William Shakespeare: The William Shakespeare: The Man, The Myth, and the Man, The Myth, and the

Legend Legend

Mrs. SforziniMrs. Sforzini

The Birth of the “Sweet Swan of The Birth of the “Sweet Swan of Avon”Avon”

Born April 23, 1564 (general Born April 23, 1564 (general consensus)consensus)

Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town located in Warwickshire, Englandlocated in Warwickshire, England

Parents were Mary Arden and John Parents were Mary Arden and John Shakespeare, one of 8 childrenShakespeare, one of 8 children

Shakespeare was born in this room

Love and MarriageLove and Marriage

Shakespeare Anne Hathaway Shakespeare Anne Hathaway

oror

Shakespeare Anne Whateley?Shakespeare Anne Whateley?

• Anne was older than Shakespeare by Anne was older than Shakespeare by 8 years and was <gasp> already 8 years and was <gasp> already “several months pregnant” (1582)“several months pregnant” (1582)

ChildrenChildren

Shakespeare had three childrenShakespeare had three children

- Susanna (1583?)- Susanna (1583?)

- Twins Hamnet and Judith (1585) - Twins Hamnet and Judith (1585)

(named after close friends)(named after close friends)• Hamnet died at the age of 11 years, Hamnet died at the age of 11 years,

cause of death is unknown.cause of death is unknown.• Shakespeare speaks from personal Shakespeare speaks from personal

experience regarding the death of a experience regarding the death of a son?son?

A Father’s Grief?A Father’s Grief? In a passage from In a passage from King JohnKing John, written between 1595 and 1597:, written between 1595 and 1597: Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: I am not mad: I would to Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: I am not mad: I would to

heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, what grief should I forget! Preach some philosophy to make me what grief should I forget! Preach some philosophy to make me mad, And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal; For being not mad but mad, And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal; For being not mad but sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be deliver'd of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself…I deliver'd of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself…I am not mad; too well, too well I feel The different plague of each am not mad; too well, too well I feel The different plague of each calamity....I tore them from their bonds and cried aloud‘ O that calamity....I tore them from their bonds and cried aloud‘ O that these hands could so redeem my son, As they have given these these hands could so redeem my son, As they have given these hairs their liberty! 'But now I envy at their liberty, And will again hairs their liberty! 'But now I envy at their liberty, And will again commit them to their bonds, Because my poor child is a prisoner. commit them to their bonds, Because my poor child is a prisoner. And, father cardinal, I have heard you say That we shall see and And, father cardinal, I have heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; For since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but For since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. But yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. But now will canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the native beauty now will canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the native beauty from his cheek And he will look as hollow as a ghost…and, rising so from his cheek And he will look as hollow as a ghost…and, rising so again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more. him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more. (III.iv.45-91)(III.iv.45-91)

Shakespeare: The ManShakespeare: The Man

He invented his own words (at least He invented his own words (at least 1700 we still use today)1700 we still use today)

- birthplace - Olympian- birthplace - Olympian- torture - impartial- torture - impartial

• Influenced some of the other Influenced some of the other “Greats” (writers that is)“Greats” (writers that is)

• Bought the “biggest house” in his Bought the “biggest house” in his hometownhometown

Shakespeare “The biggest

house”

All Good Things Must Come To an All Good Things Must Come To an EndEnd

He died April 23, 1616He died April 23, 1616Circumstances surrounding his death Circumstances surrounding his death

are unusual: are unusual:

““Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting and it Jonson had a merry meeting and it seems drank too hard, for seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a fever there Shakespeare died of a fever there contracted." contracted."

Where He’s BuriedWhere He’s Buried

He’s buried at Holy Trinity Church in He’s buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon

On his grave is written:On his grave is written:

Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,To dig the dust enclosed here. To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blessed be the man that spares these stones,Blessed be the man that spares these stones,And cursed be he that moves my bones.And cursed be he that moves my bones.

Shakespeare: The MythShakespeare: The Myth

Some believe that Shakespeare did Some believe that Shakespeare did not write his literaturenot write his literature

The big debate –The big debate –

Shakespeare a.k.a. Sir Francis BaconShakespeare a.k.a. Sir Francis Bacon

Shakespeare a.k.a. Christopher Shakespeare a.k.a. Christopher MarloweMarlowe

Shakespeare a.k.a. Queen Elizabeth IShakespeare a.k.a. Queen Elizabeth I

Shakespeare: The LegendShakespeare: The Legend

His vocabulary, literature, and his ideas continue to His vocabulary, literature, and his ideas continue to live on today (school, theater, language, wedding live on today (school, theater, language, wedding vows)vows) - Faeries and their powers from MSND- Faeries and their powers from MSND - “Romeo and Juliet” plot (West Side Story, - “Romeo and Juliet” plot (West Side Story, Twilight, etc)Twilight, etc)

Next to the Bible, he is the most alluded to in pop-Next to the Bible, he is the most alluded to in pop-cultureculture

His home and church are sought out as a “Mecca” His home and church are sought out as a “Mecca” of the lovers of Shakespeareof the lovers of Shakespeare

Shakespeare is, and will always be considered, as Shakespeare is, and will always be considered, as one of the greatest writers of all timeone of the greatest writers of all time