William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era

1. William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era An Introduction

2. The Elizabethan Era • Named for Queen Elizabeth, the “Virgin Queen” • Elizabeth became Queen at age 25; took over for her sister Mary after Mary’s death • She never married • Reigned as England’s sole Monarch for 45 years • Had a reputation as a fair, wise, virtuous, “otherworldly” Queen

3. The Elizabethan Era cont’d • The “golden” age of England’s history • High point of the European Renaissance • Age of exploration and expansion of English territory and influence • Protestant Reformation took hold in England • Science, technology, art all flourished • Prosperity and peace were the trends

4. The Life of William Shakespeare • Father John was a glover and tanner (of leather) • W.S. grew up in a family that saw its share of hard times—deep in debt, no coat of arms • Date of birth is not known—only baptism record was kept (April 26, 1564) • He had several siblings, but all died young • W.S. was lucky to live—he was a child during harsh plague years

5. The Life of W.S. cont’d • Attended grammar school in Stratford-on-Avon • Not much is known about his teen years…he may have served as an apprentice to his father, or may have studied law • One thing’s for sure: at age 18, he married a woman named Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior

6. W.S.’ Interesting Marriage • When William and Anne were married, Anne was three months’ pregnant with W.’s child • Susanna was born in 1583, and twins (Hamnet and Judith) arrived in 1585 • Hamnet died of an unknown cause at age 11 • Shakespeare left his wife and children in approximately 1585 for London…

7. W.S.’ Interesting Career • It is assumed that Shakespeare abandoned his family to try his luck at acting and writing in London, the center of artistic life in England • “The Lost Years” (1585-1592): that time period at the beginning of W.S.’ life in London • No one knows for sure what he was doing, but it is assumed that he acted and wrote sonnets and plays while trying to establish himself as a respected theater professional

8. W.S.’ Interesting Career cont’d • 1592: the first reference to Shakespeare as a known, but not necessarily respected, playwright • “An upstart crow, beautified with our feathers…” • 1593: S. had written several plays which captured the attention of the Earl of Southampton, who became his “patron” • PATRON: one who supports an artist financially while the artist works on his art • The Earl became the subject of much of S.’ poetry

9. W.S.: Respect at Last • 1594: returned to theater and became a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, an acting troupe which performed for the Queen • S. wrote many plays during his time with the L.C.M.: Romeo and Juliet among them • He wrote the plays, acted in them, had part ownership in the Company, and eventually helped purchase the L.C.M.’s first theater, the Globe

10. The Globe Theater

11. W.S.: the Later Years • In 1596, the Shakespeare family finally received their coat of arms • 1n 1603, after the death of the Queen, The L.C.M. became the “King’s Men”—the only acting company allowed to perform for the new king James • In his will, W.S. left his wife, Anne, his “second-best bed” • S. retired back to Stratford in the early 1600s. He died in 1616, and left his estate to his daughter

12. Fast Facts about W.S. • He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets • He is the most-performed playwright in history • Three types of plays: comedy, tragedy, history • Some assume that others must have written at least a few of the works that are attributed to him