The young Shakespeare

The Shakespeare family
Baby William was christened (baptised a Christian) on 26 April 1564. Many people think his birthday was 23 April - St George's Day.

William Shakespeare was probably 'Will' to his family.

Shakespeare's father was John Shakespeare, a glove-maker. His mother Mary was the daughter of a farmer named Robert Arden. His grandfather was a farmer too.

School days
John Shakespeare was an important man in the town of Stratford. In 1568, he was mayor. He sent William to the town grammar school.

The boys at the school had lessons in Latin, Greek and history. They had to work hard. If boys were naughty, the teacher beat them.

Having fun
Shakespeare and his friends played in the fields. They went fishing and swimming in the River Avon.

When Shakespeare was about 5, a group of actors came to Stratford. Perhaps he was taken to see their show. When he was 11, he may have seen Queen Elizabeth, who made a visit to Kenilworth Castle. For her, there were plays, dances, music, feasts and fireworks!

Shakespeare gets married
Young Shakespeare left school by the time he was 16. We do not know what job he did. Perhaps he worked as a teacher. Perhaps he helped his father.

In 1582, Shakespeare got married. His wife, Anne Hathaway, was a farmer's daughter. She was 8 years older than him. Soon they had a family - a daughter Susanna, and in 1585 twins, named Judith and Hamnet.

A famous man
By 1598, Shakespeare was rich and famous. He owned houses in Stratford. He also had homes in London, near the theatres. For a time, he lived with a French family in London.

In 1603, Queen Elizabeth died. The new king was James I, from Scotland. James liked the theatre. Shakespeare's actors became The King's Men. They walked in the king's coronation procession.

Between 1600 and 1608, Shakespeare wrote some of his greatest plays. They include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth

Shakespeare's last years
By 1613, when the Globe burned down, Shakespeare had left London. He lived quietly in Stratford.

In 1616, his friend Ben Jonson came to visit. They drank wine and ate pickled herrings. Then Shakespeare fell ill. He died on 23 April 1616. He was 52.

Shakespeare's plays
Shakespeare wrote (or helped write) at least 38 plays.

The plays were first printed as books in 1623. His friends wanted to stop other people selling bad copies of the plays, full of mistakes.

What else did Shakespeare write?
Shakespeare wrote some long poems, and lots of short poems called sonnets. In his plays, people speak in poetry too.

The language of Shakespeare
Shakespeare used more English words than any other writer. He made up words and expressions too. When someone says quick as a flash, blinking idiot or I haven't slept a wink, you are listening to Shakespeare.

The English language has changed since Shakespeare's time. So he is not always easy to read. But it's worth the effort.

Choose the correct word to complete the sentences:

William Shakespeare is one of the world's greatest painters writers architects.

He wrote theatre plays and novels science books poems.

He was an actor a glove maker a farmer as well.

He probably saw his first theatre play at the age of sixteen eighteen five

His father was an actor a glove maker a farmer

He studied Latin, Greek and Geography French History at school.

He were was is born in 1564 and died die dei in 1616.

Shakespeare left school when he was sixteen eighteen fourteen and he got married ten twelve two years later.

Between 1600 and 1608, Shakespeare wrote some of his greatest plays: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Alice in Wonderland Macbeth The Lion KIng

In Shakespeare's plays, people speak in French Latin poetry

Tick the TRUE sentences.

Shakespeare probably died on his birthday in 1616.

He went to University

He wrote theatre plays and novels

His wife was older than him

He was a great writer but he didn't earn any money.

He invented many words and expressions

The king liked his plays a lot.

Expressions like " quick as a flash", " blinking idiot" or " I haven't slept a wink" were invented by Shakespeare.

He used to play rugby and tennis with his friends

There was a river near Shakespeare's home.

He wrote his plays using very few words

Shakespeare was killed with poisoned herrings

Find the names of these Shakespeare's theatre plays.

Hamlet   Macbeth Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Othello King Lear