William Shakespeare. Some Key Dates. His life

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "William Shakespeare. Some Key Dates. His life"

Thomas Simpson
9 years ago
Views:

1 William Shakespeare His life Some Key Dates 23 April 1564 Shakespeare's birthday 27 Nov 1582 Marries Anne Hathaway c1590 Departs to work in London 1594 Forms The Lord Chamberlain s Men acting company 1596 Shakespeare is London's leading playwright 1599 Globe Theatre built in London Period of his great tragic plays 1606 His company becomes The Kings Men performing frequently for James I 1613 Retires to Stratford 23 April 1616 Death of Shakespeare 1

leading playwright 1599 Globe Theatre built in London 1600-1608 Period of his great tragic plays 1606 His company

2 Father John Shakespeare Glove merchant Man of influence in Stratford Had frequent financial troubles Father John Shakespeare Glove merchant Man of influence in Stratford Had frequent financial troubles 2

3 Mother Mary Arden From extremely wealthy people in Warwickshire Married 1557 Had at least 8 children William third child, eldest son Birthplace The house in which William Shakespeare was born can be seen in Stratford today 3

William third child, eldest son Birthplace The house in

4 Birth and Baptism The parish Register for Stratford records William's baptism on 26 April 1564 The entry is in Latin and reads, "Guiliamus filius Johannes Shakspere"; that is, "William son of John Shakspere School John Shakespeare was a man of influence in Stratford and so his children were allowed to attend the Guild Hall school for children It is still being used as a school today William learned to read, write and calculate as well as Latin Grammar and the classics 4

a man of influence in Stratford and so his children were allowed to attend the Guild Hall school for children It is

5 William marries Anne Hathaway 27 Nov 1582 Marries Anne Hathaway He was 18 years old, she was 26 Children 26 May 1583 Daughter: Susanna Married Dr John Hall in 1607, had one daughter and lived to the age of 66. Her daughter had no children. 2 February 1585 Twins: Hamnet and Judith Hamnet died from the plague at the age of 11, in 1596, and was buried in a mass grave in Stratford. Judith married Thomas Quiney, also of Stratford. Her three children all died young. 5

6 The Lost Years Nothing known about Shakespeare from the birth of the twins until he become famous in London Maybe got into trouble poaching deer on the lands of Sir Thomas Lucy Maybe worked as a teacher in Stratford performed with his class and even constructed plays for them was noticed by visiting troupes of actors Shakespeare Goes to London Some time between 1585 and 1592 Shakespeare went to London leaving his wife and children in Stratford Probably started as a prompter s assistant or doorman 1592 Shakespeare is mentioned as An upstart crow by Robert Greene there there is is an an upstart upstart crow crow beautified with with our our feathers that, that, with with his his 'tiger's 'tiger's heart heart wrapped in in a a player's hide,' hide,' supposes he he is is as as well well able able to to bombast out out a a blank blank verse verse as as the the best best of of you; you; being being an an absolute Johannes Factotum, in in his his own own conceit conceit the the only only shake-scene in in a a country. 6

to London leaving his wife and children in Stratford Probably started as a prompter s assistant or doorman 1592 Shakespeare is mentioned as An upstart crow by Robert Greene there there is is an an

7 Shakespeare s Work First plays performed Opus 17 comedies 10 tragedies 10 history plays 2 epic narrative poems 4 shorter poems 154 sonnets = 24 years! The Patron Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton Shakespeare dedicated two of his epic poems to him 7

8 The Theatre The Lord Chamberlain s men The Lord Chamberlain funded the group The Globe was built in 1598 and burned in 1613 A New King Elizabeth I died in 1603 James I became king 8

9 The King s Men After performing Macbeth for James I in 1606 he took over their patronage 1596 Coat of Arms John Shakespeare applied for and was awarded a coat of arms. William paid for it Gould, on a Bend, Sables*, a Speare of the first steeled argent*. And for his creast or cognizaunce a falcon, his winges dispplayed Argent standing on a wreath of his coullers*. bend = A diagonal band across a shield from the upper left corner to the bottom right. Sables = Black. Steeled = Of a spear, when referring to the point. Argent = Silver. Coullers = The colours of the Shakespeare family. 9

And for his creast or cognizaunce a falcon, his winges dispplayed Argent standing on a wreath of his coullers*.

10 New Place 4 May 1597 William bough New Place in Stratford, more than 700 m 2 at a cost of 60 More investments Bought 107 acres of arable land in the parish of Old Stratford for 320,- on 1 May 1602 Aquired a cottage in Chapel Lane in Stratford on 28 September

arable land in the parish of Old Stratford for 320,- on 1 May 1602

11 The Will Shakespeare left the bulk of his estate to his eldest daughter, Susanna, including his real estate holdings in Stratford and London. The will was amended in respect to his younger daughter Judith's inheritance, possibly because of her recent marriage. He left her 300 and a silver gilt bowl. The only mention of Shakespeare's wife in his will is a line inserted in the middle of the last page, almost as an afterthought: Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture The Death of Shakespeare Moved to Stratford in 1613 Died on his birthday in 1616 He is buried 3 metres down to avoid exhumation On his gravestone are four lines of verse: Good friend, for Jesus'; sake forbeare To digg the dust enclosed here! Blest be ye man that spares thes stones And curst be he that moues my bones. 11

The only mention of Shakespeare's wife in his will is a line inserted in the middle of the last page, almost as an afterthought: Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture The

Note: These activities are suitable for students who don t know a lot (possibly nothing at all) about Shakespeare s writing.

Note: These activities are suitable for students who don t know a lot (possibly nothing at all) about Shakespeare s writing. Shakespeare Teacher s notes Level: Topic: Subject(s): Time (approx): Preparation: Lower Intermediate (and above) Shakespeare Literature and History Activity 1: 15-20 minutes Activity 2: 10 minutes Activity