William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born April 23, 1564 in Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon

Father – John- was a Father – John- was a glovemaker and a bailiff glovemaker and a bailiff (mayor)(mayor)

Mother – Mary Arden- Mother – Mary Arden- was from a rich familywas from a rich family

He attended grammar He attended grammar school where he learned school where he learned LatinLatin

No formal education No formal education after grammar schoolafter grammar school

Acquired of love of Acquired of love of nature as a boy from nature as a boy from playing in the woods and playing in the woods and fields surrounding his fields surrounding his home home

This love of nature is This love of nature is reflected in many of his reflected in many of his plays.plays.

In 1582, he married In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, a Anne Hathaway, a woman 8 years his woman 8 years his senior.senior.

Six months later his first Six months later his first daughter, Susanna, was daughter, Susanna, was born.born.

Twins Hamnet and Judith Twins Hamnet and Judith were born two years were born two years later in 1585.later in 1585.

Within a year or two of Within a year or two of their births, their births, Shakespeare moved to Shakespeare moved to London, leaving his London, leaving his family behind.family behind.

He first became an He first became an actor instead of a actor instead of a playwright.playwright.

However, he soon However, he soon became known in became known in London for the many London for the many plays he wrote and plays he wrote and starred in.starred in.

When Puritans were When Puritans were upset about the “bawdy” upset about the “bawdy” plays being performed, plays being performed, many theaters were shut many theaters were shut down.down.

During the time the During the time the theaters were closed, theaters were closed, Shakespeare spent Shakespeare spent much of his time much of his time composing his sonnets.composing his sonnets.

When the theaters When the theaters reopened, he was a reopened, he was a member of Lord member of Lord Chamberlain’s men, a Chamberlain’s men, a theater group sponsored theater group sponsored by Queen Elizabeth.by Queen Elizabeth.

With his theater group, With his theater group, Shakespeare built the Shakespeare built the Globe Theater.Globe Theater.

Shakespeare became Shakespeare became wealthy because of the wealthy because of the money from ticket sales, money from ticket sales, not the sale of his plays.not the sale of his plays.

Term: box officeTerm: box office

When Queen Elizabeth When Queen Elizabeth died, King James I died, King James I became the new king.became the new king.

Afraid that his acting Afraid that his acting company would lose company would lose financial support, financial support, Shakespeare tried to win Shakespeare tried to win the favor of the king by the favor of the king by writing a play specifically writing a play specifically for him.for him.

King James loved King James loved MacbethMacbeth, and the , and the company’s name was company’s name was changed to The King’s changed to The King’s Men to thank him for his Men to thank him for his support.support.

He continued to write He continued to write plays, producing 37 of plays, producing 37 of them by the time he them by the time he retired in 1610.retired in 1610.

His son Hamnet had His son Hamnet had died a few years earlier, died a few years earlier, and Shakespeare began and Shakespeare began to spend more time in to spend more time in Stratford-on-Avon.Stratford-on-Avon.

After his retirement, he After his retirement, he moved back to Stratford moved back to Stratford and bought New Place.and bought New Place.

He died there on April He died there on April 23, 1616.23, 1616.

His will left most of his His will left most of his property and money to property and money to his daughter Susanna.his daughter Susanna.

What did he leave his What did he leave his wife?wife?

His second best bed!His second best bed!

GravestoneGravestone

Good friend for Jesus’ sake Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbearforbear

To dig the dust enclosed here. To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blest be the man that spares Blest be the man that spares these these stones stones

And curst be he that moves my And curst be he that moves my bones. bones.