The document provides information about William Shakespeare's life and career, noting that he was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets in his career, and died in 1616 at the age of 52 in Stratford-upon-Avon, leaving behind a legacy as the greatest writer in the English language. It also asks questions to test the reader's knowledge of key details about Shakespeare's life and family.

1. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?

2. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When _____ he born?
2) How many plays _____ he write?
3) Who _____ his wife?
4) How many children _____ he have?
5) What _____ his nickname?
6) When _____ he die?

3. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely known as the greatest writer in
the English language. He is often called the ‘Bard of Avon’. In total, Shakespeare wrote about 38
plays and 154 sonnets. He probably wrote more plays and sonnets but today we only know of
these.
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. When he was 18 he married Anne
Hathaway and they had three children, Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. He moved to London aged
19, without his family, and began a successful career as an actor, writer, poet and owner of
theatrical company.
Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were
comedies and histories and his later plays were tragedies. Historians believe his work became
more serious when his son Hamnet died aged 11 in 1596.
After Shakespeare celebrated his 49th birthday he retired from theatre and returned to his
hometown. He died three years later in 1616. In his will, Shakespeare left his house and land to
his eldest daughter, Susanna. Strangely, he only left his wife his second-best bed. Historians
wonder and often argue what he meant by this. This is one of the many mysteries in his life that
are still argued today by historians and scholars. Other questions include . . .
Did he write all of his plays or was he helped by others?
Why didn’t he take his family to London?
Where did his love for theatre and acting come from?
. . . . . Do you have any questions of you own?

4. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely known as the greatest writer in
the English language. He is often called the ‘Bard of Avon’. In total, Shakespeare wrote about 38
plays and 154 sonnets. He probably wrote more plays and sonnets but today we only know of
these.
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. When he was 18 he married Anne
Hathaway and they had three children, Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. He moved to London aged
19, without his family, and began a successful career as an actor, writer, poet and owner of
theatrical company.
Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were
comedies and histories and his later plays were tragedies. Historians believe his work became
more serious when his son Hamnet died aged 11 in 1596.
After Shakespeare celebrated his 49th birthday he retired from theatre and returned to his
hometown. He died three years later in 1616. In his will, Shakespeare left his house and land to
his eldest daughter, Susanna. Strangely, he only left his wife his second-best bed. Historians
wonder and often argue what he meant by this. This is one of the many mysteries in his life that
are still argued today by historians and scholars. Other questions include . . .
Did he write all of his plays or was he helped by others?
Why didn’t he take his family to London? Highlight the verbs
Where did his love for theatre and acting come from? in the past
. . . . . Do you have any questions of you own?

5. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

6. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

7. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

8. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

9. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

10. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

11. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
What do you know about William Shakespeare?
Complete the questions on his life
1) When was he born? He was born in 1564
2) How many plays did he write? He wrote about 38 plays
3) Who was his wife? His wife was called Anne Hathaway
4) How many children did he have? He had three children
5) What was his nickname? His nickname was the Bard of Avon
6) When did he die? He died in 1616

12. OnlineSchoolEnglish
GRAMMAR Past simple VOCABULARY Famous lives
Now tell your teacher about a famous person’s life
Include . . . .
When the person was born
What the person was famous for
Why you chose this person