A Bard for the ages

1. Big Idea #2 A Bard for the ages

2. A bard is a poet a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems, often while playing the harp, lyre, or the like. Shakespeare is THE bard of the English Renaissance bard

3. 1546-1616 • The most celebrated English poet and dramatist of all time • His works are more widely read and more often quoted than any other works ever written • (Except for the Bible, of course!) Shakespeare

4. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon • Father- John Shakespeare • A prosperous glove maker, butcher, tradesman, filled several local government positions • Mother- Mary Arden- daughter of wealthy landowner • Third of eight children Shakespeare cont.

5. Shakespeare’s family had serious financial troubles Forced to leave school in order to work and help support his family At 18, he married 26 year old Anne Hathaway and began a family of his own Shakespeare cont.

6. NOT Shakespeare cont.

7. Moved to London to pursue a career in theater, but he had no friends or money The London theater scene

8. First job- tended horses of theater patrons • Equivalent of parking cars at a theater today • He met actors, they thought he was witty, so they recommended him for a job! The london theater scene

9. If poet William Davenant’s story is true, then this is how Shakespeare started • Gave him the chance to write for the stage, and • Gave him the chance to act in small parts as well The london theater scene

10. 1592- Henry VI- Shakespeare’s first theatrical success His two long narrative poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece Dedicated works to newfound patron and friend, young Earl of Southampton Dramatic success

11. The Earl (reached maturity and gained access to his family’s fortune), expressed thanks to Shakespeare through a LARGE sum of money! Dramatic success

12. This allowed him to be partial owner of a theatrical company, the Lord Chamberlin’s Men • As part owner, Shakespeare became the main playwright for the troupe **Remember… Lord Chamberlin’s Men became The King’s Men!** Dramatic success

13. The playhouse they were in was just called “Theatre” It was torn down and they built a larger, more “splendid” building south of the Thames River New theatre is called the Globe Dramatic success

14. By 1599, he was 35 year old • He was producing two plays a year and drawing tremendous audiences as well as critical acclaim • “The most passionate amoung us to bewail and bemoan the perplexities of love” • A literary handbook of the time Building a career and an estate

15. “He was not of an age, but for all time!” • Ben Jonson • Between 1601 and 1607 he had his most creative period and wrote the tragic masterpieces • Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear • This is when the Lord Chamberlin’s Men performed for Elizabeth I and James I The pinnacle of genius

16. This is when they turned from the Lord Chamberlin’s Men to the King’s Men His finest plays achieved less literary status than his narrative and lyrical poems in his lifetime The pinnacle of genius

17. 1610- moved back to Stratford (no one knew why!) Where he wrote The Tempest The main character’s farewell speech is generally regarded as Shakespeare’s farewell to writing and perhaps his life Last few years of his life

18. He died on his 52nd birthday  Uh oh… he died.