Shakespeare in London
William Shakespeare, who arrived in London at a time of a threat of war with Spain, gave Londoners a diversion with his plays and poetry. Shakespeare was formally educated. Shakespeare was brought up in a hard-working family. Shakespeare moved to London and contributed to literature immediately.
Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, was a trader and an owner of property who held a civic office in Stratford (Ludowyk 5). John Shakespeare was a person not of gentle birth, which taught him to be a hard-worker (Ludowyk 5). John was married to Mary Arden. Mary had come from a wealthy and gentle family, unlike John (Ludowyk 6). This made the Shakespeare's raise their children such as Mary was raised. There were eight children born to John and Mary Shakespeare (Ludowyk 6).
One of the children who was born to John and Mary was William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in Stratford, England (Lee 8). The exact date of Shakespeare's birth is not known, but he was given an official birth date of April 23, 1564. That date was also Saint George's Day in the Catholic religion. April 23 is an appropriate birthday for Shakespeare because Saint George is the Saint of England and Shakespeare would soon turn into England's greatest dramatic poet. He was baptized on April 26 at the parish church at Stratford on Avon (Ludowyk 3).
William Shakespeare was not an unlearned and uneducated genius (Ludowyk 7). At this time in history, at the age of seven a boy would go to grammar school whether he was or was not educated in reading and writing. In the time of Shakespeare, grammar meant Latin grammar. Grammar was educated by the Lily's textbook, which was not only used in England but throughout the nation (Rowse 35). The plays Terence and perhaps Plautus were shown to Shakespeare and his class in the lower school (Rowse 37). These two plays may have been what inspired his first comedies. On the other hand the upper school taught logic and rhetoric (Rowse 39). Rhetoric taught Shakespeare different styles of writing (Rowse 39).
History, as well, was taught to Shakespeare in school. History was read for moralizing purposes only. Sallust and Caesar were normally educated throughout various schools. Shakespeare knew Livy's story about Caesar and about Lucrece.
“William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564” (Fandel 8) in the small English town known as Stratford-upon-Avon. William
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on Avon, England, in April of 1564 to Mary and John Shakespeare. He was the third child and the eldest son. His father was a tanner, glove-maker, and trader in wool and other precious commodities. William attended the Stratford Grammar school where he studied and received substantial training in Latin. He was married on November 27, 1582, to a woman named Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than he was. In May of 1583, the couple's first daughter, Susanna was born. The couple had twins in February of 1585, Hamnet and Judith. Throughout his life, Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays, and several poems and sonnets. He was also an actor for a short while. Several of Shakespears plays were performed at the famous Globe Theater in England. On April 23, 1616 Shakespeare died, he was buried at the church of Stratford on April 25, 1616.
“William Shakespeare, the third of eight children and the first boy, was born in 1564 and baptized on 26 April in Holy Trinity Church” (Alexander 12). He was born and raised in the countryside known as Stratford, England and it is also where he was later buried when he died (Cousins 18).
When education is concerned, no one truly knew whether or not Shakespeare wrote his plays. According to the article “The Education of William Shakespeare”, “William Shakespeare would have attended King Edwards VI Grammar school in Stratford-Upon-Avon.” ("The Education Of William Shakespeare” sec. 1). On the contrary, an article written by Dutch Steven states, “Shakespeare was not educated enough and Stratford- Upon-Avon was too backward of a place to have produced a play write of such caliber.” (Dutch, Steven para. 1). Needless to say, the true education of William Shakespeare cannot be determined because the evidence proving his schooling contradicts itself. If the true records of Shakespeare’s education were found, would it prove he wrote the plays? Why are the records of his education scrambled and inconclusive? This leads readers to believe different stories that may or may not be valid. Therefore, there is not solid evidence that Shakespeare had a strong enough education to author such elaborate plays. To conclude, there is not solid evidence that Shakespeare authored the plays.
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford upon Avon. His true date of birth is a mystery. It is traditionally celebrated on April 23rd("Shakespeare's" pg 1). He was baptized on April 26th("Shakespeare's" pg 1). Which lead many to believe his birth was only a short time before. Plague struck his town in the same year as his birth. His parents were quite the people.
According to the William Shakespeare Biography website, it all began in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, April 26th, 1564, which is said to be the time and place where William Shakespeare was baptized. Although he was baptized on April 26, his assigned birth date was April 23, 1564. His father, John Shakespeare, was a leather merchant and his mother Mary Arden, was an heiress of local land. He had two older sisters named Joan and Judith. William was the third child of Mary and John and had three younger brothers as well: Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund. Referring back to William Shakespeare Biography, “Scant records exist of William's childhood, and virtually none regarding his education.” Like the website mentioned, there are not many records of Shakespeare's childhood or education, but there are some speculations that he attended The King's New school. This school taught reading, writing, and the classics, which would make William more than qualified to attend this school judging from his plays and sonnets.
