William William ShakespeareShakespeare

Learning Target: Learning Target: I can explain how literature thrived I can explain how literature thrived

during the Renaissance and why during the Renaissance and why William Shakespeare became known as William Shakespeare became known as

one of the finest writers in the English one of the finest writers in the English language.language.

Early Life of William ShakespeareEarly Life of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 William Shakespeare was born in 1564 (the exact date is unknown).(the exact date is unknown).

He was the third of eight children and He was the third of eight children and the only son who survived into the only son who survived into adulthood.adulthood.

His father was a glove-maker and His father was a glove-maker and alderman (like a city councilman).alderman (like a city councilman).

He received an education at a local He received an education at a local grammar school in Latin and the classics.grammar school in Latin and the classics.

His CareerHis Career In his early life, most people believe that Shakespeare In his early life, most people believe that Shakespeare

earned a living as a school master at home in Stratford on earned a living as a school master at home in Stratford on Avon.Avon.

Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of the theater London as an actor, writer, and part owner of the theater company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men. King’s Men.

In 1593, the Plague struck England and theaters were In 1593, the Plague struck England and theaters were closed for two years. Shakespeare used this time to write.closed for two years. Shakespeare used this time to write.

He produced most of his known work between 1590 and He produced most of his known work between 1590 and 1613. 1613.

He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. he died three years later.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater Shakespeare and his Shakespeare and his

partners in the Lord partners in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theater Chamberlain’s Men theater company built the Globe company built the Globe Theater in London in 1599.Theater in London in 1599.

Shakespeare’s work was Shakespeare’s work was performed in other performed in other theaters, but the Globe theaters, but the Globe produced his best known produced his best known works.works.

Shakespeare often acted in Shakespeare often acted in his own plays.his own plays.

The original theater burned The original theater burned to the ground in 1613, to the ground in 1613, during a performance of during a performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII. .

These photos are from the reconstructed Globe Theater built in 1997.

His WorkHis Work

Shakespeare’s work includes poetry and Shakespeare’s work includes poetry and plays.plays.

His work modeled some of the classic His work modeled some of the classic works of Greek and Roman tradition.works of Greek and Roman tradition.

Shakespeare was successful in his own Shakespeare was successful in his own lifetime; he was both famous and rich.lifetime; he was both famous and rich.

His work has even created famous His work has even created famous expressions in modern English (e.g. “with expressions in modern English (e.g. “with baited breath” or “a forgone conclusion”). baited breath” or “a forgone conclusion”).

PoetryPoetry

Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets154 sonnets• poem of fourteen poem of fourteen

lines lines • follows a strict follows a strict

rhyme scheme and rhyme scheme and specific structurespecific structure

Shakespeare also Shakespeare also wrote three wrote three narrative poems.narrative poems.

Sonnet 18 Shall I compare thee to a

Summer's day?

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;But thy eternal summer shall

not fadeNor lose possession of that

fair thou owest;Nor shall Death brag thou

wander'st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time

thou growest:So long as men can breathe

or eyes can see,So long lives this and this

gives life to thee.