruited by Leicester’s or The Queen’s men which are acting troupes. Later he acted and wrote for Pembroke’s Men, which later became Chamberlain’s Men. This group often performed at the Court of Queen Elizabeth.

Robert Greene’s Robert Greene’s CommentComment

In his autobiography he was writing before he died, Robert Greene wrote, “There is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tygers heart wrapped in a Players hide supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and, being an absolute Johannes Factotum, is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.”

The Plays and PoemsThe Plays and Poems

It is believed that in the year 1589 was when Shakespeare began to write his first play, Henry VI, Part One. This play would be finished by 1590. From the years 1589 -1613 William write many works that are enjoyed today. His most famous plays include Hamlet, A Midsummer’s Night, and Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s LegacyLegacy

William Shakespeare was a poet, a playwright, and an actor. He thrilled audiences with his performances and left them speechless when his work was performed. Even though we only have the records, his spirit lives on through the performances of his work.

ShakespearShakespeare’s e’s Later Later LifeLife

Life After Life After RetirementRetirement

• Shakespeare permanently Shakespeare permanently settled in Stratford in 1610 settled in Stratford in 1610 due to bad health.due to bad health.

• In 1613, the Globe, where In 1613, the Globe, where some of Shakespeare’s plays some of Shakespeare’s plays were performed, was were performed, was destroyed by a fire.destroyed by a fire.

• Shakespeare was involved Shakespeare was involved in a long dispute over the in a long dispute over the enclosures of land around enclosures of land around Stratford.Stratford.

• Although in retirement, he Although in retirement, he still wrote 4 more plays.still wrote 4 more plays.

The Last PlaysThe Last Plays• Pericles, written between Pericles, written between 1606 – 08, is based on the 1606 – 08, is based on the classical tale of Apollonius of classical tale of Apollonius of Tyre.Tyre.

• The Winter’s Tale, written The Winter’s Tale, written in 1610-11, is classified as a in 1610-11, is classified as a Tragic Comedy.Tragic Comedy.

• The Tempest, written The Tempest, written between 1610-11, is between 1610-11, is classified as a comedy.classified as a comedy.

• Cymbeline, written Cymbeline, written between 1609-10, is between 1609-10, is classified as a comedy.classified as a comedy.

His WillHis Will• He left the majority of his He left the majority of his things to his eldest daughter, things to his eldest daughter, Susanna.Susanna.

• He left only a little money He left only a little money for his youngest daughter. It for his youngest daughter. It is said that it was probably is said that it was probably because she had just been because she had just been married.married.

• Shakespeare gave 10 Shakespeare gave 10 pounds to the poor of pounds to the poor of Stratfort.Stratfort.

• All he left his wife was his All he left his wife was his second best bed.second best bed.

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s DeathDeath• Shakespeare bought the Holy Shakespeare bought the Holy

Trinity Church then was buried Trinity Church then was buried there. This is the same church in there. This is the same church in which he was baptized.which he was baptized.

• Shakespeare died on April 23, Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. He was buried two days 1616. He was buried two days later.later.

• Shakespeare had this written Shakespeare had this written on his grave, on his grave, "Good friend, for "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blest be the dust enclosed here. Blest be the man that spares these stones, man that spares these stones, But cursed be he that moves my But cursed be he that moves my bones."bones."

THE ENDTHE END