Shakespeare
By: Kylee Wimmer
Shakespeare's Early Life
William Shakespeare was born around the time of April 23, 1564 to John and Mary Shakespeare. He was the oldest of five, and lived the longest. He had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund. He also had two younger sisters, Anne, who died at the age of seven, and Joan. Shakespeare's dad was a Leatherworker, while his mom stayed at home with the family. Shakespeare was born in a busy town about 100 miles northwest of London called, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Elizabethan Art/Culture
Elizabeth I became queen of England in 1558. During her rule, learning and literature thrived in London. She was very fond of the Theater and built professional theaters in England for the first time. In London, these theaters attracted about 15,000 theatergoers per week. The four main theaters built were the Globe Theatre, the Swan, the Rose, and the Hope. Queen Elizabehth was a big supporter of Shakespeare and had a huge influence on the Theater in England.
The Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was one of the most famous Playhouse's of all time and also the place where Shakespeare preformed many of his famous plays. It was located in Southwark, a place in the outskirts of London. The Globe Theatre was co-owned by Shakespeare. It was three stories high and could hold up to about 3,000 people at a time. People went there for many entertainment purposes. In 1613 it was hit with a cannon misfire but was soon rebuilt. The Globe Theatre was a hexagon shape and had no roof. It was a great place for people to go and enjoy some of Shakespeare's many famous plays!
Famous Shakespeare Plays
Romeo and Juliet is a famous play written by Shakespeare. It is a romantic play involving the characters Romeo and Juliet, and is very well known. Some other famous plays by Shakespeare include, Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and many more. Most of Shakespeare's plays are well known and still preformed to this day.
Shakespeare's Impact on Modern Day English
Shakespeare has had a huge impact on our modern day english. Some of his quotes are still used today and his plays are often still preformed. Many poets and playwrights refer to Shakespeare's writing and plays when creating their own. Shakespeare had very unique sentence structure and word choice, helping enhance his writing. Some words and phrases that he used are still commonly used in todays writing.
Other Popular Playwrights of Shakespeare's Time
Some other famous Playwrights during the time of Shakespeare include:
* Christopher Marlow
* Francis Beaumont
* John Fletcher
* Thomas Middleton
* Thomas Kyd
"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves" -William Shakespeare