In the article ‘Why Shakespeare is Still Relevant’, Joseph Pearce demonstrates how even though he is over 400 years old, Shakespeare is still pertinent in today’s society and furthering of education. Students should continue to study Shakespeare in classrooms today; ultimately, creating an overall increase in their intelligence and success. An intelligence Shakespeare can expand through the use of the multitude of words he has invented and “since we think with words, we think more clearly if we have more words with which to think”. Through his use of new words, students can communicate and discuss more effectively, creating a higher possibility of learning. In addition to expanding students vocabulary, Shakespeare’s work also delves into the
Shakespeare is believed to have been born on April 23, 1564 and baptized three days later on April 26, 1564 at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. He started school at the age of five and there William Shakespeare learned how to read and write. By the age of eight he was enrolled at the Stratford's Grammar School where he was taught by well paid Oxford men. Shakespeare learned Latin text, that fired his imagination, and Greek from the Greek New Testament.
As a young boy Shakespeare most likely would have attended the Stratford Grammar School, which was established by the church in the thirteenth century (Greenblatt 43). The School was, in Shakespeare's day, under the care of the governing body of Stratford-upon Avon and it was likely that because of Shakespeare's father's elected position he would have been educated there. During Shakespeare's years at the school he would have been taught by possibly three headmasters who durin...
William’s father, John Shakespeare married Mary Arden in the year 1557. “John and Mary Shakespeare’s first two children, Joan and Margaret, died as babies. Such early death was not unusual because there was no protection against childhood illnesses . It is remarkable that their next child, William, survived” (Greenhill and Wignall 5). It is estimated that William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. William was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. Stratford-upon-Avon is a famous tourist attraction today. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Stratford every year to view William’s birthplace, death place, and grave. “William was born when the plague was raging in Stratford. That year nearly fifteen percent of the town’s population died of the killer disease” (Greenhill and Wignall 5). When William was about six he was sent to the King’s New School. The King’s New School was a grammar school. “The school day in the 1500s was long and hard” (Greenhill and Wignall 5). School began as early as six in the morning and ended at five in the afternoon. There were eight hours of teaching in a day and the school day began and ended with prayers. “Schoolwork at the g...
William Shakespeare was a writer who became famous for his plays. It was thus that his works were great entertainment for the Kingdom. Shakespeare was number 3 of 8 children and was also educated at one of the free schools in England. He studied Grammar, Arts and Sciences, his studies were so much difficult at his young age because he was forced to work with his father in the kingdom. And it was there that he met a woman named Ann who was 26 years of age who later became pregnant, and for that reason because of the moral question, she was forced at age 18 to get married after they announced her pregnancy.
Shakespeare is well-known throughout the world today, as it is taught to teenagers in their high school years. The relevance of Shakespeare’s play in today’s day and age is up for great debate as to whether or not it should be taught at all. Many believe that it is a necessity to English class and the overall English language, while other believe it to be a waste of time and energy considering how difficult it is to understand. Shakespeare is no longer relevant in twenty-first century classrooms; therefore, it should not be a requirement in English classrooms. Many English teachers are told that they must teach their students Shakespeare without their opinion on the subject, even though they come to know the children in their classrooms and
It is hard to say exactly where Shakespeare received his religious education. “Apart from the assumption that he attended Stratford Grammar School as a young boy, nothing is known of his education or of his occupation before he appears on the London literary scene in his late twenties” (Asquith 27). Growing up during the Reformation, it is certain that Shakespeare received religious education in school. But critics believe that his literary works show a vast amount of knowledge that far exceeds what would be taught in school. In Shakespeare’s contemporary society, bible study in school was required and Church attendance was mandatory.
“William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was and English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist” (vodppl.upm.edu 2). He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, he also passed away in his hometown. “When Shakespeare died in 1616 the event was barely noticed” (Epstein 7). “Shakespeare’s family was initially prosperous but began having financial difficulties in the 1570’s” (Allen 325). “Shakespeare gained his education by attending the local grammar school, King’s New School, where the curriculum stressed a classic education of Greek mythology and roman comedy”(shakespeareinamericancomunites.org 1). He never carried his educational career to a higher level as in a university. “William Shakespeare was not recognized as an actor, poet, and playwright until 1592” (Allen 346).
Shakespeare’s childhood impacted him greatly into becoming who he was. Shakespeare’s childhood was neither exceptional nor dreadful; therefore, he had an uneventful childhood. William Shakespeare was evidently born on April 23, 1564, which is commonly known as St. George’s Day. The records from Holy Trinity Church attested that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564 (Pressley). Traditionally in the Elizabethan era, three days after birth of a child it would be baptized. This led many people to believe that Shakespeare was born on the 23 of April due to his baptism date. Shakespeare was born to Mary Arden and John Shakespeare in the quaint yet wealthy town of Stratford. His father was a glove maker, and Mary was from a higher social class; she was a daughter of a landowner (“Shakespeare, William.” 197-207). Shakespeare’s parents were well respected in the town, even though the family was not royalty. Shakespeare’s home in Stratford was no...