William Shakespeare’sWilliam Shakespeare’sEarly life.Early life.

OutlineOutline

John Shakespeare. John Shakespeare. (William’s father)(William’s father)

Mary Arden. Mary Arden. (William’s mother)(William’s mother)

Education.Education. Financial TroubleFinancial Trouble Marriage.Marriage. Works Cited.Works Cited.

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.

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

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

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

Marriage.Marriage. 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.”

Works Cited.Works Cited. ““Elizabethan Education.” 29 Nov. 2008. Elizabethan Education.” 29 Nov. 2008. http://http://

www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-biography-childhood-and-education.htm

““Shakespeare.” Shakespeare.” Encyclopedia Americana.Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 24. Vol. 24. New New York: Americana Corperation, 1973.York: Americana Corperation, 1973.

““Shakespeare’s Early Life and Marriage.” Shakespeare’s Early Life and Marriage.” Theatre Theatre Database. Database. 29 Nov. 2008 29 Nov. 2008 http://www.theatredatabase.com/16th_century/willihttp://www.theatredatabase.com/16th_century/william_shakespeare_014.htmlam_shakespeare_014.html

““Shakespeare’s School Years & Teenage Years.” Shakespeare’s School Years & Teenage Years.” No No Sweat Sweat Shakespeare.Shakespeare. 2004. 29 Nov. 2008 2004. 29 Nov. 2008 http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/recources/shahttp://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/recources/shakespeare-teenage-school-years.htmkespeare-teenage-school-years.htm

Thrasher, Thomas E. Thrasher, Thomas E. William Shakespeare.William Shakespeare. New New York: Lucent Books, 1998.York: Lucent Books, 1998.