William ShakespeareAn 8th grader’s introduction.

● Information about his early life has been gathered through church records. There is no other account of his early life available.

● William Shakespeare lived

April 23, 1564-1616, in

Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

● Shakespeare was the third of eight children!

● Married Anne Hathaway at age 18 instead of going to University.

● His first child, Susanna, was born in 1583, and twins, Hamnet and Judith, came in 1585.

Who was

Shakespeare?

There were no dictionaries until 1604! This means that language used in that era was very fluid and could be moulded and shaped.

Shakespeare experimented with words, phrases and imagery. He made up words and adopted new ones.

The Oxford English Dictionary credits Shakespeare for introducing almost 3,000 words to the English language.

Shakespeare had a huge fascination with dramatic language. He truly believed in the power of words to focus and light up the imagination and move the audience’s emotions.

Shakespeare’s Words...

The Periods of Shakespeare’s Writing:

Early Period (Pre- 1595)

The beginning of his writing career, Shakespeare's writing of this period

tended to be less sophisticated than his later works. The plays of

this period are typically set in Roman and Medieval times and

feature youthful love and imagination.

Period of Comedy (1595-1601)

His comedy became more sophisticated and he set himself

apart from other playwrights by the use of comic relief and mild humor

in his tragedies.

Period of Tragedy (1601-1608)

During this time, Shakespeare's father passed away, and his friends began to suffer from "the slings and

arrows of outrageous fortune."

Period of Romance (1608-1613)

The final period of Shakespeare's writing is known for having a calm strength and sweetness. In 1608

Shakespeare's mother died, and in remembrance of her kindness and

love are thought of as strong factors in causing him to look on

life with kinder eyes.

Histories

Comedies

Tragedies

Shakespeare’s plays were:

Revolve around English kings.

A struggle of young lovers

Always end in death.

Some of his more popular plays

include...● Romeo and Juliet● The Tempest● Twelfth Night● Taming of the Shrew● Hamlet● Macbeth● Midsummer Night’s Dream

Why

is h

e so

impo

rtant

?

Shakespeare changed the English language, inventing dozens of new words we still use today.

His plays have been translated into more than 80 other languages and performed in dozens of countries, where diverse audiences all still recognize the timeless elements of the human experience as depicted by a young Englishman 400 years ago.

● The globe was built as a large, round,

open air theatre built in 1599.

● The tiring house roof was known as ‘the Heavens’. Gods and fairies could fly above the stage on wires and harnesses.

● Pigs’ bladders filled with animal blood would be burst at strategic moments during fights and death scenes.

● Groundlings would pay an entire day's wage for their entrance into the theatre.

● Female roles were played by young boys as theatre stages were considered too risque a place for ladies (and, therefore, illegal).

●

The Globe Theatre...

● Outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague

were so serious in London that the Globe

Theatre was forced to close

in 1603 and 1608 to restrict its’ spread.

● The Globe Theatre burnt down in 1613 when a cannon used for a play.

● The Puritans brought an end to The

Globe Theatre in 1642 with an order

suppressing all stage plays and had it destroyed in 1644.

● Shakespeare’s Globe was built and opened in 1997 near the original location.

The Globe Theatre...

Balcony.Housed the

musicians; parts of the play might also be staged

here.

Tiring House.Where costumes

were kept and stored.

Stage. Where the

production took place.

Roof.Only covered part

of the theatre.

Galleries.Where wealthier

patrons were seated.

Yard.Where

“groundlings” would stand to watch the play.

The G

lobe

The

atre