2. Family and Early Life Claimed to be born April 23rd, 1564 (birth and death dates were not recorded in Shakespeare’s time) Father was John Shakespeare and mother was Mary Arden who both could not read or write. First of four sons and had four sisters Baptized April 26th, 1564 in the parish church of Holy Trinity of Stratford-upon-Avon Martin, Christopher. Shakespeare. Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Enterprises, Inc., 1989. Print. Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>. Holden, Anthony. William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius. Great Britain: Little Brown, 1999. Print. William Shakespeare General Web Group, 1997. Web. 6 Dec. 2009. <http://www.williamshakespeare.com/Biography.php>Pressley, J. M. Shakespeare Resource Center Shakespeare Resource Center and J. M. Pressley, 1997. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bardweb.net/man.html>.
3. Family and Early Life Lived with parents on Henley Street William’s father was a local businessman. Also involved in municipal affairs as Alderman and Bailiff. A decline in his fortunes in his later years had some effect on William. Liked watching traveling theater groups from an early age who came to Stratford to entertain the local official townsmen. Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>. Martin, Christopher. Shakespeare. Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Enterprises, Inc., 1989. Print. Holden, Anthony. William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius. Great Britain: Little Brown, 1999. Print. Pressley, J. M. Shakespeare Resource Center Shakespeare Resource Center and J. M. Pressley, 1997. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bardweb.net/man.html>.
4. Education Attended the Christian Holy Trinity church Probably entered the grammar school of Stratford, the King’s New School, at age eleven where he would have studied theater, acting, Latin, literature, and history. William would also study the bible at school which would explain why some quotes from the bible were found in some his plays and poems. Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>. Holden, Anthony. William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius. Great Britain: Little Brown, 1999. Print.
5. Life after school and marriage Probably became his father’s apprentice after finishing school but it has been reported that he might have been a school teacher. In 1582, while still a minor at age eighteen, married Anne Hathaway who was eight years older and supposedly three months pregnant with the consent of his father. Reportedly had three children who were all baptized. Susanna, and twins Judith, and Hamnet who died at age eleven who was Shakespeare’s only son. Merriman, C. . The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeareD/>. Nettleton, Pamela H. William Shakespeare: Playwright and Poet. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2005. Print William Shakespeare Info Ed. L. K. Alchin. N.p., 1 Nov. 2004. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/facts-about-william-shakespeare.htm>. Pressley, J. M. Shakespeare Resource Center Shakespeare Resource Center and J. M. Pressley, 1997. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bardweb.net/man.html>.
6. Life in London and the Globe Theatre After getting married, William moved to London and worked in the Globe Theater. There is a myth that sates that William fled Stratford after poaching deer and rabbits. He began writing plays and poems and also became involved with theatre troupe. William was criticized in a pamphlet that had referred to him as an “upstart crow”. Had written between 5 to 7 plays by 1592 It is believed that during the plague in 1593 William kept writing play and sonnets. The Globe Theater was “moved”. Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>. Nettleton, Pamela H. William Shakespeare: Playwright and Poet. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2005. Print.
7. Success After the plague lost its grip on London theaters reopened and Shakespeare’s acting company changed its name to the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Both an owner and actor but still managed to write an average two plays a year for his company to perform. Began to perfect comedies and wrote tragedies such as the famous Romeo and Juliet. Was criticized for being a common man and not going to a university. Began writing tragedies and sad plays after his son’s, Hamnet, death. Nettleton, Pamela H. William Shakespeare: Playwright and Poet. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2005. Print Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>
8. Shakespeare’s Last Days Six weeks after his daughter’s wedding, Shakespeare revised his will and his writing reveals he might have been weak or ill. Wrote that his wife should receive his second-best bed but it is not known if this was an insult to Anne. Had no descendants to carry on the family name. Died on April 23rd, 1616. William’s tomb reads,”Good friend for Jesus sake forbeareTo digg the dust encloasedheareBlessed by y man y spares hes stonesAnd curst be he y moves my bones” Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/> Nettleton, Pamela H. William Shakespeare: Playwright and Poet. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2005. Print.
9. Works Cited Merriman, C. D. The Literature Network Copyright Jalic Inc., 2006. Google. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/>. Holden, Anthony. William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius. Great Britain: Little Brown, 1999. Print. Martin, Christopher. Shakespeare. Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Enterprises, Inc., 1989. Print. Nettleton, Pamela H. William Shakespeare: Playwright and Poet. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2005. Print. William Shakespeare Info Ed. L. K. Alchin. N.p., 1 Nov. 2004. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/facts-about-william-shakespeare.htm>. Pressley, J. M. Shakespeare Resource Center Shakespeare Resource Center and J. M. Pressley, 1997. Google. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bardweb.net/man.html>.
10. Pictures from N.p., n.d. Google Images. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. http://z.about.com/d/tvcomedies/1/0/p/0/-/-/simpsons_family.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com/2007/07/&usg=__ZZpR1-WBgzoakRipGv19O4ALous=&h=432&w=3 N.p., n.d. Google Images. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. <http://www.examiner.com/x-11641-Shakespeare-Examiner~y2009m9d21-Shakespeares-final-resting-place-in-danger-of-roof-collapse>. N.p., n.d. Google Images. Web. 7 Dec. 2009. <http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/gallery_images/0506/0000/0558/Birthplace_of_shakespeare_mid.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/image57911-.html&usg=__WIHsxNRwqgxK>. O'Keeffe, Ed. Ed O'Keeffe Photography Ed. Ed O'Keeffe. N.p., 2000. Google Images. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. <http://www.edsphotoblog.com/?p=251>. Eisner, Bruce. Squidoo N.p., 2009. Google Images. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. <http://www.squidoo.com/personal_success>. Chapman, James. Squidoo N.p., 2009. Google Images. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. <http://www.squidoo.com/bestbusinesscoach>. Leeman, Sue. USA Today Gannett Co. Inc., 2007. Google Images. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-11-shakespearechurch_x.htm>.
