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William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is considered by many to be
the greatest writer of the English language.
He is also one of the most influential. Through
his works, he is credited with introducing nearly 3,000 words to the English language.
In addition, his works are the second
most often quoted after the Bible.
Growing up in Stratford-upon-Avon William lived in a house with his big family on Henley Street. He went to the local grammar school where he learned about poetry, history, Greek, and Latin.
Shakespeare's class at Grammar School.
Shakespeare's parents' house.
Very little is known about William Shakespeare's childhood. He was born in the English city of Stratford-upon-Avon about 100 miles northwest of London in 1564. William's father was a successful leather merchant who once held the public position of alderman. He was the third of six children including two older sisters and three younger brothers.
16th century Theatre scheme.
William was part of an acting company called Lord Chamberlain's Men. An acting company in England at this time worked together to put
on plays. There were typically around ten actors in a company including
a lead actor, character actors, and some comedians. Young boys
typically played women's roles as women were not allowed to act.
The taming of the shrew.
In 1594, historians believe he wrote The Taming of the Shrew, a famous comedy in which a character named Petruchio wins a bet for having the most obedient wife. The next year, in 1595, William wrote some of his most famous stories including A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
The Globe Theatre inside.
The Globe Theatre became the place to be in London. It could house up to 3,000 spectators and had a uniquely designed stage with a painted ceiling, columns, and stage wall. They had specially trained musicians who made special effects noises during the plays.
They even had a cannon that fired blanks.
The place in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare's
house was located.
His success in the theatre, as well as his investments in land and
the Globe, made Shakespeare a wealthy man. He purchased
a large home in Stratford for his family called New Place.
Shakespeare also became famous for his poetry.
His most famous poem of the time was Venus and Adonis. He also wrote poems called sonnets. A book of 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets was published in 1609.
Before Shakespeare, plays and performances almost always depicted the main character choosing a life of virtue over the temptation of evil. In contrast, the works of Shakespeare were less centered on morality and more concerned with provoking raw emotion and exploring the very meaning of what it meant to be human. Although his plays were not published until after his death, they have now been translated into every major world language, and have been performed continuously in community theaters, high school auditoriums, and major performing venues.
Hundreds of Shakespeare Festivals exist across the world.
A monument to Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Today, William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the history of English language. He is considered one of the few playwrights to have succeeded in writing both comedies and tragedies. He is credited for revolutionizing theatre.
Queen Elizabeth the First.
Interesting Facts about William Shakespeare
The lead actor and star of many of Shakespeare's plays was Richard Burbage.
The original Globe Theatre burned down in 1613. It was rebuilt in 1614, but was then closed in 1642.
A modern reconstruction of the Globe was built in London by American actor Sam Wanamaker. It opened in 1997.
He wrote 37 plays in his lifetime averaging about 1.5 plays per year he was writing. Some scholars think that he wrote around 20 more plays that have been lost, which would put the total to 57!
His plays were performed for both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.
White Tower and Tower Bridge.
After William and Anne had the twins, there are no records of the next several years of his life. Historians often refer to these years as the lost years.
There are lots of theories and stories about what William was doing during this time. In any event, he and his family eventually ended up
in London where William was working at the theatre.
The Trinity Church in Stratford.
William retired to his home in Stratford and died on his fifty-second birthday, in 1616. He was buried in the main local church.
Macbeth.
After Hamlet, Shakespeare wrote several other timeless classics such as Macbeth, Othello and The Tempest. Many of his plays were performed by his production company
at royal courts and at prestigious theatres.
