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Will’s World. What’s to Come. Shakespeare’s Bio Shakespeare’s World The Authorship Debate The Sonnets. Shakespeare’s Bio. Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford upon-Avon Parents were John and Mary Middle class family of which little is known Attended King Edward VI School?. Marriage/Family.
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What’s to Come • Shakespeare’s Bio • Shakespeare’s World • The Authorship Debate • The Sonnets
Shakespeare’s Bio • Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford upon-Avon • Parents were John and Mary • Middle class family of which little is known • Attended King Edward VI School?
Marriage/Family • Married Ann Hathaway on 11/28/1582 • She was 27, he was 18 • Ann gave birth to Susanna on 5/26/1583 (Do the math!)
Lost Years 1586-1592 • Many theories about this period • Catholic underground and teaching? • Deer poaching? • Acting?
London 1592 • Early success as a writer • Turbulent times, Plague, Civil Unrest • University wits and the “upstart crow”
The Sonnets • Alternate income (plague) • Dedicated to W.H. • Addressees are a young man, a dark lady, and a rival poet • 154 poems • Earl of Southampton Henry Wriothesly
Authorship Debate • Did Shakespeare really write those plays? • Why is there a doubt? • If not Shakespeare then who?
Reasons to Doubt? • Will was middle class • No university education • Limited traveling • Name spelled differently on some documents
Then Who Wrote Them? • Oxfordians contend that it is none other than…
Edward de Vere • 17th Earl of Oxford • Member of the Royal Court • 2 Masters Degrees from Oxford University by 17 • Traveled extensively • Not allowed to write plays
Another Contender • Christopher Marlowe • Cambridge and Canterbury • London’s most successful playwright until his murder in a pub in 1593 • Ghostwriter?
Most Scholars Agree • Debate is only conjecture and conspiracy theory • Moot (mock) trial held in 1987 with three Supreme Court Justices • Stratfordians 3 Oxfordians 0
Shakespeare’s England • Elizabeth reverted the country back to the Church of England • Catholic to Protestant to Catholic to Protestant in 12 years. • James I in 1603
Will The Businessman • Co-founder of The Globe 1599 • Open-air • Groundlings • Burned in 1613 during a play • Rebuilt and closed permanently in 1642
The Globe • Women not allowed on stage • As You Like It has a boy playing a girl playing a boy playing a girl!
Retirement 1611? • Left London with fame, money, and a family crest • Moved back to Stratford (New Place) • Wealthy landowner
Death April 23, 1616 • Died of a “fever” contracted after “a merry meeting” • Death leads to some questions…
Death 1616 • Interesting last will • “Second best bed” • Nothing literary • Tombstone “unshakespearean”