Learn more about William Shakespeare’s background and study this Englishman’s influence on the English language.
Let’s Break the Ice…
William Shakespeare’s background is fascinating.
His influence on the English language is monumental, mind-blowing, amazing. He is said to have invented at least 1, 700 to 3, 000 English words!
I do not want to compromise the legacy of this champion , though it can be fashionable to do so nowadays.
Countless critics say he did not invent those words (much to my amazement!) but I have no intention of seeing my readership dwindle so I will just talk about the playwright’s birthplace and give you random and impartial facts that turned him into the majestic Shakespeare that you know today.
Well, why don’t we start the real article before I dishearten you with this gloomy gossip? Frankly speaking, Shakespeare was no bandit. It is actually worthless to dwell on this matter.
In my opinion, he was a generous writer who left us lovely expressions and an extensive vocabulary that we still use today.
You must have guessed that all the above words in bold were invented by this exceptional writer. Just imagine!
Let’s get back to serious business.
Step 1 (William Shakespeare’s Background): Who Was William Shakespeare?
We all know Shakespeare as a popular actor and playwright. He is actually considered to be the greatest dramatist of all time, thus rightfully earning his famous nickname as ‘The Bard of Avon’.
In his lifetime, he managed to write 38 successful plays that were performed before all strata of society. Both the upper and lower classes loved to watch his plays.
Shakespeare was also a poet and wrote narrative poems.
Below are some of his extraordinary works:
William Shakespeare’s Plays
- Two Gentlemen of Verona (1590-1591)
- Richard III (1592-1594)
- Romeo and Juliet (1594–96)
- The Merchant of Venice (1596-1597)
- Julius Caesar (1599–1600)
- Hamlet (1599–1601)
- King Lear (1605–06)
- Macbeth (1606–07)
- The Tempest (1611)
Step 2 (William Shakespeare’s Background): When and Where Was Shakespeare Born?
Shakespeare was born in an English market town called Stratford-upon-Avon. His date of birth is 23rd April, 1564. He is said to have been baptised on the 26th of April in the same year.
His father was a glove-maker. At some time during Shakespeare’s childhood, he also served as a major for his town.
Shakespeare’s family had the misfortune of becoming indebted after Mr Shakespeare failed to pay his taxes.
Later on, the young Shakespeare married a woman called Anne Hathaway. She was 8 years his senior and pregnant.The couple had 3 children (including twins).
Unfortunately, tragedy fell upon the family when they lost one of the twins whose name was Hamnet. He succumbed to the plague and he was only 11 years old. This boy’s death might have inspired Shakespeare to write the tragic Hamlet.
Step 3 (William Shakespeare’s Background): How Did He Start Acting and Writing His Plays?
The years before he started acting are not very well known. It is said that he worked as a school teacher and a horse attendant before his acting career began.
There are even wilder speculations pointing to what the young Shakespeare might have been up to during that time. These unknown and uncertain years are called the ‘Lost Years‘.
Apparently, he also never went to university and this why some scholars argue that a man of such an education background would have had the ability to write plays of such emotional and intellectual depth.
Shakespeare certainly went to grammar school where he studied Latin. HE is also said to have been a polyglot, managing the feat of speaking 5 other languages. These were English, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian.
All that extensive reading might have given him the skills to write the plays that we still enjoy today.
Most importantly, his first steps onto the acting stage are said to have been with a travelling acting group. He might have joined them in Stratford-upon-Avon and travelled with them to London. That is where his acting career really took off.
Step 4 (William Shakespeare’s Background): What Was His Acting and Writing Career Like?
While in London, Shakespeare created a theatre group named the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. This group would later evolve into the ‘King’s Men’ when King James I became their patron.
Shakespeare also built the Globe Theatre with the help of other 5 shareholders. This is where performances were done. He is said to have been a successful businessman.
Unfortunately, disaster fell upon the theatre when it got burnt on the 29th of June, 1613. This forced Shakespeare into early retirement. It is said that he never wrote any plays after that fateful fire.
Prior to that, he pulled off the feat of writing at least 2 plays every year and performing them before diverse audiences, including Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.
He achieved all this thanks to his amazing skills in assessing the human condition. Hence, his plays are both universal and timeless. He was also a successful writer and dramatist because he played with the English language. He created vivid and flowery imagery and, as earlier noted, most his invented words and expressions have survived to date.
Step 5 (William Shakespeare’s Background): What Is His Legacy?
Shakespeare died on his birthday: 23rd April 1616. However, he left such a monumental legacy that is worth describing.
I first encountered Shakespeare at school while our class read Macbeth. It was one of the best English classes we have ever had. We always looked forward to find out out what would be the couple’s fate as the plot unfolded.
Surely, school is also where you met William Shakespeare’s work, if I am not mistaken.
Today, Shakespeare’s plays are taught across the globe (pun intended). His works have been translated into at least 80 languages and there are countless films that have been produced using his plays.
Shakespeare’s plays have also influenced pop culture and we all know who a Romeo is: someone who is madly in love and is ready to die for passion. We do not have to be Englishmen or Englishwomen to understand this.
Thankfully, The Globe Theatre was rebuilt and reopened as the the Shakespeare’s Globe in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Therefore, Londoners can enjoy watching Shakespeare’s plays as their counterparts did many centuries ago. How lucky they are!
Futher Exploration: Shakespeare’s Background
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