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Period: 1564 to
The life of William Shakespeare
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Apr 23, 1564
Birth in Stratford
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon on April 23rd 1564.His father, John Shakespeare, was an important man in the town-William didn't come from a poor family. -
Leaving for London in 1587
When he was eighteen, William married Anne Hathaway in Stratford but he didn't want to stay there.He wanted to be an actor and the best theatres were in London.So, in 1587, William went to London, where he worked as an actor in a theatre called The Rose. -
His plays
He began to write plays for the actors.He wrote Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Richard II, Anthony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, Othelo, The Merchant of Venice and many other tragedies as well as comedies.He wrote 37 plays in total.Everyone liked his plays and he became famous. -
The Globe Theatre
When James I became king in 1603, Shakespeare worked for him and performed his plays for the king and his friends.He also worked at the famous Globe Theatre.It was an open theatre so the plays were performed from spring to early autumn during daylight.In this theatre he presented his last play, Henry VIII.There was a gun in this play and the fire from the gun burned the theatre down because it was made of wood. -
Coming back to Stratford
In 1610, Shakespeare went back to Stratford upon Avon.He wanted to live there with his family, but he died in 1616.He was only 52 years old.His favourite motto was "The whole world is a stage". -
His last days in Stratford
William died at the age of 52 in his hometown.
