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William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s exact birth date is unknown. However, experts predict the date April 23, 1564, based upon the record of his baptism.
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William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s exact birth date is unknown. However, experts predict the date April 23, 1564, based upon the record of his baptism. There is also no known record of the day of his death, but it is believed that he died on the same day of his birth on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52.
Early Years • There is no documentation of the young William Shakespeare's life other than his baptism on April 26, 1564. • It is believed that he attended school through the Stratford Grammar School under the reign of King Edward VI. • Some believe that he worked for a butcher in addition to working for his father. 1 8 4 1
Adult Years • William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway when he was only 18 years old. November 28, 1582. • Six months later their first child, Susanna, was born. The couple also had twins 2 years later, Hamnet (died and age 11) and Judith. • The years between 1585 and 1592 are referred to as the lost years. • The family reappears in London, Shakespeare is working at a theater. • Working as a managing partner in the Lord Chamberlain’s Company (later renamed the King’s Company).
The Globe Theater in London is where the first of Shakespeare's plays were preformed.
Writings • Researchers believe that Shakespeare wrote 5 poems 38 plays and 154 sonnets. • Style of writing varies from work to work. Blank verse, prose, and iambic pentameter, can all be found throughout his works. • The differences in writing styles and the content of his works cause historians to ask the question: Who is William Shakespeare? • Queen Elizabeth 1, 17th Earl of Oxford, Sir Francis Bacon are among the people thought to be William Shakespeare.
The Taming of the ShrewHistorical/Cultural Context • The play was written in 1594 during the Elizabethan era. • Marriages were arranged based on wealth and land among other things. • During this time women began to act against the controlling hand of their husbands. This caused men to use physical and mental abuse to “tame” their wives.
The Taming of the ShrewAnalysis • About a man and his two daughters. His oldest daughter Katherine is referred to as undesirable, a shrew. The youngest daughter Bianca is well sought after and beautiful. • The father will not allow any men to wed Bianca until Katherine is married. • Katherine is taken by a man who is only interested in marring for money (a friend of Hortensio, who is interested in Bianca) and wed right away. Opening up the market for Bianca. • The “taming” is harsh. Katherine is not allowed to eat or even sleep.
Sonnet 18Historical/Cultural Context • Was written as a love letter to a man. • This caused questions about Shakespeare's sexuality, and if he was really William Shakespeare. • Was republished, along with many other sonnets, by John Benson in 1640 by changing “he” to “she” • Addressed to the same man as in the first 126 sonnets.
Sonnet 18Analysis • Begins by comparing the man’s beauty to summer, but soon the man becomes a force of nature himself. • Becomes more powerful than the summer’s day to which he was being compared. • The love expressed through the sonnet is eternal. • “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
Lyric PoetrySonnet 18 • Definition: • express personal (often emotional) feelings and are traditionally spoken in the present tense. • Example: • James DefordItalian Sonnet http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-lyric-poetry.html • Sonnet 18: • Shakespeare write the poem as if love will live on eternally. “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
ImagerySonnet 18 • Definition: • The formation of mental images, figures, or likenesses of things, or of such images collectively • Example: • It was dark and dim in the forest. • Sonnet 18: • “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May”
Rhyme Scheme • Definition: • The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse. • Example: • AA BB CC….ZZ • Sonnet 18 • A B A B C D C D…Y Z Y Z
Love and Hate • The sonnet itself is a love letter. • The authors love is portrayed as an eternal light that will live forever. • “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” • Speaks of his beauty as a golden light of the sun.
William Shakespeare? • Is Shakespeare real? • Many people believe that this was really just a stage name. • What evidence is there against Shakespeare? • The true William Shakespeare did not have to educational background to support the sophistication in his works. • Too much detail about high social matters for a person of a low social class
William Shakespeare • A few names of people that are believed to be “William Shakespeare” are • Queen Elizabeth I, 17th Earl of Oxford, Sir Francis Bacon • I personally believe that Queen Elizabeth I is the true Shakespeare. • Her high ranking would give her the insight and sophistication to back up the writings.
Continued.. • Most of the poems written are love letters to a man. • During the time of her reign, a strong push was made towards strength in women. • No evidence to support that William is homosexual. • He was married and had three kids. • My theory is that William Shakespeare was a true person who's identity was taken by Queen Elizabeth I in order to give her social ideals with out jeopardizing her roll as the queen of England.
