This is William ShakespeareThis is William Shakespeare

Who Was ShakespeareWho Was Shakespeare

Shakespeare lived in the late 16Shakespeare lived in the late 16thth century and died in the early 17century and died in the early 17thth century (Yes, that’s 400 years ago)century (Yes, that’s 400 years ago)

Shakespeare was a playwright and a Shakespeare was a playwright and a poetpoet

Shakespeare not only wrote plays and Shakespeare not only wrote plays and poems that we still enjoy today, but poems that we still enjoy today, but he changed the English languagehe changed the English language

He was the original “rap star”He was the original “rap star”

What do you know about rap What do you know about rap stars?stars?

RhymeRhyme Know how to use and manipulate languageKnow how to use and manipulate language Offensive to some peopleOffensive to some people Often use crude languageOften use crude language Talk down to other rappersTalk down to other rappers Incredibly popularIncredibly popular Create new words and slang that the Create new words and slang that the

common people begin to usecommon people begin to use

What do we know about What do we know about Shakespeare?Shakespeare?

He likes to rhymeHe likes to rhyme Knows how to use and manipulate Knows how to use and manipulate

languagelanguage Offensive to some peopleOffensive to some people Often uses crude languageOften uses crude language Talks down to other writers and actorsTalks down to other writers and actors Incredibly popularIncredibly popular Created new words and slang that the Created new words and slang that the

common people of England began to usecommon people of England began to use

How many words can How many words can one man invent?one man invent?

How about 1700 that are part How about 1700 that are part of our “common” languageof our “common” language

Have you ever heard these?Have you ever heard these?

AddictionAddiction AdvertisingAdvertising AssassinationAssassination BlanketBlanket BumpBump DawnDawn GenerousGenerous ObsceneObscene OutbreakOutbreak Eyeball Eyeball

HintHint LonelyLonely SecureSecure Skim milkSkim milk UndressUndress UnrealUnreal WorthlessWorthless LowerLower GossipGossip FashionableFashionable

Shakespeare lived in this house in Stratford-upon-Avon

William’s ParentsWilliam’s Parents

William Shakespeare was born to William Shakespeare was born to John and Mary ShakespeareJohn and Mary Shakespeare

His accepted (not necessarily His accepted (not necessarily accurate) birthday is April 23, 1564accurate) birthday is April 23, 1564

John was a wealthy business owner John was a wealthy business owner One community position John held One community position John held

allowed his children to attend allowed his children to attend grammar school for freegrammar school for free

William’s SchoolingWilliam’s Schooling

It is assumed Shakespeare attended It is assumed Shakespeare attended school due to his father’s position in school due to his father’s position in the communitythe community

There is little record of Shakespeare There is little record of Shakespeare before he emerged in London as a before he emerged in London as a professional actor.professional actor.

Some jobs he may have held are: Some jobs he may have held are: lawyer, schoolmaster, glover, lawyer, schoolmaster, glover, student, and tutor, but no one is sure.student, and tutor, but no one is sure.

William’s MarriageWilliam’s Marriage

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 15821582

Hathaway was 26 years old and Hathaway was 26 years old and pregnant at the time of their marriagepregnant at the time of their marriage

They had three children: Suzanna They had three children: Suzanna (1583) and twins Judith and Hamnet (1583) and twins Judith and Hamnet (1585)(1585)

Hamnet died in 1596 and the sorrow for Hamnet died in 1596 and the sorrow for this loss is reflected in Shakespeare’s this loss is reflected in Shakespeare’s later workslater works

But Shakespeare wrote plays in London

Performing his plays in the Globe theater

William in LondonWilliam in London

Shakespeare moved to London in 1585Shakespeare moved to London in 1585 In London he became a successful In London he became a successful

actor and began to write playsactor and began to write playsNotice that this is the time his twins Notice that this is the time his twins

were born. were born. While in London, Anne and the children While in London, Anne and the children

stayed in Stratford. This explains the stayed in Stratford. This explains the mistress we often hear Shakespeare mistress we often hear Shakespeare write about.write about.

What is a Universal Theme?What is a Universal Theme?

Universal themes are why we still Universal themes are why we still study Shakespeare 400 years laterstudy Shakespeare 400 years later

It is a message that transcends time. It is a message that transcends time. That is, the message will never get That is, the message will never get old.old.

The message concerns events that The message concerns events that still happen in our lives today.still happen in our lives today.

This is not something that only This is not something that only happened “back in the day”happened “back in the day”

Universal Themes In Universal Themes In Shakespeare’s PlaysShakespeare’s Plays

LoveLoveRevengeRevengeFate vs. Free Fate vs. Free

WillWillObedienceObediencePowerPower

LoyaltyLoyaltyIgnoranceIgnoranceCompassionCompassionBetrayalBetrayalFriendshipFriendship

Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616. this is Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616. this is his grave in Holy Trinity Church, Stratfordhis grave in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford