Life And Times Of William Shakespeare

3 Pages 755 Words

William Shakespeare was a great English playwright, dramatist and poet who lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. No other writer's plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his. Shakespeare had a tremendous influence on culture and literature throughout the world. He contributed greatly to the development of the English language. Many words and phrases from Shakespeare's plays and poems have become part of our speech. Shakespeare's plays and poems have become a required part of education in the United States. Therefore, his ideas on subjects such as romantic love, heroism, comedy, and tragedy have helped shape the attitudes of millions of people.

Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford to middle class parents and was one of eight children. His father, John was a glove maker who owned a leather shop and was a well-known and respected man in the town who held several important local governmental positions. William Shakespeare's mother was Mary Arden. Though she was the daughter of a local farmer, she was related to a wealthy family. The Shakespeare's were well-respected prominent people. Though Shakespeare spent long hours at school, his boyhood was probably fascinating. He enjoyed attending pageants, large fairs and many popular shows. Stratford was an exciting place to live; it had fields and woods surrounding it, giving William the opportunity to hunt and trap small game. The River Avon, which ran through the town, allowed him to fish also. Shakespeare's' poems and plays show his love of nature and rural life which reflects his childhood. On November 28, 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway of the neighboring village of Shottery. She was twenty-six, and he was only eighteen at the time. They had three children; Susana was their first and then they had twins, Hamne...