English - Shakespeare

We are starting to look at Shakespeare in English.


Shakespeare was very famous in his own time, not only after he died, and he wrote many poems and plays.  His works are still studied by students, even though they were written in old english speech and are difficult to understand in modern times.  Although you can still get the gist of what was going on when you read or listen to them.



Image Source:  wilsonsalmanac.com


I found two books in our small village library:


Much do about Nothing - The Graphic Shakespeare series retold by Hilary Burningham



and


Shakespeare - The Alexander text of the complete works of Shakespeare (Collins)

Looking at the content page of this book, one can see that Shakespeare wrote so many plays.

Some of these are:

Hamlet

Macbeth

Much Ado about Nothing

Romeo and Juliet

Midsummers-night's Dream

The Winters Tale

King Lear

Othello

Twelfth Night

The Merchant of Venice

A Comedy of Errors

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Two Gentleman of Verona

The Tempest.

Here is a little on Shakespeare:

William Shakespeare  was born in April 1564 in an English Town called Stratford-upon-Avon.  His parents were John Shakespeare and Mary Arden.

Although William Shakespeare's parents were both said to be illiterate, it is assumed that William attended the King Edward IV Grammar School.  His father had a good standing and was an alderman.   A School's curriculum and the Elizabethan education of children was based on the religion of the ruling  monarch of the time, which varied from Catholic to Protestant during his school years. William Shakespeare, was finally withdrawn from school and education at the age of fourteen in 1578 due to the financial problems being experienced by his father, who was no longer in favour, as he was Catholic. 

To learn more about Elizabethan schools and times - 

http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/education-of-william-shakespeare.htm

William married Anne Hathaway in 1582, at the age 22 years. The next year they had a daughter who they named Susanna.  Two years later they had twins, who were named Judith and Hamnet.  (Sadly his son, Hamnet dies at the age of eleven).

Shakespeare became well-known as an actor, poet and playwright and several years later he joined up with one of the most successful acting troupe's in London: The Lord Chamberlain's Men.

After James I came to rule in 1603, Shakespeare and and his acting troupe were called the Kings Men and they were charged to "freely use and exercise the art and faculty of playing Comedies, Tragedies, Histories, Interludes, Morals, Pastorals, stage plays ... as well for recreation of our loving subjects as for our solace and pleasure."

He retired from the stage in 1613 after a fire consumed the theatre where they were performing Henry VII.  Even so, Shakespeare invested in the rebuilding of the theatre.

He continued to write until his death in 1616.

REF:

http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-biography-childhood-and-education.htm

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Shakespeare's birthplace:

Stratford-upon-Avon is an area  in Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon.  

The town is a popular tourist destination, as it in the birthplace of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare.  It receives approx. 3 million visitors a year from all over the world. The Royal Shakespeare Company resides in Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre, one of Britain's most important cultural venues.  Stratford is close to the Cotswolds.

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford-upon-Avon