William Shakespeare

Info:Info:

Born in April of 1564; maybe Born in April of 1564; maybe April 23April 23rdrd..

Born in the village Born in the village Stratford-Upon-Avon.Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Father was John and mother Father was John and mother was Mary Arden.was Mary Arden.

His family was well-off and His family was well-off and Shakespeare was educated.Shakespeare was educated.

Info:Info:

He married Anne He married Anne Hathaway when Hathaway when he was 18 and he was 18 and she was 26.she was 26.

He had 3 He had 3 children: children: Susanna and Susanna and twins Judith twins Judith and Hamnet. and Hamnet.

Shakespeare Shakespeare joined Lord joined Lord Chamberlain's Chamberlain's Men, an acting Men, an acting company.company.

He also was He also was part owner in part owner in the famous the famous Globe Theatre.Globe Theatre.

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

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The “Wooden O”The “Wooden O”

This is the theater where This is the theater where Shakespeare’s greatest plays Shakespeare’s greatest plays were performed were performed

A more or less circular A more or less circular building 30 feet high and building 30 feet high and consisting of three tiers of consisting of three tiers of seats for spectators seats for spectators

A big octagon with no A big octagon with no ceiling ceiling

Globe FactsGlobe Facts The theatre could seat 1500 but The theatre could seat 1500 but usually 3000 came to the showsusually 3000 came to the shows

There was no heat or light. Plays There was no heat or light. Plays were performed in the summer and were performed in the summer and during daylight.during daylight.

Minimal props, not elaborate sets.Minimal props, not elaborate sets. Only male actors until 1660. Usually Only male actors until 1660. Usually young boys played women’s roles.young boys played women’s roles.

Many Londoners were strict with Many Londoners were strict with their morals and did not like the their morals and did not like the kind of people that plays attracted.kind of people that plays attracted.

What would it be like to attend a play What would it be like to attend a play at the globe?at the globe?

You may have a seat; however, You may have a seat; however, you may also stand and squeeze you may also stand and squeeze into the packed theatre.into the packed theatre.

People arrived early, ate and People arrived early, ate and drank and visited with friends drank and visited with friends before the start of the play.before the start of the play.

A trumpet would sound meaning A trumpet would sound meaning the play was going to start.the play was going to start.

What would it be like to attend a play What would it be like to attend a play at the globe?at the globe?

Many young people would be in Many young people would be in attendance.attendance.

There would be no female There would be no female actresses.actresses.

If you’re lucky, musicians If you’re lucky, musicians will be a part of the play.will be a part of the play.

Groundlings would be crammed Groundlings would be crammed into the cheap, standing room into the cheap, standing room only “seats.”only “seats.”

What do we know?What do we know?

We know the things We know the things we know about we know about Shakespeare based Shakespeare based on documents. on documents.

For example, in For example, in his 30’s, his 30’s, Shakespeare bought Shakespeare bought a beautiful house. a beautiful house. We know this We know this because of the because of the deed.deed.

Why the mysteries?Why the mysteries?

There are many mysteries There are many mysteries surrounding Shakespeare, mainly surrounding Shakespeare, mainly because the only information we because the only information we have about him comes from have about him comes from documents.documents.

They didn’t even give birth They didn’t even give birth certificates at the time, only certificates at the time, only baptism. We can guess he was born baptism. We can guess he was born on April 23on April 23rdrd because we KNOW he was because we KNOW he was baptized on April 26baptized on April 26thth..

Why the mysteries?Why the mysteries?

Based on the records, we can Based on the records, we can tell when Shakespeare came into tell when Shakespeare came into money.money.

There are speculations that There are speculations that maybe he didn’t write his maybe he didn’t write his plays.plays.

Other possibilities include Other possibilities include Christopher Marlowe, a writer, Christopher Marlowe, a writer, or Sir Francis Bacon. or Sir Francis Bacon.

Shakespeare Wrote:Shakespeare Wrote:

Plays:Plays:– 38 total (maybe 38 total (maybe 39)39)

– HistoriesHistories– ComediesComedies– TragediesTragedies

HamletHamlet is is considered a considered a tragedy like tragedy like Romeo and Juliet.Romeo and Juliet.

Why would they be Why would they be tragedies?tragedies?

Sonnets:Sonnets:– He wrote 154.He wrote 154.– There are 3 There are 3 sections: sections: (possibly about (possibly about these people)these people)

His friend “The His friend “The Young Man”Young Man”

A rival poetA rival poet His mistress His mistress “The Dark Lady”“The Dark Lady”

SonnetsSonnets

Comes from the Italian word Comes from the Italian word “sonetto” which means “sonetto” which means “little sound.”“little sound.”

Uses iambic pentameter.Uses iambic pentameter.– Uses 5 sections or feet of the Uses 5 sections or feet of the weakSTRONG pattern. Like this:weakSTRONG pattern. Like this:

/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG//weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/weakSTRONG/

SonnetsSonnets

Sonnets have 4 parts:Sonnets have 4 parts:– The first three sections are 4 The first three sections are 4 lines each and called a lines each and called a quatrain. (Rhymed ABAB)quatrain. (Rhymed ABAB)

– The fourth section has two The fourth section has two lines and is called a couplet. lines and is called a couplet. (Rhymed CC)(Rhymed CC)

– Sonnets are always 14 line Sonnets are always 14 line poems.poems.