Introduction to William Shakespeare

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Introduction to William Shakespeare

• The Most Influential Writer In All Of English
  Literature

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Early Life

• He was baptized April 26, 1564 in
  Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
• The actual day is not recorded, but since it was
  customary to baptize infants within days of
  birth, and since Shakespeare died on April 23,
  (St. George's day, the patron saint of England),
  it has become traditional to assign the birthday
  of England's most famous poet to April 23.

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Wars Warwickshire
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Early Life

• His father, John Shakespeare, was a prosperous
  middle-class glove-maker and a well known town
  official.
• His mother, Mary Shakespeare, was the daughter of
  a gentlemen farmer and a teacher.

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Early Life

• Shakespeare attended grammar school where he
  studied Latin and classic (Greek and Roman)
  literature.
• The Warwickshire countryside was also an
  important part of his early education and a great
  influence. Shakespeares plays and poetry are
  full of images taken from nature, gardening,
  agricultural pursuits, and country folklore.

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Marriage

• In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway.
• She was eight years older than he.
• In 1583 their first daughter, Susanna, was born. 
  
• Two years later their twins, Hamnet and Judith,
  were born.

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The Lost Years

• Between 1585-1592 there is virtually no evidence
  concerning Shakespeares life.
• No one knows why Shakespeare left Stratford for
  London, or what he was doing before becoming a
  professional actor.
• There are various stories about the so-called
  'lost years'.
• Poaching deer and went off to London to avoid
  prosecution.
• Schoolmaster
• His town was visited regularly by London-based
  companies of actors and Shakespeare may have
  joined one of them.

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Career

• Shakespeare's reputation was established in
  London by 1592.
• In 1593 the theaters in London were closed on
  account of the plague.
• 1n 1594, Shakespeare joined others in forming a
  new theatre company, under the patronage of the
  Lord Chamberlain (Lord Chamberlain's men).

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Career

• Romeo and Juliet was among the early plays that
  Shakespeare wrote between 1594 and 1596
• In the years 1594-1599 Shakespeare
•  Produced a steady stream of plays of the highest
  quality and verbal invention. 
• Continued as a principal actor and manager in the
  Chamberlain's men.
• Prospered financially and made investments in his
  native Stratford, assembling a comfortable life
  and a solid estate. 
• Became part owner of the most prestigious public
  playhouse in London, the Globe, in 1599.

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The Globe
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Shakespeares London

• At that that time, about 1600, London was a busy,
  bustling walled city. It was having a Renaissance
  (re-birth) of arts and sciences under two
  monarchs who loved the theatre.
• Queen Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne
  Boleyn reigned from 1553-1603.
• King James, son of Mary Queen of Scots, reigned
  from 1603-1625.

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Career and Retirement

• In 1603, when James I (James VI of Scotland) came
  to the English throne he granted royal patronage
  to Shakespeare's acting company, which thus
  became the 'King's Men.'
• Around 1611 Shakespeare left the London theatre
  world and returned home to spend his time at his
  Stratford house, New Place.

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New Place
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Later Life

• Shakespeare continued to write until he died in
  Stratford, aged fifty-two, on 23 April 1616.
• During his life he wrote 154 sonnets which were
  published in 1609.
• He also wrote 37 plays, half of which were
  published in the First Folio in 1623.