Introduction to Shakespeare Icons key For more detailed

Introduction to Shakespeare Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the User Guide Flash activity. These activities are not editable. Extension activities 1 of 88 Web addresses Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page Accompanying worksheet © Boardworks Ltd 2015

Contents Shakespeare’s life Shakespeare’s times Shakespeare’s theatre Shakespeare quiz 2 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

Youth and childhood William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. His father, who ran a glove-making and wool-dying business, was a fairly wealthy man. From the age of seven to fourteen the young William Shakespeare probably attended the local grammar school, where he would have been force-fed a diet of Greek and Latin, geometry and arithmetic. …the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. From As You Like It, Act Two, Scene Seven 3 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

Making his mark At eighteen Shakespeare married a local woman, Anne Hathaway, who was already three months pregnant with his child. The couple had three children in all – an unusually small family by the standards of the day. Their only son, Hamnet, died at the age of eleven. Not a lot is known about what Shakespeare did during his early manhood. What we do know, however, is that by 1590 he had moved to London (probably leaving his wife and children behind in Stratford) and was working as an actor and playwright. His works were well received and he went on to write almost forty plays over the next twenty years. He also attracted wealthy patrons from the courts of Elizabeth I and James I. Which of Shakespeare’s plays can you name? 4 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

Global empire In the second half of his career, Shakespeare also became a theatrical manager. In 1599 his troop (the Lord Chamberlain’s Men) built their own theatre, the Globe. In 1613 theatre burned to the ground when the wadding for the cannon used to create special sound effects caught fire. It was, however, rebuilt with a tile roof the following year. A reconstruction of the Globe, built near its original site, opened in 1997. What else can you find out about the Globe? 5 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

Death Shakespeare died in Stratford at the age of 52. He penned the following lines for his tombstone: Can you explain what this curse means? 6 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

William Shakespeare What else can you find out about Shakespeare? 7 of 8 © Boardworks Ltd 2015

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