Shakespeare’s Life

1. Shakespeare’s Life • William Shakespeare

2. Shakespeare • William Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer in the English language

3. Shakespeare • William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon

4. Early Years • At that time, the use of Middle English was ending, and Modern English was taking it’s place.

5. Early Years • Shakespeare’s parents waited a few days to see if William was going to live, and then recorded his birth.

6. Early Years • Shakespeare’s parents were John and Mary Shakespeare

8. Stratford-upon-Avon is about 90 miles from London

10. Early Years • Shakespeare came from a middle class family.

11. Early Years • Shakespeare’s dad made gloves, and became a respected city official.

12. Early Years • Shakespeare went to school until he was 14.

13. Early Years • School for Shakespeare was different than today. He may have gone six days a week for 9-11 hours per day!

15. Early Years • Shakespeare’s life from the ages of 14-19 are known as the “Lost Years.” We do not know what Shakespeare was doing at this time.

16. Early Years • A guess: Shakespeare may have been an apprentice to someone, learning a craft.

17. Early Years • Shakespeare may have been an apprentice butcher, glover, or actor.

18. Early Years • Traveling acting companies needed young males to play girls.

19. Early Years • It was considered less gross for a 14-year-old boy to be on stage than an actual girl.

20. Early Years • When Shakespeare turned 19, “The Lost Years” ended. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 - 28.

22. Early Years • After being married for seven months, they had their first child.

23. Middle Years • William and Anne had three kids together: Susanna, Judith and Hamnet.

24. Middle Years • Judith and Hamnet were twins; however, Hamnet died young.

25. Middle Years • William eventually moved to London, while Anne stayed in Stratford.

27. Later Years • Shakespeare retired around 1608.

28. Later Years • Shakespeare moved full-time to Stratford. • He died on April 23, 1616.

29. SHAKESPEARE’S WORLD

30. Shakespeare’s World • Queen Elizabeth I was queen during most of Shakespeare’s life.

32. Shakespeare’s World • Because of Elizabeth, Shakespeare had a lot of artistic freedom.

33. Shakespeare’s World • Elizabeth’s father was Henry VIII.

37. Shakespeare’s World • Henry VIII had six wives. He killed two of them. Henry wanted a son to be king.

38. Henry married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and had a daughter named Mary I.

40. Shakespeare’s World • Catherine did not have a son.

41. Shakespeare’s World • Henry wanted to divorce Catherine, so he could remarry and have a son.

42. Shakespeare’s World • The Pope would not allow Henry to divorce, so Henry broke away from the Catholic Church and created his own….The Church of England. He was be the head of it.

43. Shakespeare’s World • Henry made it illegal to be Catholic.

44. Shakespeare’s World • Henry’s first action? To say that his marriage to Catherine never happened. This made it nearly impossible for Mary I to become queen. She did keep her title, Lady Mary, but lost her income.

46. Shakespeare’s World • Anne Boleyn was Henry’s second wife. She had a daughter, Elizabeth.

48. Shakespeare’s World • Unfortunately, Anne did not produce a son.

49. Shakespeare’s World • Henry eventually had her beheaded for treason.

50. Shakespeare’s World • Henry married four more times. He eventually had a son, Edward VI.