The Life of William Shakespeare
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
-William Shakespeare
Who Was William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare was an English poet, dramatist, and actor. Shakespeare wrote at least 42 plays and poems. Shakespeare was born in the town of Stratford- Upon- Avon, England. He was born April 23, 1564. He died April 23, 1616. He was educated at Edward IV Grammar School.
The Globe
When William Shakespeare moved to London to become an actor, he joined the Chamberlain’s Men. Together they built his theater, The Globe. The Globe was opened 1599, and it is located in London, England. The Globe caught on fire and was destroyed in 1613. It was reopened in 1614 and it was closed for good in 1642. In 1997 a modern reconstruction of The Globe was made. This new Globe is called Shakespeare’s Globe and it is located 750 feet away from the original.
Shakespeare's Plays and Poems
Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare has written many plays and poems. Some of his most famous are Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. Hamlet is about the revenge of Prince Hamlet. Claudius, Prince Hamlet’s uncle murdered King Hamlet, took the throne, and the old king’s wife Gertrude. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy about two lovers whose deaths finally made the two fighting families come together.
Shakespeare's Influences
Plutarch
Classical authors such as Ovid, Senaca, and English historians like Holinshed were Shakespeare’s greatest influences. Also writers such as Geoffery Chaucer and Plutarch were influences of Shakespeare too. Shakespeare has used details from all these writer’s work in his plays and poems. Shakespeare was also very influenced by nature.
Works Cited
"The Globe Theater." Encyclopedia Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/>.
"Hamlet." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Plutarch." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Primary History." BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/william_shakespeare/#item-article-01>. "Shakespeare lived more than 400 years ago. Yet people still go to see his plays.
Shakespeare plays are performed all over the world. Students study Shakespeare in school and at university. People write books about Shakespeare. There are Shakespeare theatres and Shakespeare festivals."
"Romeo and Juliet." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Shakespeare's Globe Theater." Shakespeare Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. <http://www.shakespeare-online.com/>.
"Shakespeare's Theater." Folger Shakespeare Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=960>.
"William Shakespeare." Britannica. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=353763&query=william%20shakespeare&ct=null>.
"William Shakespeare." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/>.
"William Shakespeare." Poets.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122>.
"Hamlet." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Plutarch." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Primary History." BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/william_shakespeare/#item-article-01>. "Shakespeare lived more than 400 years ago. Yet people still go to see his plays.
Shakespeare plays are performed all over the world. Students study Shakespeare in school and at university. People write books about Shakespeare. There are Shakespeare theatres and Shakespeare festivals."
"Romeo and Juliet." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images>.
"Shakespeare's Globe Theater." Shakespeare Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. <http://www.shakespeare-online.com/>.
"Shakespeare's Theater." Folger Shakespeare Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=960>.
"William Shakespeare." Britannica. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=353763&query=william%20shakespeare&ct=null>.
"William Shakespeare." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/>.
"William Shakespeare." Poets.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122>.