Referat William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

 Scientists have only very few facts about his life (e.g. some bills and his last will, but no letters) and so almost everything they know about his life is speculation. It`s not certain if he wrote all his plays by himself, some people even believe that he was illiterate.

 Born in Stratford-on-Avon in the county of Warwickshire,

probably on 23 April 1564, because he is baptized on 26 April 1564.

 mother: Mary Arden, from an old and rich family of local landowners

father: John Shakespeare, a dealer in agricultural products (wool, hides), holds a

good position in the administration of Stratford. They have eight children, William is their third child.

 Most probably he attends the local grammar school in Stratford.

 1582: He marries Ann Hathaway. She is the daughter of a farmer and landowner and she is eight years older than William.

 Five months later their daughter Susan is born, two years later they get the twins

Hamnet and Judith.

 The next ten years of Shakespeare`s life are unknown.

 1594: He is a successful actor and writer of plays, poems and sonnets in London.

Actors aren`t socially accepted, they need support by some powerful men.

Shakespeare`s group is under the protection of the Lord Chamberlain, an official of the royal household. They are called the "Lord Chamberlain`s Company".

 They perform their plays in the "Theatre", the first English playhouse to be especially built for the theatre (erected by James Burbage in 1576). The "Theatre" was located outside of London because the authorities were afraid of the disorder which could be

caused by the crowds watching the plays.

 1598: The "Lord Chamberlain`s Men" pull down the "Theatre" and build the "Globe

Theatre" near the London Bridge.

 Shakespeare`s plays attract not only the workers and shopkeepers but also the nobles of the city and of the royal court. When James I becomes king in 1603 the group is renamed in the "King`s Men" and they are the most famous company of actors in London. Shakespeare writes two plays every year and makes a lot of money with his theatre. So he buys some land and the "New Place", one of the finest houses in Stratford for his family.

 Around 1600: life crisis; he writes only very vicious and pessimistic plays like "Hamlet",

"Othello", "Macbeth"; scientists call it the "pessimistic period"; reasons: death of his son,

his father and Queen Elizabeth I.

 1608: The "King`s Men" buy a more comfortable theatre within the city. It`s a former monastery and they use it during the winter. There they have a more exclusive audience, they change their program and present romances, love stories and strange events which take place in times long before the real time and faraway.

 1610: Shakespeare retires to Stratford and writes his last comedies.

 1613: The "Globe Theatre" burns down.

 23 April 1616: William Shakespeare dies at the age of 52.