William Shakespeare A Brief Overview of His Life, Literature,
and Theatre
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His Life Born in Stratford-on-Avon in England Christened on
April 26, 1564 Father John Shakespeare was a glove maker Mother
Mary Arden Shakespeare came from a wealthy family. Attended primary
school for seven years Schooled in Latin and the Bible and received
an excellent education
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Shakespeares birthplace Shakespeares elementary school
Shakespeares classroom
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His Life Married Anne Hathaway He was 18; she was 26 and
already pregnant. They had three children; daughters married
eventually but son died at age 11. There is a period of seven years
where there are no records of Shakespeares life. Some believe he
was an assistant school teacher; others believe he had to flee due
to illegal hunting of animals. Shakespeares needs and ambitions
soon drew him to London.
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Shakespeares wife Shakespeares children London during
Shakespeares time
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His Literature Author of more than 36 plays and more than 150
poems Wrote comedies, tragedies, and histories Romeo and Juliet is
considered a tragedy a play that has serious and important actions
that ends unhappily for a main character. Romeo and Juliet, written
between 1594 and 1596, is one of the earliest plays Shakespeare
wrote.
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His Theatre Several of Shakespeares plays were on stage by 1592
in London. He was earning a living as an actor and playwright. His
wife and children did not come to London with him. He became a
partner in the Lord Chamberlains Men, an acting company, later to
be called the Kings Men. Very popular group and Shakespeare was
able to publish his work and sell it well
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His Theatre By 1597, Shakespeare had published 15 plays. By
1599, Shakespeare and his business partner built their own theatre
called The Globe. It was destroyed by fire in 1613, and a second
Globe Theatre was built on the same site by 1614. The Globe was
officially closed in 1642 by the Puritan religion, and demolished
in 1644. The Globe was thought to be a three-story, open air
theatre that could hold up to 3000 spectators.
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His Death Legend says Shakespeare died on his birthday, April
23, 1616. However, church records show he was already interned in
the church on April 5, 1616. In his will, he left the majority of
his possessions to his eldest daughter. He left the second-best bed
in the house to his wife, which might have been their marital bed
and significant to the couple, and not the insult it sounds.
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Good frend for Jesvs sake forbeare, To digg the dvst encloased
heare. Bleste be ye man that spares thes stones, And cvrst be he
that moves my bones.
