![]() ![]() Shakespeare's earliest plays included Henry VI Parts I, II & III, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Titus Andronicus. In 1593 Shakespeare published an erotic poem, Venus and Adonis, dedicated to Henry Wriothesley, Third Earl of Southampton, a young courtier and favourite of Queen Elizabeth. ![]() Plague broke out in London in 1593, forcing the theatres to close. But by 1592 we know that he was in London where he was singled out by a rival dramatist, Robert Greene in his bitter deathbed pamphlet, A Groats-worth of Witte. These are generally referred to as 'The Lost Years'. Anne’s home, now known as Anne Hathaway's Cottage, still stands in the village of Shottery.įrom 1585 until 1592, very little is known about Shakespeare. Twins, Hamnet and Judith, were christened in February 1585. Their first child, Susanna, was born in May 1583. Anne was the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, Richard Hathaway of Hewlands Farm in nearby Shottery. In 1582, when he was 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. It is not known what Shakespeare did when he left school, probably at the age of 14, as was usual. The classical writers studied in the classroom influenced Shakespeare's plays and poetry for example, some of his ideas for plots and characters came from Ovid's tales, the plays of Terence and Plautus, and Roman history. Shakespeare’s plays reveal a detailed knowledge of the curriculum taught in such schools which were geared to teaching pupils Latin, both spoken and written. Shakespeare probably left school at the age of 14 or 15. From the age of seven or thereabouts, he would have progressed to the King's New School where the emphasis would have been on Latin, it still being the international language of Europe in the 1500s. William almost certainly went to one of Stratford's 'petty' or junior schools where he would have learnt his letters with the help of a hornbook. ![]() John and Mary Shakespeare had eight children: four daughters, of whom only one (Joan) survived childhood. William's mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a prosperous farmer, Robert Arden, who had left her some land in Wilmcote, near Stratford. However, around 1576 John Shakespeare was beset by severe financial difficulties and he was forced to mortgage his wife's inheritance. He served on the town council and was elected bailiff (mayor). For a number of years he played a prominent role in the municipal life of the town. ![]() William's father, John Shakespeare, was an affluent glove maker, tanner and wool dealer who owned property in Stratford. John's principal business was that of a glover, but he also traded as a wool and corn merchant, and he is recorded in 1570 as being involved in money-lending. In 1556 John bought the main part of the house in Henley Street which is now known as the 'Birthplace' and their family, including William, grew up there (see photo). John Shakespeare married Mary Arden, the daughter of Robert Arden, a farmer from the nearby village of Wilmcote. Traditionally his birthday is celebrated three days earlier, on 23 April, St George's Day. William Shakespeare was baptised on 26 April 1564 at Holy Trinity in Stratford-Upon-Avon. What we do know about his life comes from registrar records, court records, wills, marriage certificates and his tombstone in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Very little is known for certain about William Shakespeare. ![]()
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