William Shakespeare

Early Life
William was the son of Mary and John Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 April 1564. He was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son. Although no attendance records for the period survive, most biographers agree that Shakespeare was probably educated at the King's New School in Stratford. At the age of 18, Shakespeare married the 26year-old Anne Hathaway. Six months after the marriage Anne gave birth to a daughter, Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith almost two years later. Hamnet died of unknown causes at the age of 11.
Left: William Shakespeare Down: Johns house, believed to be Williams birth place, in Stratfordupon-Avon

London and theatrical career

It is not known exactly when Shakespeare began writing, but records of performances show that several of his plays were on the London stage by 1592. Shakespeare's plays were performed only by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company owned by a group of players, including Shakespeare, that soon became the leading playing company in London. Soon, a partnership of company members built their own theatre which they called the Globe. Some of Shakespeare's plays were published in 1594. By 1598, his name had become a selling point and began to appear on the title pages. Shakespeare continued to act in his own and other plays after his success as a playwriter.

Down left: Shakespeares comedies, histories and tragedies published according to the True Original Copies in 1623.

Later years and death

Left: Shakespeares grave. Right: painting of one scene from Macbeth.

After 16061607, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays, and none are attributed to him after 1613. His last three plays were collaborations. Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616. In modern spelling this is what is written on his grave:
"Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones And cursed be he who moves my bones.

Plays
The first recorded works of Shakespeare are Richard III and the three parts of Henry VI. He produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories. After that he wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth considered some of the finest works in the English language. Those are his famous tragedies and of course there is Romeo and Juliet too. His famous comedies are A Midsummer Nights Dream and Twelfth Night.

Hamlet
Hamlet, is a tragedy believed to be written between 1599 and 1601. The play, set in the Kingdom of Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, firstly for murdering the old king, Hamlets father, and secondly for marrying Gertrude, Hamlets mother. Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and among the most powerful tragedies in the English language and it has been described as the world's most filmed story after Cinderella.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE...?

Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy about two young lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular stories of young, teenage lovers. The play is set in Verona and the main characters are Paris, Benvolio, Tybalt and of course Romeo and Juliet.

Macbeth
Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. Main characters are Duncan (king of Scotland), Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth.

A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens and the Queen of the Amazons. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, who are manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

Made by: Simona Sretenovic