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Period: 1564 BCE to 1616 BCE
Biography
was an English poet, playwright, and actor, as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. -
1569
Shakespeare Goes to School
Shakespeare enters King's New School, an excellent grammar school in Stratford attended by the sons of civil servants like his father. Boys typically enter the school around the age of five, but since no official records survive its impossible to know exactly when Shakespeare starts his education. Other than the dates of his marriage and children's births, little is known about Shakespeare's life before 1592 -
1582
Anne Hathaway
At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway with whom he had three children Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. -
Period: to
Important information
He began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. At age 49, he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs. -
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His works
Shakespeare produced most of his known Works. -
First play
Around this time, Shakespeare writes Henry VI, Part One—his very first play. Like all of Shakespeare's plays, the precise year of its authorship is now unclear. Also around the same time, Shakespeare leaves Stratford to begin work as a playwright and actor in London. -
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is all about young love gone terribly wrong. This story has been performed as is well adapted to relate to more modern cultures as in the movie and Broadway show West Side Story. The two young lovers were even cast in the movie Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes playing the main characters. Each of the lovers are from families who are at odds with each other. The two fall in love but it is not to be . -
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is the name of the play but he is actually killed off by the third act. The story revolves around Marcus Brutus. It depicts his struggles with conflicts he encounters with patriotism, friendship and honor. The scenario reflected what was going on in England at the time. Queen Elizabeth was getting on in years but would not name the person who would take over upon her death. The people worried that there would be a civil war upon her death with no one in charge. -
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Definitely one of Shakespeare’s more magical and original works, a Midsummer Night’s Dream is set amongst a forest filled with delightful and mischievous fairies. The plot revolves around their antics and begins with a misplaced love potion. The wrong guy ends up in love with the wrong girl and that creates many comical situations. The magical cast includes the Queen of the Fairies, Titania along with Pease Blossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed, and Moth. Puck plays a big part. -
The Winter’s Tale
It is a romantic comedy with touches of tragedy interspersed. King Leontes thinks his wife has been cheating on him with his friend Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. When Leontes asks his servant to poison him, he tells Leontes instead and they both leave the King’s home. What goes on next spans several years with false imprisonment, the death of Leontes baby and many misunderstandings. -
Much Ado About Nothing
Benedict does not like Beatrice which is perfectly fine because Beatrice doesn’t like Benedict either. That is until Benedict overhears Beatrice say that she secretly loves Benedict and she overhears him say he is secretly in love with her. What begins as a plot for a mixed up comedy encounters a few subplots that add to the confusion. There is a fake death that is set out to fix a situation with a jealous lover and a brother who is after vengeance. -
Twelfth Night (or What You Will)
Is about the ripple effect that happens when one person assumes another identity and gender. The play was named in honor of the Christmas holiday. It begins with Viola, the play’s leading lady, left high and dry on the shores of Illyria. She cannot locate Sebastian, her twin brother, and believes him to be dead. She disguises herself as a man and assumes the persona of Cesario, a young page who works for Duke Orsino. The Duke loves Lady Olivia who really did lose her brother. -
Hamlet
It is about Prince Hamlet and his plot to seek revenge on the man who killed his father, the King. The man he is after happens to be Claudius, his uncle. Claudius becomes King and marries the prince’s mother. The emotions that ensue throughout this long story include feelings of madness that is real and some that is not. It also includes grief, revenge, rage, incest, and just about every form of moral corruption. That being said, it is one of the best Shakespeare plays. -
king lear
This is the story of a father who is torn between his two oldest daughters and the youngest one. King Lear decides to step down from his throne and begins to divvy up his kingdom. He feels that the only fair way to allocate it is to give a portion to each daughter based on how much the girl loves him. His oldest, Goneril, who is the Duchess of Albany gets her portion. The next one is Regan, who is the Duchess of Cornwall and she gets her share. But the youngest one. -
Othello
The tragedy is based on the relationship of four characters: Othello, Desdemona (his girlfriend), Iago (his advisor) and Cassio (his lieutenant). This story revolves around jealousy, suspicion, and insecurities galore. Othello is a general in the service located in Venice. While Iago is Othello’s friend he promotes Cassio to personal lieutenant which sets off Iago. When Othello ran off to marry Desdemona, Iago began plotting to kill the two of them. When Othello begins to doubt. -
Later years
He was still working as an actor in London in 1608. -
Macbeth
Banquo and Macbeth are two generals of King Duncan who meet three women who claim to see the future. They tell Macbeth that after receiving the title Thane of Cader he will ultimately be named the King of Scotland. When Macbeth’s wife hears about her husband’s future promotion, the two plot to move up the date and kill the King in his sleep. Macbeth does become king but he and his wife suffer from such guilt that it brings them each to their own demise.
