1540 - 1608:
Mary Arden
- the Mother of William Shakespeare
What was her background? Who were the
Ardens?
1557:
Parents of William Shakespeare -
Marriage of John Shakepeare and
Elizabeth Arden When? Did their
families approve? The Wedding? Their
home in Stratford-upon-Avon
1557:
What was the religion of the
Shakespeare Family? Protestant
or Catholic? What were the
differences? Why did the religions
of people frequently change? Danger?
1564:
When & Where was William Shakespeare
born?
Where was he baptised? Why is there
confusion regarding his date of
birth?
1558 - 1580:
How many Brothers and Sisters did
William Shakespeare have?
When were they born? What were their
names? How many died during
childhood?
1571 - 1578:
The Education of William Shakespeare
- What type of Education did he
have?
When and what school did he attend?
What lessons? What Punishments?
University?
1578 - 1592:
William Shakespeare - The Lost Years
What are the ' Lost Years '? What
did he do after he left school? What
was his occupation? Why did he leave
Stratford-upon-Avon?
1582: What mysteries surround
the
Marriage of William Shakespeare to
Anne Hathaway?
Differences in ages? Scandal -
pregnant before marrying! What was
the wedding like?
1583 - 1585: Who were the
Children of William Shakespeare?
When were they born? Their names?
Did they get married? When did they
die? Scandals? Grandchildren?
1592:
William Shakespeare the Actor
Why did Will seek work as an actor
in London? The reputation of actors?
Playhouses? The Theatres? Life for
an actor?
1592:
William Shakespeare the ' Upstart
Crow ' Why was Will called an
Upstart Crow? Who was Robert Greene
and what was the 'Groatsworth of
Wit'?
1592:
William Shakespeare the Playwright
When did Will start to write plays?
What was his first play? Did he act
in his plays? Why was a Playwright a
dangerous occupation?
1591 - 1601:
William Shakespeare Poems What
Poems did he write? When? Why did Wm
publish his poems and not the plays?
Read the poems of the great Bard of
Stratford!
1593 - 1597:
William Shakespeare Sonnets
What is a sonnet? How many sonnets
did he write? What were the themes?
Dedications? Payments? What are the
most popular sonnets?
1592 - 1613:
Publication of William Shakespeare
Plays Why didn't he publish any
of his plays? Dates of
Publications? Who claimed
authorship? Payment?
1592 - 1613:
Performances of William Shakespeare
Plays Where & when were the
performances? How did Actors learn
their lines? Did women perform? Did
other people steal his plays?
1592 - 1610:
William Shakespeare in London
Where did he live in London? What
was London like?
What was his life like? Who were his
friends? How often did he see his
family?
1592 - 1610:
Friends and Contempories of William
Shakespeare Who were his
friends? Who were his
contemporaries? His rivals? Where
did they meet? What was the 'Friday
Club'?
1577 - 1665:
Bubonic Plague and Shakespeare
How did the Bubonic Plague affect
his life? When were the London
outbreaks ? How many died? Family
deaths? Theatre closures?
1594:
Shakespeare and the Chamberlain's
men and King's men When did Will
Shakespere act with the
Chamberlain's men and King's men?
Where did they perform?
1596:
Shakespeare Coat-of-Arms What
did the family Coat of Arms look
like? When was this authorised? What
did this mean to the family?
1596:
Public plays banned in City of
London Why were the theatres
banned from the city of London? Who
banned the plays? Where did the
Theatres and actors move to?
1596:
Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon
Prosperity! Fame! How did he earn
his money? How much did he purchase
New Place for? What was New Place
like? Servants?
1597 - 1598:
Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre
How was he involved with the
building of the First Globe Theatre?
Where was the Globe situated? What
was it like? Architecture, Layout?
1601:
William Shakespeare and Elizabethan
Politics Was the Stratford Bard
involved in Politics? Were actors
and playwrights involved in
Politics? The Essex Rebellion?
1608:
Shakespeare and the Blackfriars
Theatre The King's Men buy the
Blackfriars Theatre
Why buy a Playhouse? Audiences?
Performances?
1613:
Globe Theatre Fire Fire at the
Globe Theatre! What play was being
performed? How did the Globe Theatre
fire start? What was the damage?
1610 - 1616:
William Shakespeare and
Stratford-upon-Avon Why did he
retire ?
What did he do in
Stratford-upon-Avon? Did he write
any other plays? Family Scandals?
1616:
William Shakespeare Last Will and
Testament When did the Bard make
his will? Who were the
beneficiaries? His manuscripts? His
'Second best bed'?
1616:
The Death of William Shakespeare
What words are on his tombstone?
Where was he buried? Monuments to
Shakespeare?
We highly recommend
The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare for information and
the text of his plays
together with additional pictures
William Shakespeare Biography -
More Important Facts & Information
Shakespeare Quotes from every
play
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