Curs: William Shakespeare's Life

8/10/2019 Curs: William Shakespeare's Life

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREWILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(1564(1564--1616)1616)


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life the first documentary reference: the parish Register from Stratfthe first documentary reference: the parish Register from Stratfordord--

uponupon--Avon recording WilliamAvon recording Williamss baptismbaptism onon April 26, 1564April 26, 1564 --

GuiliamusGuiliamus filiusfilius JohannesJohannes ShakspereShakspere,, that is,that is, William son ofWilliam son of

JohnJohn ShakspereShakspere ((the third child of eight born tothe third child of eight born to JohnJohn andand MaryMary

Shakespeare, but the first son, and the first child to survive pShakespeare, but the first son, and the first child to survive pastastinfancy.) (infancy.) (the date of birththe date of birth most likelymost likelyApril 23, 1564April 23, 1564))


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ShakespeareShakespeares birthplaces birthplace


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life

ShakespeareShakespeares father,s father, John ShakespeareJohn Shakespeare:: a tanner,a tanner,

gloveglove--maker and dealer in agricultural products, whomaker and dealer in agricultural products, who

also held a number of public offices over a twenty yearalso held a number of public offices over a twenty yearperiod, ranging from Borough Aleperiod, ranging from Borough Ale--Taster to alderman toTaster to alderman to

bailiff, the highest public office in Stratfordbailiff, the highest public office in Stratford--uponupon--AvonAvon

(by that time, a prosperous market centre for the county(by that time, a prosperous market centre for the countyof Warwickshire in the rural heartland of England)of Warwickshire in the rural heartland of England)

ShakespeareShakespeares mother,s mother, Mary ShakespeareMary Shakespeare (born Mary(born Mary

Arden) : the daughter of a wellArden) : the daughter of a well--toto--do landowner in ado landowner in alesser branch of an aristocratic family from thelesser branch of an aristocratic family from the

neighbouringneighbouring WilmcoteWilmcote..


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Mary ArdenMary Ardens houses house


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life Education:Education: up to the crisis of his fatherup to the crisis of his fathers fortune (about 1577)s fortune (about 1577) -- thethe

Stratford Grammar SchoolStratford Grammar School established by the corporation of the town asestablished by the corporation of the town as

early as 1553.early as 1553. This is where Shakespeare learntThis is where Shakespeare learnt small Latin and less Greeksmall Latin and less Greek..

(Ben Jonson,(Ben Jonson, To the Memory of My Beloved Master William ShakespeareTo the Memory of My Beloved Master William Shakespeare))


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life the next official public record on William Shakespeare: a 40 pouthe next official public record on William Shakespeare: a 40 poundnd

marriagemarriage bond of sureties posted by two Warwickshire farmers onbond of sureties posted by two Warwickshire farmers on

November 28, 1582November 28, 1582 for thefor the legalitylegality of the marriage between Williamof the marriage between William

Shakespeare (Shakespeare (WilliamWilliam ShagspereShagspere) (18) and Anne Hathaway () (18) and Anne Hathaway (AnneAnne

HathweyHathwey) (26).) (26).


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life the next public recordthe next public record:: May 26, 1583May 26, 1583, Shakespeare, Shakespeares first daughters first daughter

Susanna was christened.Susanna was christened.

February 2, 1585February 2, 1585:: the christening of the twin childrenthe christening of the twin children HamnetHamnetandand JudithJudith,, sonnesonne and daughter to Williamand daughter to William ShakspeareShakspeare..

Unfortunately,Unfortunately, HamnetHamnet, Shakespeare, Shakespeares only son, died at the age ofs only son, died at the age of11 and was buried at Stratford in 1596.11 and was buried at Stratford in 1596.

