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William Shakespeare Research Paper

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While William married early, he still embraced life, writing 154 sonnets during his fifty two years; William was known for his many tragedies, romances and comedies; they are what made him famous around the world today. The compassionate William Shakespeare was born in “Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564” (Magill 1), his birthdate is unknown but is believed to have been on April 23, seeing he was “Christened on April 26, 1564” (Magill 1). Shakespeare was born during “the sixth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I” (Neagle 140). For the reason that Shakespeare “lived more than 400 years ago” (folger.edu), records of him are very difficult to find. Shakespeare was born into the family of John and Mary Shakespeare, he was “their oldest surviving child” …show more content…

The grammar school was like other schools, it “consisted of an intense emphasis on the Latin classics” (folger.edu) and it is believed that Shakespeare also took acting classes at the grammar school. When William left the grammar school it was believed he was about fifteen years old. Only a few years after leaving grammar school, William married Anne Hathaway who was twenty six and William was now eighteen, she was already expecting her first child upon marrying William but that “was a fairly common situation at the time” (folger.edu). Prior to marrying William, Anne grew up outside of Stratford in Shottery; however, after marrying William she moved to Stratford where she would spend the rest of her …show more content…

Shakespeare's “early years show him working in all categories” (Magill 1) but in his second period he decided to “try comedy of local middle-class people, but his heart was not in it” (Neagle 142) he had realized that “his favorite style was romantic comedy” (Neagle 142). During his second period of work, “he shows ease, power and maturity” (Neagle 142); also, most of his plays during this time period are “sunny and full of joyus poetry” (Neagle 142). Prior to 1601, Shakespeare started his third period which would last around eight years. During this time period “he probed the problem of evil in the world, he reached an almost desperate pessimism, even the comedies of this time are bitter” (Neagle 142). Upon reaching his fourth time period, William decided to use a new form, “it was the tragicomedy or dramatic romance; the tragicomedy is calm, sober and quiet lovely” (Neagle 143). For more than twenty years, “Shakespeare had multiple roles in the London theater as an actor, playwright and, in time, a business partner in a major acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (folger.edu). For the rest of his career Shakespeare “remained a member of this company” (shakespeareinamericancommunites.org). William often played “before the court of Queen Elizabeth I (shakespeareinamericancommunites.org). The year of 1595

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