what to know: Shakespeare

when and where was Shakespeare born?

1562 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

what was his mothers name

Mary

what was his fathers name was what did he do

john. was a craftsman(glove-maker) and a merchant(agricultural goods). he was also involved in the towns government

what class was Shakespeare’s family

Shakespeare's family was about at the middle of the social system (with regards to money and status)

what elementary and high school did he go to

Stratford Grammar School

what did he learn there

Latin, English prose and poetry, and Greek and Roman history and mythology

did he go to college

no

who did he marry and how old were they

he married Anne Hathaway at 18 years old. she was 26

how many kids did they have

they has 3 children. 2 daughters and 1 son

what child died young and what was the name

the son. his name was Hamnet

when did Shakespeare go to London to work for an acting company

in his early 20’s

what did he soon start doing for the company?

writing plays and he did this until he retired

when did he retire

at about the age of 48

how many plays and sonnets did he write in his career

36 plays and 154 sonnets

was Shakespeare a financial success

yes, unlike a lot of artists

where were most of his plays performed?

The Globe Theatere in London

where did he die and how old was he

he did in Stratford in 1616 at the age of 52

what is the genre of Hamlet

Tragedy

what is the definition of a tragedy

a form of drama based on human suffering

what are tragedies

somber, thoughtful plays that are based on profound human emotions and conflicts that do not change with time or place

what is hamlet subcategorized as what

a Revenge Play/Tragedy

what are some common characteristics

1. A hero who must avenge an evil deed, often encouraged by the apparition of a close friend or relative
2. Scenes of death and mutilation
3. Insanity or feigned insanity
4. Sub-plays
5. The violent death of the hero

what did Shakespeare base Hamlet on

on the legend of Amleth which was chronicled by Saxo Grammaticus in the 13th Century.

who was the story retold by and when

in the 16th Century by Francois de Belleforest

what other play do scholars think Shakespeare drawn on

an Elizabethan play known today as Ur-Hamlet

when was Hamlet written around

1600

it is one of the most ___ texts in all of literature

problematic

with the exception of certain __, no other work has produced such a continuing, lively, and continuous debate about how we are supposed to understand it. 

Biblical texts 

hamlet is Shakespeares ___ play

longest and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literture

what does Hamlet continue to be today

staged regularly with great success all around the world