15851585--1592: only vague information about his life in London1592: only vague information about his life in London

about 1587about 1587-- fleeing Stratford for Londonfleeing Stratford for London (caught poaching(caught poaching deerdeer

in the park of the influential Sir Thomas Lucy atin the park of the influential Sir Thomas Lucy at CharlcoteCharlcote?);?); theatrical careertheatrical career:: accepted as an actor in the company of theaccepted as an actor in the company of the

Earl of Leicester, as his name appears in casts of players for BEarl of Leicester, as his name appears in casts of players for BenenJonsonJonsons plays;s plays;

1592: Robert Greene1592: Robert Greeness AA GroatsworthGroatsworth of Wit Bought with aof Wit Bought with aMillion of RepentanceMillion of Repentance:: an upstart Crow, beautified with ouran upstart Crow, beautified with ourfeathers, that with his Tigerfeathers, that with his Tigers heart wrapped in a Players heart wrapped in a Players hide,s hide,supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as thesupposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the

best of you: and being an absolutebest of you: and being an absolute Johannes FactotumJohannes Factotum, is in his, is in hisown conceit the only Shakeown conceit the only Shake--scene in the country.scene in the country.


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life 15921592--9393: during the plague, the: during the plague, the

theatres were closedtheatres were closed 1593: the1593: thenarrative poemnarrative poem Venus and AdonisVenus and Adonis;;1594: the narrative poem1594: the narrative poem The Rape ofThe Rape ofLucreceLucrece, both dedicated to Henry, both dedicated to HenryWriothesleyWriothesley, Earl of Southampton., Earl of Southampton.Some of theSome of the sonnetssonnets may have alsomay have alsobeen composed during the same period.been composed during the same period.

15951595: Shakespeare: Shakespeare an importantan importantmember of the Lord Chamberlainmember of the Lord Chamberlains Men.s Men.

October 1596October 1596: the College of Heralds: the College of Heraldsgranted a coat of arms to the familygranted a coat of arms to the familypatriarch, John Shakespeare.patriarch, John Shakespeare. The grantThe grant

was approved on the basis of thewas approved on the basis of thefaithefullfaithefull & approved service to H7& approved service to H7[Henry VII][Henry VII]performed by Johnperformed by Johns greats great--grandfather, and because John himselfgrandfather, and because John himselfhadhadmaryedmaryed thethe daughterdaughter & one of the& one of the

heyrsheyrs of Robert Arden ofof Robert Arden of WellingcoteWellingcote..


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15971597: Shakespeare, aged 33,: Shakespeare, aged 33,had alreadyhad already improved hisimproved hisfortune and bettered hisfortune and bettered hissocial status.social status. HeHe investedinvested60 pounds in New Place, the60 pounds in New Place, thesecond largest house insecond largest house inStratford, with two barns andStratford, with two barns andtwo orchards attached.two orchards attached.


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From 1598, ShakespeareFrom 1598, Shakespeares name began to appear upon published plays:s name began to appear upon published plays:Richard IIIRichard III,, Richard IIRichard II,, LoveLoves Labours Labours Losts Lost.. ((Titus AndronicusTitus Andronicushad also been published but anonymously in 1594.)had also been published but anonymously in 1594.) appreciated byappreciated byhis contemporaries, e.g.his contemporaries, e.g. FrancisFrancis MeresMeres ((PalladisPalladisTamiaTamia, Wits Treasury, Wits Treasury--

1598):1598): praising Shakespearepraising Shakespeares poetrys poetry the two narrative poems,the two narrative poems, VenusVenusand Adonisand Adonis andand The Rape ofThe Rape of LucreceLucrece,, and theand the SonnetsSonnets and thenand thencomparing Shakespeare tocomparing Shakespeare to PlautusPlautus in comedy and toin comedy and to SenecaSeneca in tragedy.in tragedy.

