An Introduction to An Introduction to William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Early LifeShakespeare’s Early Life

Born April 1564 in Born April 1564 in Stratford Upon Avon Stratford Upon Avon in Englandin England

Educated at Educated at Stratford Grammar Stratford Grammar School where he School where he would have studied would have studied Latin and the Latin and the Roman playwrightsRoman playwrights

Learned business as Learned business as an apprentice for an apprentice for his fatherhis father

Middle LifeMiddle Life Married Anne Married Anne

Hathaway at age Hathaway at age 1818

She was eight She was eight years his senior years his senior and pregnant and pregnant when they marriedwhen they married

They had three They had three children (Susanna, children (Susanna, Judith and Hamnet Judith and Hamnet (twins))(twins))

Move to LondonMove to London Moved to London to Moved to London to

pursue an acting careerpursue an acting career Friends in the city helped Friends in the city helped

him financially and him financially and professionally, and he professionally, and he advanced quicklyadvanced quickly

By 1594, he was part By 1594, he was part owner of the Lord owner of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, one Chamberlain’s Men, one of the most successful of the most successful theater companies in theater companies in LondonLondon

He was their chief He was their chief playwrightplaywright

In 1599 the Globe In 1599 the Globe Theatre was built and this Theatre was built and this is where audiences first is where audiences first saw Shakespeare’s playssaw Shakespeare’s plays

King James IKing James I Renamed Shakespeare’s Renamed Shakespeare’s

acting troupe “The King’s acting troupe “The King’s Men”Men”

Believed in the Believed in the supernatural and supernatural and interested in witchcraftinterested in witchcraft

Religious and believed in Religious and believed in the existence of the existence of supernatural “evil”supernatural “evil”

Commissioned a Commissioned a translation of the Bible translation of the Bible from Latin to Englishfrom Latin to English

Much of the supernatural Much of the supernatural themes in Shakespeare’s themes in Shakespeare’s plays influenced by King plays influenced by King James IJames I

The GlobeThe Globe Built around a roofless Built around a roofless

courtyardcourtyard The sun was the only The sun was the only

lighting therefore lighting therefore performances were given performances were given only during the dayonly during the day

Surrounding the courtyard Surrounding the courtyard were three levels of galleries were three levels of galleries with benches where with benches where wealthier playgoers satwealthier playgoers sat

For only a penny (1/10 of a For only a penny (1/10 of a weekly salary), a weekly salary), a “groundling” could stand in “groundling” could stand in the courtyard, or the pit, the courtyard, or the pit, and watchand watch

Held 2,000 to 3,000 people Held 2,000 to 3,000 people tightly packedtightly packed

In 1613, the globe burnt to In 1613, the globe burnt to the ground during a the ground during a performance of performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII

The GlobeThe Globe

Only men and boys Only men and boys were allowed were allowed onstageonstage

Young boy’s whose Young boy’s whose voices had not voices had not changed play changed play women’s roleswomen’s roles

It would have been It would have been considered indecent considered indecent for a woman to for a woman to appear onstageappear onstage

The GlobeThe Globe

Stage- the platform Stage- the platform that extended into the that extended into the pitpit

Dressing & storage in Dressing & storage in galleries behind and galleries behind and above stageabove stage

Second level gallery & Second level gallery & upper stage- setting upper stage- setting for famous R&J for famous R&J balcony scenebalcony scene

Trap door in stage for Trap door in stage for ghostsghosts

The GlobeThe Globe

The GlobeThe Globe

StagingStaging

No sceneryNo scenery The setting The setting

was introduced was introduced by dialogue in by dialogue in playsplays

Plenty of props Plenty of props usedused

Very elaborate Very elaborate costumingcostuming

Shakespeare’s WorkShakespeare’s Work Wrote 34 plays Wrote 34 plays

TragediesTragedies

Comedies Comedies

HistoriesHistories Also wrote 154 Also wrote 154

SonnetsSonnets

Late LifeLate Life Around 1610, Around 1610,

Shakespeare Shakespeare retired to retired to StratfordStratford

He was a He was a prosperous prosperous middle-class man middle-class man with the second with the second largest house in largest house in the townthe town

Here, he Here, he continued to continued to write playswrite plays

On April 23, 1616 On April 23, 1616 (his birthday, if (his birthday, if scholars are scholars are correct) correct) Shakespeare diedShakespeare died

Trinity ChurchTrinity Church