WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
A Biography
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was born in
Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564. He was
the third of six children. Shakespeare's
father was a successful leather merchant
and William attended a local grammar
school where he studied poetry. history,
Greek, and Latin.
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in
1582. Together they had 3 children named
Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. Hamnet and
Judith were twins.
After Hamnet and Judith were born, there
are no records of the next few years of
Shakespeare's life. Historians refer to this
time as the 'lost years'. Eventually,
Shakespeare and his family travelled to
London. The earliest record of Shakespeare
being in London is 1592, when William
started working at a theater.
Before Shakespeare wrote plays, he worked
as an actor with the Lord Chamberlain's
Men. The Lord Chamberlain's Men started to
perform Shakespeare's first plays in 1594. His
plays became very popular and the Lord
Chamberlain's Men were soon one of the
most popular acting companies in London.
Shakespeare's early plays include: The
Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Romeo
and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's
Dream.
The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by the
Lord Chamberlain's Men. The theater could
house up to 3,000 spectators and had a
uniquely designed stage with a painted
ceiling.
Not many people could read or write during
this time, so the Globe would hang colored
flags outside to let people know when a
play was going to be performed, and what
kind of play it would be (funny or sad).
The original Globe Theatre burned down in
1613 and was rebuilt the next year. The
theatre then closed again in 1642. A modern
reconstruction of the Globe, which you can
visit today, was built in London by actor Sam
Wanamaker in 1997.
Many of Shakespeare's greatest plays were
written in the last half of his career. These
include: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and
Macbeth. His success in the theater, as well
as his investments in land and in the Globe,
made Shakespeare a wealthy man. He
purchased a large house in Stratford for his
family called New Place. Shakespeare
moved from London back to Stratford-
upon-Avon in 1611.
Shakespeare also became famous for his
poetry, His most well known poem at the
time was Venus and Adonis. A book of
Shakespeare's sonnets was published in
1609.
Shakespeare died on 23rd April 1616. In 1623,
the first collection of Shakespeare's work
was published. It is called the First Folio.
Shakespeare is considered by many to be
the greatest writer in the English language.
Through his works, he is credited with
introducing nearly 3,000 words to the
English language and his works are the
second most quoted after the Bible.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Match the dates to the Shakespearean facts

The earliest record of Shakespeare being in

London
1564

Shakespeare's sonnets were published

1594

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-

1613
upon-Avon.

1582
The Globe burned down

1616
Shakespeare moved back from London to
Stratford-upon-Avon

1997

The Lord Chamberlain's Men started

performing Shakespeare's plays
1611

Shakespeare died
1592

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway

1599

The Globe Theatre was first built

1623

The First Folio was published

1609

A reconstruction of the Globe was built by

Sam Wanamaker
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Read the article again. Answer the questions.

1. Why do historians call part of Shakespeare's life the 'lost years'?

2. Why was the Globe Theatre rebuilt in 1614?

3. What did Shakespeare study at school? Do you think this helped him write his plays? Why?

4. What did Shakespeare introduce to the English Language?

5. Not many people could read or write in Shakespeare's time. How did they know when a
play would be performed at the Globe?

6. What profession did Shakespeare have before he wrote plays?