The Life and Legacy of William Shakespeare: A Comprehensive Overview
William Shakespeare, born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, is one of the most influential figures in English literature. Over his lifetime, he penned approximately 40 plays and contributed around 1,700 new words to the English language. His works, which include timeless tragedies and comedies, continue to resonate across centuries. Despite the uncertainty surrounding some of his plays, his genius remains undisputed. This overview captures significant milestones in his life, contributions to literature, and the historical context of his works.
The Life and Legacy of William Shakespeare: A Comprehensive Overview
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Presentation Transcript
William Shakespeare April 23, 1564 - April 23, 1616 (52 years)
The English Language • 50,000 to 60,000 Number of words in Old English. • 986,120 Number of words in modern English, as of 2005. • 20,000 to 24,000 Number of words found in the complete works of Shakespeare. • 1,700 Number of words Shakespeare invented. • 75,000 Number of words an educated adult understands, buts doesn’t actively use.
The House • Bought in 1568 • John Shakespeare was a glovemaker and wool dealer. The house contained workshops for both trades. • Joan Shakespeare (William’s sister) lived in the house until 1646. • Joan’s descendants owned the house until 1806, when it was finally bought by a butcher. • In 1847 the house was sold at an auction and passed to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to be preserved.
Childhood1564-1580 • Finished school at age 14 • Butcher? • Glove maker? • Teacher?
Marriage1582 • William Shakespeare & Anne Hathaway • Susanna -1583-1649 • Twins – Hamnet 1585-1596 & Judith -1585-1662 • Hamnet died at age 11
London1585-1611 40 Existing Plays TragedyComedyHistory Romeo & Juliet Twelfth Night Ricard III Othelllo Tempest King John Hamlet As You Like it Henry VIII
Uncertainty? While some of Shakespeare’s works can be dated accurately, many others are uncertain. One or two plays attributed to Shakespeare have not survived, including Loves Labour’s Won and Cardenio.
The Existing Plays (40) Late 1580s – Two Gentleman of Verona Early 1600s – Hamlet Twelfth Night Troilus and Cressida Measure for Measure Othello All’s Well that End’s Well Timon of Athens King Lear Macbeth Antony and Cleopatra Pericles Coriolanus Early 1590s – The Taming of the Shrew Henry VI, part 2 Henry VI, part 3 Titus Andronicus Henry VI, part 1 Richard III Venus and Adonis Mid 1590s –The Rape of Lucrece The Comedy of Errors Love’s Labour’s Lost A Midsummer Night’s Dream Romeo and Juliet Richard II King John After 1610 – The Winter’s Tale Cymbeline The Tempest Henry VII (or All is True) Two Noble Kinsmen Late 1590s - The Mercahnt of Venice Henry IV, part 1 The Merry Wives of Windsor Henry IV, part2 Much Ado About Nothing Henry V Julius Caesar As You Like It
Entertainment for the Queen The reign of Elizabeth (1558 - 1603)
The Plague Caused the deaths of 30% of the population of England and Wales. London theatres were closed. Shakespeare wrote a lot of poetry while theatres were closed
The Old Globe 1599-1642 • Held 2,000 – 3,000 spectators • All actors were men • Chamberlain’s men • Burnt down in 1613. Rebuilt 1614. Torn down 1642.
The New Globe • Construction began in 1987 • Finished 1996 • Ist play – Two Gentlemen of Verona
Can you name some of Shakespeare’s plays? Romeo & Juliet Othello Julius Caesar Hamlet King Lear Macbeth The Merchant of Venice
Roman Numerals I = 1 C = 100 V = 5 D = 500 X = 10 M = 1000 L = 50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ II = 2 VI = 6 XII = 12 XL = 40 III = 3 VII = 7 IXX = 19 LV = 55 IV = 4 IX = 9 XXX = 30 CC= 200
