2. William Shakespeare
Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon -Avon, England.
He is one of the greatest and most famous
writers who has ever lived.
Shakespeare was a great writer in all sorts of
ways. He wrote many different kinds of plays.
Both comedies, historical plays and tragedies.
37 in all.
He also wrote 154 sonnets
3. What was Shakespeare like?
People who knew him and admired his plays
during his lifetime, sometimes wrote about him,
and stories about the great playwright went
round even after his death.
They said that he was wise, humorous and
kind. He loved people, even those who many
saw as stupid and annoying.
He was often cheerful and happy, but there
were also times in his life when he felt bitter
and despairing.
4. Biographical facts
William`s father, John Shakespeare was an
important man in town affairs, but from about
1577 his business as a glove maker began to
go badly and he got into debt. This was hard on
the family.
William married Anne Hathaway. They got
three children together. A daughter named
Susanna and twins, a boy called Hamnet and a
girl called Judith.
William and his family left Stratford, because he
wanted to seek his fortune in London.
5. Biographical facts
By 1592 he was a player in one of the
companies of actors in London, and had begun
writing plays.
He built the Globe Theatre, where he
performed with The King's Men
He wrote about two plays a year and he went
on acting in his own plays, but only in fairly
small parts.
After some years in London he went back home
to Stratford. We don't know exactly when.
23.april 1616 he died in his hometown.
6. Time period
Elizabethan Era
A creative period. Theatre and art flourished.
Only men were allowed to perform on stage.
Female parts were performed by young men.
7. Trivia Facts
Shakespeare's actual birthday is unknown but April
23rd has been generally used.
Anne Hathaway was eight years older than
Shakespeare and three months pregnant when they
got married.
Shakespeare's family were all illiterate.
We do not really know what Shakespeare looked like.
Not one portrait was painted of Shakespeare whilst he
was still alive.
The only mention that Shakespeare specifically makes
of his wife in his Last Will and testament was to leave
her his "second best bed".
He invented around 1.700 words
8. Some of Shakepeare`s plays.
Richard III
Romeo and Juliet ( It is the one that has been
played most often on stage)
A Midsummer Night`s Dream
Hamlet
King Lear
Macbeth
Henry VIII