16011601:: ShakespeareShakespeares name was related to that of the Earl of Essexs name was related to that of the Earl of Essex

conspirers against Queen Elizabeth I (the performance of his placonspirers against Queen Elizabeth I (the performance of his playyRichard IIRichard II by Shakespeareby Shakespeares company, the Lord Chamberlains company, the Lord Chamberlains Men).s Men).Nonetheless, that did not affect ShakespeareNonetheless, that did not affect Shakespeares popularity at the royals popularity at the royalcourt: during the last ten years of Elizabethcourt: during the last ten years of Elizabeths reign, the Lords reign, the LordChamberlainChamberlains Men performed at court thirtys Men performed at court thirty--two times, compared totwo times, compared to

thirtythirty--seven performances by all other companies combined.seven performances by all other companies combined. 16031603: The royal documents mention Shakespeare as one of the sharers: The royal documents mention Shakespeare as one of the sharers

of the Kingof the Kings Men (the former Lord Chamberlains Men (the former Lord Chamberlains Men) and 5 yearss Men) and 5 yearslater, he becomes an owner of the Blackfriars Theatre with a sevlater, he becomes an owner of the Blackfriars Theatre with a seventhenthshare.share.


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ShakespeareShakespeares Lifes Life16071607: Shakespeare: Shakespeares eldest daughter Susanna married Dr. John Hall and ones eldest daughter Susanna married Dr. John Hall and oneyear later, in February 1608, her only child Elizabeth was born.year later, in February 1608, her only child Elizabeth was born.

16091609

: Shakespeare: Shakespeare

s sonnets weres sonnets were

piraticallypiratically

printed, apparently withoutprinted, apparently without

their authortheir authors knowledge or consent.s knowledge or consent.


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16101610--1111: Shakespeare retired from London to: Shakespeare retired from London toStratfordStratford--uponupon--Avon at New PlaceAvon at New Place to lead the life of ato lead the life of a

country gentleman, taking interest in municipal affairs orcountry gentleman, taking interest in municipal affairs orreceiving visits from his old friends Ben Jonson and hisreceiving visits from his old friends Ben Jonson and hisfellow actorsfellow actors HemingeHeminge, Burbage and Condell., Burbage and Condell.

16111611: He was one of a number of citizens who: He was one of a number of citizens who

contributed to the maintenance of highways in thecontributed to the maintenance of highways in theStratford area.Stratford area.

1612:1612: He was in London, giving evidence in a civil suitHe was in London, giving evidence in a civil suitbrought by a Londonbrought by a London tiretire--makermaker against a formeragainst a former

apprentice.apprentice. June 29, 1613June 29, 1613: the performance of the play he wrote: the performance of the play he wrote

in collaboration with John Fletcher,in collaboration with John Fletcher, Henry VIIIHenry VIII TheTheGlobe burned to the ground.Globe burned to the ground.


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ShakespeareShakespearess LifeLife

March 25, 1616March 25, 1616:: He revised and signed his will.He revised and signed his will.

April 25, 1616April 25, 1616: his burial recorded in the Stratford Parish Register,: his burial recorded in the Stratford Parish Register,

but he died onbut he died on April 23April 23

(this is the date given on the funerary(this is the date given on the funerarymonument erected before 1623).monument erected before 1623).

buried on April 25, 1616 in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, wheburied on April 25, 1616 in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, where here hehad been baptised just over 52 years earlier. His epitaph:had been baptised just over 52 years earlier. His epitaph:

Good friend for Jesus sake forbearGood friend for Jesus sake forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here!To dig the dust enclosed here!Blest be the man that spares these stones,Blest be the man that spares these stones,And curst be he that moves my bones.And curst be he that moves my bones.

(In 1741, a monument was erected to his memory in the Poets(In 1741, a monument was erected to his memory in the PoetsCornerCornerof Westminster Abbey. The house where he was born was purchasedof Westminster Abbey. The house where he was born was purchasedfor preservation as a National Memorial in 1847 and the Firstfor preservation as a National Memorial in 1847 and the FirstShakespeare Memorial TheatreShakespeare Memorial Theatre now the Royal Shakespeare Theatrenow the Royal Shakespeare Theatrewas opened in 1879.)was opened in 1879.)


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ShakespeareShakespeares Wills Will the executors:the executors:my sonmy son--inin--law, John Hall, gent. and mylaw, John Hall, gent. and my

daughter Susanna, his wife.daughter Susanna, his wife.

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Curs: William Shakespeare's Life