11. W.

Shakespeare, my favourite book

William Shakespeare, often called England’s national poet, is considered to be greatest

dramatist of all time. His works are loved throughout the world, but Shakespeare’s personal
life is shrouded in mystery.

He was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the
English language and the world’s greatest dramatist.

His life
He was born at Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 1564. The date of his birth
isn’t known, but he was christened (pokřtěn) on 26th April 1564. He was one of eight children
of Mary Arden and John Shakespeare. John Shakespeare was successful tradesmen working
with leather. He also sold wool and barley (ječmen).

William Shakespeare went to the local grammar school in Stratford.

In 1582 he married Anne Hathway from Shottery. He was only eighteen, Ann was eight years
older. They had three children together – Susanna and the twins – Hamnet and Judith. Then
he left his family, he went to London. His son’s death affected him and his creation.

In late 1580s he left Stratford for London where he began his career. At first, he was an actor,
then he was an editor and writer of many plays. Most of his masterpieces were performed at
his own wooden theatre – the Globe, which he owned with other members.

The Globe and Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Shakespeare bought Globe Theatre with other members of King’s Men group of actors. They
had to face many problems of that times, for example it was destroyed by fire and burnt to the
ground and rebuilt again. In the Globe theatre played only man actors.

Shakespeare and his fellow players were lucky enough to be able to win the patronage of the
Lord Chamberlain, and the company came to be called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

His death
In 1613 the Globe burned down and the same year Shakespeare retired from the London
theatre world and returned to Stratford. He died on 23rd April 1616 and was buried in Holy
Trinity Church, where he had been christened 52 years earlier.

His work
Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays. His 17 comedies include
The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. Among his 10 history plays are
Henry V and Richard III. The most famous among his tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King
Lear and Macbeth. Shakespeare also wrote 4 poems, and a famous collection of Sonnets
which was first published in 1609.
Theatre in the age of Shakespeare
The theatre in Shakespeare’s time was much different than it is today. Authors wrote plays for
the masses, especially those who couldn’t read or write.

The theatre changed a lot during Shakespeare’s lifetime. The authorities didn’t like it and
didn’t allow acting in the city itself. They thought it had a bad influence on people and kept
them from going to church. Queen Elizabeth, on the other hand, loved acting and helped the
theatre become popular.

Theatres were open arenas or playhouses that had room for up to three thousand people. They
were structures made mainly of wood. There was no heating and actors got wet when it
rained. The stage was higher and there was an open pit in front of it where most of the people
could stand in. Richer people and noblemen sat in the gallery. There was almost no scenery
because the dialogue was the most important part of the play. Colourful and well-designed
costumes were very important and told the people about the status of a character. Women
never performed in plays, so young boys played female characters. The performances took
place in the afternoon because it was too dark at night.

My favourite book
My favourite book is probably The Little Prince from the Francian writer Antoine de Saint-
Exupéry. It is story about a curious boy who is trying to understand the adults. It was written
in the 20th century between the world wars.

Romeo and Juliet

His most popular piece of art is probably Romeo and Juliet. It is about the unhappy love and
death of Rome Montague and Juliet Capulet. They were the only children of two powerful
clans of Verona. These Houses of Montague and of Capulet hated each other. Romeo fell in
love with Juliet when he was 16 and she was 14. They love each other deeply so they rush to
the aid of Friar Laurence who marries them secretly. At the same time, Juliet’s father is
planning to marry Juliet to Count Paris. To avoid this, on the night before wedding, Juliet
drinks a potion which will render her lifeless for 42 hours. The Friar plans to warn Romeo
(who had been banned from Verona for killing Juliet’s cousin Tybalt) to return to Juliet when
she awakens and take her away from Verona. However, the message to Romeo is not
delivered. When Romeo sees Juliet in her family tomb, he thinks that Juliet is dead and
commits suicide by drinking a potion of poison and dies at Juliet’s side. When Juliet awakes
and finds Romeo dead. She stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger and dies too. Montagues and
Capulets, faced by tragic results of their enemy, become reconciled.