William Shakespeare's Life

  • Apr 23, 1564

    The Bard's Entry

    The Bard's Entry
    William Shakespeare's birth.
  • Period: Apr 23, 1564 to

    William Shakespeare's Life

    William Shakespeare lived for this long.
  • 1571

    Education

    Shakespeare is thought to have most likely started formal education at this time. It is local tradition for children in the Stratford area to attend grammar school at seven years old.
  • 1575

    Queen Elizabeth

    Queen Elizabeth pays a visit to Kenilworth Castle. It is legend that eleven year old Shakespeare used the procession years later in his plays
  • Marraige

    Marraige
    Shakespeare got married at 18 years old to Anne Hathaway from Shottery, who was 8 years his senior, at Temple Grafton.
  • Susanna

    Susanna
    William and Anne Shakespeare's first child is born five months after they get married. Illegitimacy was very common in the 1500s.
  • Twins

    Twins
    Judith and Hamnet are born, Hamnet only living to 11 years old and Judith to 77 years old. Hamnet was Shakespeare's only son.
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    Career in Theatre

    It disbelieved that Shakespeare left his family in Stratford to join a group of actors as a playwright and performer. This launched his career in theatre.
  • Period: to

    "Henry VI Part One"

    Many academics believe that Shakespeare wrote "Henry VI Part One" in this time span.
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    "Henry VI Part Two" and "Henry VI Part III"

    Shakespeare is thought to have written "Henry VI Part Two" and Part III in this time span.
  • "Upstart Crow"

    "Upstart Crow"
    After Shakespeare started getting noticed in the London theatre Robert Greene's "Groatworth of Wit" famously called Shakespeare an upstart crow for his lack of originality.
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    "Venus and Adonis", "Richard III", "The Two Gentleman of Verona"

    The poem "Venus and Adonis" and the plays "Richard III" and "The Two Gentleman of Verona" were written from 1592 to 1593.
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    "The Comedy of Errors"

    "The Comedy of Errors" was written during the set of time.
  • 154 Sonnet Collection

    154 Sonnet Collection
    Shakespeare starts his 154 sonnet collection starting by publishing "Venus and Adonis" first.
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    "The Rape of Lucrece", "Titus Andronicus", and "The Taming of the Shrew"

    These plays are thought to ave been penned by Shakespeare at this time.
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    "Love Labour's Lost"

    Shakespeare writes "Love Labour's Lost" during this time.
  • Period: to

    "King John"

    "King John" is thought to have been written at this time.
  • Busy Year

    It is thought that Shakespeare composed "Richard II" and performed the same year, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", thought to be for a wedding and "Romeo and Juliet".
  • "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

    "The Merry Wives of Windsor"
    "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is penned during this period in time and history.
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    "The Merchant of Venice" and "Henry IV Part One"

    Both "The Merchant of Venice" and "Henry IV Part One" were composed in this time of the universes history.
  • "Henry IV Part Two"

    "Henry IV Part Two"
    It is proposed that Shakespeare composed "Henry IV Part Two" in this year. It is also confirmed Shakespeare's reputation as an actor.
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    "Much Ado About Nothing"

    Supposedly Shakespeare wrote "Much Ado About Nothing" thisYear.
  • Period: to

    "Hamlet"

    Shakespeare wrote his famous play "Hamlet" at this point.
  • "The Phoenix and the Turtle"

    "The Phoenix and the Turtle"
    Written in 1601.
  • "Measure for Measure"

    "Measure for Measure"
    This play is thought to have been written this year.
  • Period: to

    "Timon of Athens", "Pericles" and "Coriolanus"

    All of these plays are composed in this set of time.
  • Period: to

    "The Winter's Tale"

    "The Winter;s Tale" is composed this year.
  • The Bard's Exit

    Shakespeare dies this day.