This document provides an overview of William Shakespeare's life and career. It discusses that he started seeing plays at a young age and taught himself to read and write before becoming a glove maker. He later joined The Lord Chamberlain's Men acting troupe in London and wrote most of his famous plays for them. The document also summarizes Shakespeare's body of work, including his plays divided into tragedies, comedies, and histories as well as his sonnets. It concludes with Shakespeare retiring to Stratford-upon-Avon and his lasting impact on literature.

1. William ShakespeareDanielle Hughes, Holly Kendall, and Samantha Cundill

2. Shakespeare’s Early LifeStarted seeing plays at very young ageTaught himself how to read and writeFollowed his father and became a glove makerTravelled to London to start his career

3. The Lord Chamberlain’s MenA group of actors who performed for Queen Elizabeth the IOne of the most popular companies at the time Shakespeare joined at age 22Changing point for Shakespeare’s careerShakespeare wrote his plays, mostly for the group

4. The Rose TheatreThe Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed at the Rose Theatre for Queen Elizabeth I.

5. Shakespearean LanguageMade over 17,000 wordsSome words are still used todayExamples:Saucy – cheeky/sassyHark – listenHither – Here

6. Shakespeare’s Greatest WorksTragediesComediesHistoriesSonnets

7. TragediesUnhappy or disastrous endingsExamples:HamletKing LearMacbethOthello

8. ComediesHappily ever after endingExamples:A Midsummer’s Night DreamMuch Ado About NothingTwelfth NightThe Winter’s TaleThe Merry Wives of Windsor

9. SonnetsThree quatrains, ending with a coupletTen syllables per lineTime, love, and beautyExample:Sonnet 18 - beautySonnet 55 - love

10. Shakespeare’s Later LifeWrote fewer plays from 1606-1607Retired to Stratford-upon-Avon around 1613Shakespeare wrote three final plays for the new dramatists for the Lord Chamberlain’s MenShakespeare died on 23 April, 1616

11. Shakespeare’s ImpactAble to summarize human emotionsRelatable to everyday lifeOther poets and play writes of his time used his languageCharacters are complexExample:Hamlet – gentle, but still seeking murderous revenge