Lecture Notes: William Shakespeare

Introduction

• Renowned as one of the greatest authors of all time.
• Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
• Birth date uncertain, likely around April 23, 1564.
• Educated possibly at the King School in Stratford.
• Did not attend university.

Personal Life

• Married Anne Hathaway in 1585.
• Fathered a daughter and twins.
• Son, Hamnet, died young.

Career and Achievements

• Moved to London in the late 1580s.
• By the early 1590s, was writing and acting.
• Authored 15 of the 37 plays attributed to him by 1597, including:
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Comedy of Errors
  • The Merry Wives of Windsor
• Built the Globe Theater in 1599, the largest open-air amphitheater in London.
  • Demonstrated business acumen with real estate investments.
• Shakespeare's company, originally the Lord Chamberlain's Men, became the King's Men in 1603, gaining exceptional prestige.

Literary Contributions

• Types of plays:
  • Histories
  • Comedies
  • Tragedies
  • Later, tragicomedies
• Famous for phrases that blend into everyday language.
• Middle period (1595-1605) included:
  • Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing
  • Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth
• Later works include King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra, The Tempest.

Shakespeare as a Poet

• Economic necessity led him to write poetry during the 1590s due to plague-induced theater closures.
• Authored 154 sonnets and several narrative poems.
• Regarded as one of the first professional writers.

Influence and Legacy

• Shakespeare's death is believed to be on April 23, 1616.
• Influence has grown over 400 years:
  • Writing is second most quoted after the Bible.
  • Credited with introducing nearly 3,000 words to English.
  • Over 140 million Google search results.
• Explored the human condition, thoughts, feelings, and psyche.
• 18th-century authorship questions due to life details and education, but most scholars affirm Shakespeare's authorship.
• Considered arguably the most influential figure in human civilization.