Introduction to Shakespeare

1
Introduction to Shakespeare

• Life and Times

2
Shakespeares Early Years

• Birthplace Stratford Upon Avon (England)
• Born (We believe!) April 23, 1564
• Died (We know) April 23, 1616
• Father was a Glover and local politician
• Successful middle class family
• Father and family fell into near poverty
• Will attended local school for a short time

3
Early Life Cont.

• Little is know about his life other than Church
  and court documents.
• Marries Anne Hathaway, age 26, Nov. 1582 (Will is
  only 18!)
• Three children
• Susanna born May 1583
• Hamnet and Judith born Feb. 1585
• Hamnet dies at the age of 11

4
Married with Children

• No proof of job while still in Stratford
• Maybe taught, maybe worked with Dad
• Left for London sometime between 1585 and 1592.
• Anne raises children on own (common)
• Suzanna married a Dr. (good girl)
• Judith married a loser playboy (bad girl)

5
Shakespeare Early Theatre

• In London became a successful actor (newly
  respectable profession)
• 1592 In the Groatsworth of Wit Robert Greene
  calls Will an upstart crow
• 1593 Christopher Marlowe, famous playwright,
  possible tutor of Will, dies
• Will now is an actor and playwright

6
Shakespeares Middle Theatre

• 1594 Member and shareholder in Lord
  Chamberlains Men.
• Other actors included
• Richard Burbage (great tragic actor)
• Will Kempe (famous low comic)
• John Heminges and Henry Condell (editors of
  Shakespeares First Folio)
• Here Will becomes rich and famous