April 23, 1564 – April 23, 1616

William Shakespeare“The Bard”

Early LifeEarly Life Stratford-Upon-Avon, England (100

miles NW of London)

Early LifeEarly LifeSchool

Attended school from ages 7-12Self-educated – no college

Family LifeMarried Anne HathawayHad three kids

• Moved to London in the 1580s• Was an actor and writer• A playwright (WRIGHT = Maker of…)

• 38 plays in all, including Hamlet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Midsummer Night’s Dream

London LifeShakespeare the

Actor

•Bubonic Plague (“Black Death”) closed the theatres•Shakespeare turned to poetry – wrote famous sonnets and long poems

London LifeShakespeare the

Poet

The Globe TheatreThe Globe TheatreThe most famous

English theatreShakespeare’s plays

were performed hereNote the shape and

openness Called the “Wooden

O”

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Affordable for allGroundlingsVersatile actors:

-effective memory-skilled

swordsman-musician

Final YearsFinal YearsShakespeare moved back to

Stratford around 1610Died of unknown illnessBuried at Holy Trinity Church in

Stratford

The Mystery The Mystery Lives On . . .Lives On . . .

Many uncertainties surrounding Shakespeare’s life and work – lack of primary sources

Even date of birth is uncertain – no certificate

Some question whether he ever really existed!

Types of DramaTypes of DramaComedy:

deals with love and amusing topicshas a happy ending

Tragedy: the main character, the protagonist,

faces great obstaclesstory has a disastrous conclusion, BUT

DOES NOT NECESSARILY END WITH DEATH