Lecture on William Shakespeare

Introduction

• William Shakespeare: One of the greatest authors of all time.
• Born in Stratford upon Avon, England.
• Birthdate uncertain, likely April 23, 1564.

Early Life

• Possible education at King School, Stratford.
• Did not attend University.
• Married Anne Hathaway in 1585.
• Fathered a daughter and twins; son Hamnet died.

Career in London

• Moved to London in late 1580s.
• Writing and acting by early 1590s.
• Authored 15 of 37 plays by 1597, including:
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Comedy of Errors
  • The Merry Wives of Windsor

Business Acumen

• Built the Globe Theater in 1599.
• Smart real estate investor.
• His company, originally the Lord Chamberlain's Men, became the King's Men in 1603.

Types of Plays

• Histories, comedies, tragedies, and tragic comedies.
• Middle period (1595-1605) includes:
  • Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • As You Like It
  • Twelfth Night
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • Hamlet
  • Othello
  • Macbeth

Later Works

• King Lear marks transition to later period.
• Produced works like:
  • Lear
  • Anthony and Cleopatra
  • Tempest
  • Winter's Tale
  • Pericles
  • Cymbeline

Poetic Contributions

• Wrote 154 sonnets and several narrative poems.
• Known for creative use of the English language.

Death and Legacy

• Believed to have died on April 23, 1616.
• Influence has grown over 400 years:
  • Second most quoted writer after the Bible.
  • Credited with introducing almost 3,000 words to English.
• Controversy over the authorship exists but most scholars affirm his authorship.

Conclusion

• Shakespeare's profound impact on literature and human civilization.
• Mark Twain noted as America's first celebrity for public imagination influence.