William Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare
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• Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon

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• Father John- was a glovemaker and a bailiff
  (mayor)
• Mother Mary Arden- was from a rich family

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• He attended grammar school where he learned Latin
• No formal education after grammar school

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• Acquired of love of nature as a boy from playing
  in the woods and fields surrounding his home

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• This love of nature is reflected in many of his
  plays.

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• In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, a woman 8
  years his senior.

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• Six months later his first daughter, Susanna, was
  born.

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• Twins Hamnet and Judith were born two years later
  in 1585.

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• Within a year or two of their births, Shakespeare
  moved to London, leaving his family behind.

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• He first became an actor instead of a playwright.

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• However, he soon became known in London for the
  many plays he wrote and starred in.

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• When Puritans were upset about the bawdy plays
  being performed, many theaters were shut down.

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• During the time the theaters were closed,
  Shakespeare spent much of his time composing his
  sonnets.

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• When the theaters reopened, he was a member of
  Lord Chamberlains men, a theater group sponsored
  by Queen Elizabeth.

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• With his theater group, Shakespeare built the
  Globe Theater.

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• Shakespeare became wealthy because of the money
  from ticket sales, not the sale of his plays.
• Term box office

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• When Queen Elizabeth died, King James I became
  the new king.

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• Afraid that his acting company would lose
  financial support, Shakespeare tried to win the
  favor of the king by writing a play specifically
  for him.

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• King James loved Macbeth, and the companys name
  was changed to The Kings Men to thank him for
  his support.

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• He continued to write plays, producing 37 of them
  by the time he retired in 1610.

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• His son Hamnet had died a few years earlier, and
  Shakespeare began to spend more time in
  Stratford-on-Avon.

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• After his retirement, he moved back to Stratford
  and bought New Place.

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• He died there on April 23, 1616.

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• His will left most of his property and money to
  his daughter Susanna.

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• What did he leave his wife?

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• His second best bed!

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Gravestone

• Good friend for Jesus sake forbear
• To dig the dust enclosed here.
• Blest be the man that spares these stones
• And curst be he that moves my bones.