LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Very little is definitely known about the life of William
Shakespeare, whose immortal literary work has a universal appeal.
He was born of John and Mary of Stratford-on-Avon in England
most probably on April 23, 1564. His father, a trader and farmer,
worked his way upwards hill, till he became the Mayor of Stratford in
1568, but later on, he fell on evil days.
Shakespeare was educated at King Edward VI’s Grammar
School at Stratford for six years. There he must have learnt a fair
amount of Latin, if little or no Greek. As a schoolboy, he displayed
good memory ; he was fond of field sports and was never a bookworm.
When Shakespeare was seven, his father invited a company
of players to Stratford. Thereafter a succession of theatrical
companies visited the town. These performances probably attracted
the boy, Shakespeare towards the stage.
In 1582 he married Anna Hathaway, and by 1585 he became
father of several children. By this time his father’s bankruptcy was
complete. There is a tradition that about this time he was severely
punished by Thomas Lucy for stealing a deer from his park ; in
revenge, Shakespeare composed a satirical ballad, fastened it to
Lucy’s gate and escaped to London.
There is a legend that he began his life in London by tending
visitors’ horses outside a playhouse. Then he joined the Earl of
Leicester’s company of actors as a call-boy. Soon he proved himself to
be a good all-round actor, and in no time proved his worth as a very
capable adaptor and improver of old plays.
By March 1595, Shakespeare became a shareholder in the
acting company of the Lord Chamberlain’s men. He wrote most of his
plays for this company. After 1599 his plays were mostly performed at
the Globe Theatre. He wrote his sonnets probably between 1595 and
1600.
In 1596 he obtained a grant of arms. In 1597 he bought New
Place at Stratford. About 1610, he retired to Stratford, where he died
on April 23, 1616. His family is extinct.
Very little is definitely known about the life of William
Shakespeare, whose immortal literary work has a universal appeal.
He was born of John and Mary of Stratford-on-Avon in England
most probably on April 23, 1564. His father, a trader and farmer,
worked his way upwards hill, till he became the Mayor of Stratford in
1568, but later on, he fell on evil days.
Shakespeare was educated at King Edward VI’s Grammar
School at Stratford for six years. There he must have learnt a fair
amount of Latin, if little or no Greek. As a schoolboy, he displayed
good memory ; he was fond of field sports and was never a bookworm.
When Shakespeare was seven, his father invited a company
of players to Stratford. Thereafter a succession of theatrical
companies visited the town. These performances probably attracted
the boy, Shakespeare towards the stage.
In 1582 he married Anna Hathaway, and by 1585 he became
father of several children. By this time his father’s bankruptcy was
complete. There is a tradition that about this time he was severely
punished by Thomas Lucy for stealing a deer from his park ; in
revenge, Shakespeare composed a satirical ballad, fastened it to
Lucy’s gate and escaped to London.
There is a legend that he began his life in London by tending
visitors’ horses outside a playhouse. Then he joined the Earl of
Leicester’s company of actors as a call-boy. Soon he proved himself to
be a good all-round actor, and in no time proved his worth as a very
capable adaptor and improver of old plays.
By March 1595, Shakespeare became a shareholder in the
acting company of the Lord Chamberlain’s men. He wrote most of his
plays for this company. After 1599 his plays were mostly performed at
the Globe Theatre. He wrote his sonnets probably between 1595 and
1600.
In 1596 he obtained a grant of arms. In 1597 he bought New
Place at Stratford. About 1610, he retired to Stratford, where he died
on April 23, 1616. His family is extinct.
