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Shakespeare's Birth

Because Shakespeare was such a master in English literature, the things we know about him today is far more than any other English writers we know who lived during his period of time. It's true that there is no surviving painting of Shakespeare so we don't know exactly what he looked like. William Shakespeare was born into a leather merchant's family in Stratford-Upon-Avon on April 23rd, 1564. Here, the young William spent his childhood time, and later married an older woman named Anne Hathaway . Church records from Holy Trinity Church indicates that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564 with the consent of his parents: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. As appears by the register and Public Writings relating Warwickshire(the town in which he was born), his family had certain status and were mentioned as Gentlemen of that time. His father, John Shakespeare, who was a considerable dealer in wool, had a large family of ten children in total. Among which William had been his eldest son. Two of his siblings died at the date of their birth. Leaving seven more. One of them died young. In his life time, Shakespeare made a huge contribution to the literary world by writing a total of 37 types of play. Click here to find out about one of his most prominent works Romeo and Juliet!
This man lived a life of great excitement. It was from our assumption that concluded his death on April 23rd, 1616, as a result of alcoholism.

Did you know that Shakespeare was allegedly born and died on the same date of April?

Shakespeare's Marriage and Family Life

Shakespeare had the other side of him. Did you know that he had a shotgun marriage? Well, now you know. The bride was a woman called Anne Hathaway, She is believed as a belle at that period of time. Anne was the daughter of one Hathaway, said to have been a substantial Yeoman in the neighborhood of Stratford. At the time of their marriage, Shakespeare was 18, and Anne Hathaway was 26! Six months after their wedding ceremony, a daughter was born. Two year's later, in 1585, a pair of twins were born. In this kind of settlement he continued for some time,till he was caught stealing deer from Sir Thomas Lucy. That forced him both out of his country and the way of living which he had taken up. It was a misfortune to him, yet afterwards happily proved the occasion of exerting one of the greatest genius ever known in dramatic poetry. In 1610, Shakespeare returns to Stratford-upon-Avon from London an extremely wealthy man.

Shakespeare's Education

William Shakespeare's literary works made us wonder about his childhood education. It's a fact that we have no record of Shakespeare's early childhood activities. Although there are no surviving enrolment registers, there's a big chance that he might have attended the King's New School at Stratford, since William was the son of a public official. The standards at the Stratford grammar school seem to have been higher than average; existing records indicate that all the masters of the school during the time Shakespeare would have been attending held university degrees.

At age of four or five, Shakespeare probably started attending a proper grammar school, where he learned how to read and write. Attending from six or seven o'clock early in the morning until five or six o'clock late at night, six days a week! History is an evidence proving his diligence and hard working nature.

Shakespeare's Accomplishments

Shakespeare was a play writing genius. In 22 years, between 1590 -1612, Shakespeare wrote a total 37 types of play. One of the keys for his success was the addition of surprise ending to each of his plays. This element pleased his audience. Overall, his literary works can be classified into three groups: (romantic) comedy, historical, and tragedy. Here's the complete list of Shakespeare's works.

**NOTE: This site is mainly focused on the play Romeo and Juliet! Only the link to Romeo & Juliet , and A Midsummer Night's Dream works! Sorry about that.

Comedies Histories Tragedies

THE TEMPEST
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

AS YOU LIKE IT

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

TWELFTH NIGHT

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

THE WINTER'S TALE
KING JOHN
KING RICHARD II

1 KING HENRY IV

2 KING HENRY IV

KING HENRY V

1 KING HENRY VI

2 KING HENRY VI

3 KING HENRY VI

KING RICHARD III

KING HENRY VIII
CORIOLANUS
TITUS ANDRONICUS

ROMEO AND JULIET

TIMON OF ATHENS

JULIUS CAESAR

MACBETH

HAMLET

KING LEAR

OTHELLO

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

CYMBELINE

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA

True or False? Shakespeare's Birth
1.Shakespeare had a nickname called Wee Willie Winkie.
2.There is no surviving painting of Shakespeare so we don't know exactly what he looked like.
3.There are records indicating Shakespeare's birth on April 23rd, 1564.
4.Shakespeare was John and Mary's only child.
5.Shakespeare was actually a woman!
6.He was born in London, England.
7.Little William was baptized right after his birth.
8.His family had certain status and were mentioned as Gentlemen of that time.

Shakespeare's Marriage and Family Life
1.Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet for his wife Anne Hathaway.
2.Not only did Shakespeare marry an older woman, he had a shotgun marriage.
3.Shakespeare was charged with stealing a mammal.
4.Sir Tomas Lucy demanded death penalty for Shakespeare's theft.
5.Hamlet was named after Shakespeare's son Hamnet.
6.In 1610, Shakespeare returns to Stratford-upon-Avon from London a filthy man.

Shakespeare's Education
1.Shakespeare didn't go to any school in his early childhood.
2.Although his family couldn't support his school fees, he worked hard. Taught by himself, he learned how to read and write.
3.At age of four or five, Shakespeare probably started attending a proper grammar school.
4.He went to school six days a week at age of four or five.
5.Shakespeare went to London for education at an early age.
6.Existing records indicate that all the masters of the school during the time Shakespeare would have been attending held university degrees.