Shakespeares Life
Shakespeare is the greatest author of the Elitabethan age, if not the most important English author of all times. His works inspired hundreds of directors, films and writers. Even today in England you can hardly call yourself a good actor without having participated in a Shakespeare play. Private life: William Shakespeare was born in
Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1564. He most likely
attended King Edward VI Grammar
School in Stratford, where he learned
Latin grammar and literature. In 1582,
he marriedAnne Hathaway at
the age of 18 and had three children together. First plays: Between 1589 and 1590, William is
believed to have written his first
play, Henry VIII (part I). The next
year, he completed the second part
of the play.By 1592, William had begun a career
as a playwright in London. Two
years later, he was an actor and
part-owner of a playwright company,
Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The company
was successful and was adopted by King
James I. It was then renamed The King’s
Men. By this time, William was
well-known throughout the London theatre
world.
In 1595, William
wrote some of his most famous
stories including A "Midsummer’s Night Dream" and "Romeo and Juliet", which
is arguably the most famous love
story and tragedy of all time. In
1596, William wrote "The Merchant of Venice".Later works: After writing "Julius Caesar" in 1599, Shakespeare is thought to have written "Hamlet",
historically thought of as his greatest
masterpiece. To this day "Hamlet" is probably his
most quoted and reproduced tragedy.
It is also Shakespeare’s longest
play. In general: Concerning Shakespeares work you have to differ between the "early
plays", for example "Romeo and Juliet" or "Henry V", and the "great
tragedies", which he created later on. The latter he wrote between 1599
and 1606 and include „Othello“, „Macbeth“, „King Lear“ und „Timon of
Athens“.He also wrote 154 sonetts during his life.
