About Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—their older daughter Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood.
The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent, not in Stratford, but in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright, but as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Sometime between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare is thought to have retired from the stage and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616.
William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—their older daughter Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood.
The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent, not in Stratford, but in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright, but as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Sometime between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare is thought to have retired from the stage and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616.
Stratford Beginnings
William Shakespeare grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, worked in London, and returned to Stratford a wealthy man. He is buried in Stratford.
Shakespeare almost certainly attended the King's New School in Stratford, a grammar school that educated young men in Latin grammar and literature. Boys began at four or five in the "petty school," where they learned reading and writing. After two years, they entered the lower form, which covered Latin grammar and texts. At ten or eleven, they went to the upper form, where they wrote Latin speeches, studied Latin history and rhetoric, and learned Greek.
In 1582, at eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Their daughter Susanna was born in 1583 and the twins, Judith and Hamnet, in 1585. (His daughters lived to adulthood, but Hamnet died in 1596.)
At some point, he left for the London theatrical world, where he was an important figure by the early 1590s.
William Shakespeare grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, worked in London, and returned to Stratford a wealthy man. He is buried in Stratford.
Shakespeare almost certainly attended the King's New School in Stratford, a grammar school that educated young men in Latin grammar and literature. Boys began at four or five in the "petty school," where they learned reading and writing. After two years, they entered the lower form, which covered Latin grammar and texts. At ten or eleven, they went to the upper form, where they wrote Latin speeches, studied Latin history and rhetoric, and learned Greek.
In 1582, at eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Their daughter Susanna was born in 1583 and the twins, Judith and Hamnet, in 1585. (His daughters lived to adulthood, but Hamnet died in 1596.)
At some point, he left for the London theatrical world, where he was an important figure by the early 1590s.
Success in London
By 1592, Shakespeare had achieved some prominence in London as an actor and a playwright. In 1593 he became a published poet, with his long narrative poem Venus and Adonis; in 1594, he followed it with Lucrece. Both were written when the theaters were closed due to plague.
In late 1594, when the theaters reopened, he was a leading member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later named the King's Men, the acting company for which he would be a principal actor, dramatist, and shareholder for about two decades. In the 1590s, he wrote his English history plays, several comedies, and at least two tragedies, Titus Andronicus and Romeo and Juliet. Many of Shakespeare's sonnets (published in 1609) were also probably written in the 1590s.
Shakespeare's plays were performed at court and other locations, but they are most associated with his acting company's theaters. In 1599, his company built the Globe. He wrote Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth while the company was at the Globe, as well as comedies like Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure. From about 1608, his plays were also performed at the company's new indoor Blackfriars theater. Shakespeare wrote very little after 1612, the year he probably wrote Henry VIII.
By 1592, Shakespeare had achieved some prominence in London as an actor and a playwright. In 1593 he became a published poet, with his long narrative poem Venus and Adonis; in 1594, he followed it with Lucrece. Both were written when the theaters were closed due to plague.
In late 1594, when the theaters reopened, he was a leading member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later named the King's Men, the acting company for which he would be a principal actor, dramatist, and shareholder for about two decades. In the 1590s, he wrote his English history plays, several comedies, and at least two tragedies, Titus Andronicus and Romeo and Juliet. Many of Shakespeare's sonnets (published in 1609) were also probably written in the 1590s.
Shakespeare's plays were performed at court and other locations, but they are most associated with his acting company's theaters. In 1599, his company built the Globe. He wrote Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth while the company was at the Globe, as well as comedies like Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure. From about 1608, his plays were also performed at the company's new indoor Blackfriars theater. Shakespeare wrote very little after 1612, the year he probably wrote Henry VIII.
The Final Years
Sometime between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare seems to have returned to live in Stratford-upon-Avon. His wife and his daughters and their husbands lived there, and he owned a large house and other property.
William Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616, and was buried on April 25. Seven years after his death, in 1623, his collected plays were published in the work now known as the First Folio.
Sometime between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare seems to have returned to live in Stratford-upon-Avon. His wife and his daughters and their husbands lived there, and he owned a large house and other property.
William Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616, and was buried on April 25. Seven years after his death, in 1623, his collected plays were published in the work now known as the First Folio.
An Expansive Age
The years in which Shakespeare wrote were among the most exciting in English history. The discovery, translation, and printing of Greek and Roman classics made ideas available that interacted complexly with Christian beliefs. New worlds—both North and South America—were explored, occupied by people who lived very differently than Renaissance Europeans and Englishmen. With Galileo's telescope, produced in 1609, the universe seemed to shift and expand.
