William Shakespeare

1. William Shakespeare

2. Life of William Shakespeare • Known as the world’s most performed & admired playwright • Born approximately on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

3. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Father: John Shakespeare • Whittawer: maker, worker and seller of leather goods such as purses, belts & gloves • Also was a dealer of agricultural commodities such as wool, grain, malt and other farm produce • Active in Stratford-upon-Avon government until financial difficulties began • Illiterate • Died 1601 (60 years old)

4. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Mother: Mary Arden • Married John Shakespeare in 1557 • Had eight children • William was the 3rd child and first son • Her role in the family was to bring up the Shakespeare family • Died September 9th, 1608 of unknown causes (68 years old)

5. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Education • Attended the “Free School” Elementary School • Motivation = Parents’ Illiteracy • Studied Latin, Latin Grammar, ancient writers, and mythology • Learned to write and recite Latin

6. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Education (cont’d) • At age 13 or 14, Shakespeare was withdrawn from school by his father so that he could help father run his business • Also received education from his mandatory attendance at church, where he was influenced by the Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, & Foxe’s Acts & Monuments

7. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Married Anne Hathaway • November 28, 1582 • William was 18; Anne was 26 • Anne 3 months pregnant when they married • Marriage done in haste

8. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Children • 1st child: Susanna • Born 6 months after William & Anne married • May 26, 1583 • 2 years later: • Twins born: Hamnet & Judith • Hamnet died @ age 11 for unknown causes

9. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • The “Lost” Years • 1586 to 1592 • Shakespeare moved to London • Believed that Shakespeare moved to London to avoid prosecution for poaching deer • Leaves wife and children in Stratford • Became involved in the theatre • Lord Chamberlain’s Men • Began writing poetry and plays • No record of Shakespeare’s activities until 1592 when Shakespeare is criticized by a rival playwright

10. Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Career • Gained fame about age 21 • Member and part owner of Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later became known as King’s Men) • Was an actor for about 20 years, which is where he earned most of his money • Wrote 37 plays • Was paid approximately $40 to write a play • Wrote 154 sonnets

11. Shakespeare’s Works • Shakespeare’s Early Works can be divided into 4 groups: 1. The Classical Plays 2. The History Plays 3. The Narrative Poems and Sonnets 4. Experiments in comedy

12. Shakespeare’s Works (cont’d) • 4 Major Works • Romeo & Juliet • Julius Caesar • Hamlet • Macbeth

13. Shakespeare’s Death • Died April 23, 1616 • 52 years old • Died of unknown causes

14. The Globe Theatre

15. Facts about the Globe Theatre • Built in 1599 • Where most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed • Built of the wood • London’s most magnificent theatre ever seen • Located across the Thames River • Shakespeare was co-owner of “The Globe Theatre” • Motto: “All the world’s a stage” • Also known as the “Wooden O”

16. Facts about the Globe Theatre (cont’d) • June 1613 – Theatre burned to the ground • Rebuilt in 1613 • 1642 – Closed by the Puritans

17. Layout of “The Globe Theatre” • Could hold approximately 3,000 spectators • To advertise a play, a colored flag was flown indicating the type of play that would be performed • Large, circular or octagonal design, 3 stories high • At the base of the stage, was the “pit” for the groundlings to stand and watch the play • Cost to stand: one penny • Around the base was 3 levels of seating • First 2 levels = Twopenny Rooms • Third Level = Penny Gallery

18. Layout of “The Globe Theatre”

19. Facts about Performances • Minimum scenery, natural lightning, words in play gave time & day of play • NO female actresses • Minimum furniture props • Pig bladders filled with blood were used in death/stabbing scenes • No curtains

20. Actors • Had to be able to fence, tumble, dance, sing, and play two roles in one play • Had to have strong voices with good elocution (no microphones) • Lord Chamberlain’s Men • Acting company of “The Globe Theatre” • Company consisted of 10-12 adults, 6 boy apprentices & 2-3 stage hands

21. Costumes • Authentic to the actor’s times • Received by buying costumes cheaply from servants who inherited them • Color of Costumes was symbolic

22. Women • Theatre was not appropriate for women • Only the extremely wealthy women were allowed in the theatre but had to be escorted by a Lord • In the “Pit,” the Ladies of the Evening often solicited business from the groundlings before performance