Shakespeare's+Life

= **SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE.** = //Notes by Jen and Erin, 12 Drama. :)//

- William Shakespeare, born in 1564, was the third of 8 children and the first boy. - His mother was Mary Arden and his father was a glover, tanner and wool dealer. - His father's jobs would have enabled him to attend grammar school. - However, when he was about to start school in 1570, his dad was fined for breaking money lending laws and the family fortunes began to decline. - At school Shakespeare was educated in classical plays, literature, speeches, and lots of latin. Shakespeare likely left school when he was 15 years old. - He wrote fantasies, horrors, thrillers, great love stories, ancient/medieval/contemporary histories - His works were about social problems, politics and relationships - Shakespeare was influenced by metamorphosis throughout his career.

//met·a·mor·pho·sis//
//Noun: The process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.//

- There are a lot of 'blank years' where nothing was written about Shakespeare so we do not know what was happening  - He married Anne Hathaway   - In the early stages of his career, worked as an actor and tried to get any small parts that he could. Acting experience = better playwright  - He didn't attend university so it was a bit weird that he was such a good writer, but it implied he was a natural genius. - Other writers didn't really like him and thought he was a phony. - He wasn't actually very good at making up plots, took inspiration from familiar stories. - He wrote his plays in long hand and delivered them to the playhouse where they would be prepared for performance. - His plays connected to each other. For example Midsummer Night's Dream is a parody of Romeo and Juliet. - Fascinated by English history, racial difference, lower classes and interested in developing a national myth - A //national myth // is: an inspiring narrative or anecdote about a nation's past. - By 1958 his career as a dramatist was secure - Rich and owned property - In 1597 purchased on of Stratford's largest houses - Involved in public affairs - Never travelled abroad, but his work went global - Had children: Susanna, twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died.  - Died 23 April 1616