London, too, rapidly expanded and changed while Shakespeare lived there, becoming an exciting metropolis that attracted thousands of new citizens a year. Shakespeare’s plays include the voices of London, but also those of Stratford-upon-Avon, in references to the Forest of Arden, sheep herding, small-town gossip, village fairs and markets. Part of the richness of Shakespeare's work is the influence of the worlds in which he lived: metropolitan London and small-town and rural England; the theater, craftsmen, and shepherds.
The years in which Shakespeare wrote were among the most exciting in English history. The discovery, translation, and printing of Greek and Roman classics made ideas available that interacted complexly with Christian beliefs. New worlds—both North and South America—were explored, occupied by people who lived very differently than Renaissance Europeans and Englishmen. With Galileo's telescope, produced in 1609, the universe seemed to shift and expand.
London, too, rapidly expanded and changed while Shakespeare lived there, becoming an exciting metropolis that attracted thousands of new citizens a year. Shakespeare’s plays include the voices of London, but also those of Stratford-upon-Avon, in references to the Forest of Arden, sheep herding, small-town gossip, village fairs and markets. Part of the richness of Shakespeare's work is the influence of the worlds in which he lived: metropolitan London and small-town and rural England; the theater, craftsmen, and shepherds.
The Globe
The Globe, built by carpenter Peter Smith and his workers, was the most magnificent theater that London had ever seen and built in 1597 -1598. This theatre could hold several thousand people! The Globe Theatre didn’t just show plays. It was also reputed to be a brothel and gambling house. It was situated on the South bank of the river Thames in Southwark. The old Globe Theatre was a magnificent amphitheatre, as shown in the picture at the top of the page. Maps of London clearly show the architecture of the Globe Theatre, and these have enabled an approximate picture of the old Globe Theatre to be drawn. Not one inside picture of the old Globe Theater is in existence, however, a picture of another amphitheatre, the Swan, has survived. The amphitheatres were similar in design, so the picture of the Swan Theater can be used a good guide to the structure of the old Globe.
Plays were big!! There was money to be made!! There was a constant demand for new material!! Rivalry between the Theatres Playhouses was enormous!! As soon as a play had been written it was immediately produced - printing followed productions! So the actors initially used 'foul papers' or prompts. Rival theater companies would send their members to attend plays to produce unauthorised copies of plays - notes were made and copied as quickly as possible. In Shakespeare’s time copyright did not exist. Alternative versions of Shakespearean plays were produced! These unauthorised and inferior text copies of Shakespeare's plays are called Quarto Texts. The success of the Elizabethan theaters, including the Globe, was such that other forms of Elizabethan entertainment were being seriously affected. In 1591 the growing popularity of theatres led to a law closing all theaters on Thursdays so that the bull and bear bating industries would not be neglected!
The Globe, built by carpenter Peter Smith and his workers, was the most magnificent theater that London had ever seen and built in 1597 -1598. This theatre could hold several thousand people! The Globe Theatre didn’t just show plays. It was also reputed to be a brothel and gambling house. It was situated on the South bank of the river Thames in Southwark. The old Globe Theatre was a magnificent amphitheatre, as shown in the picture at the top of the page. Maps of London clearly show the architecture of the Globe Theatre, and these have enabled an approximate picture of the old Globe Theatre to be drawn. Not one inside picture of the old Globe Theater is in existence, however, a picture of another amphitheatre, the Swan, has survived. The amphitheatres were similar in design, so the picture of the Swan Theater can be used a good guide to the structure of the old Globe.
Plays were big!! There was money to be made!! There was a constant demand for new material!! Rivalry between the Theatres Playhouses was enormous!! As soon as a play had been written it was immediately produced - printing followed productions! So the actors initially used 'foul papers' or prompts. Rival theater companies would send their members to attend plays to produce unauthorised copies of plays - notes were made and copied as quickly as possible. In Shakespeare’s time copyright did not exist. Alternative versions of Shakespearean plays were produced! These unauthorised and inferior text copies of Shakespeare's plays are called Quarto Texts. The success of the Elizabethan theaters, including the Globe, was such that other forms of Elizabethan entertainment were being seriously affected. In 1591 the growing popularity of theatres led to a law closing all theaters on Thursdays so that the bull and bear bating industries would not be neglected!