The exact date of the birth of the future talented writer has not been preserved. He is believed to have been born at Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564. It is known for certain that on April 26 he was baptized in a local church. He spent his childhood in a wealthy family with many children, he was the third child among seven brothers and sisters.
youthful time
Researchers of Shakespeare's life and work suggest that he received his education first at the Stratford Grammar School, and then continued his studies at the school of King Edward the Sixth. At the age of eighteen, he starts a family. His chosen one is a pregnant girl named Ann. There were three children in the writer's family.
Life in London
At the age of 20, Shakespeare leaves his native city and moves to London. There, his life is not easy: in order to earn money, he is forced to agree to any work in the theater. He is then trusted to play small roles. In 1603, his plays appear on the stage of the theater and Shakespeare becomes a co-owner of a troupe called "The King's Servants". Later theater receives the name "Globe", moves to a new building. The financial condition of William Shakespeare is getting much better.
Literary activity
The writer's first book was published in 1594. She brought him success, money and recognition. Despite this, the writer continues to work in the theater.
Shakespeare's literary work can be roughly divided into four periods.
On early stage he writes comedies and poems. At this time, he wrote such works as "Two Veronians", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Comedy of Errors".
Later appear romantic works: "Dream in midsummer night", "The Merchant of Venice".
The most profound philosophical books appear in the third period of his work. It was during these years that Shakespeare created the plays Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear.
The last works of the master are characterized by a refined style and elegant poetic skill. "Antony and Cleopatra", "Coriolanus" are the pinnacle of poetic art.
Critics' score
An interesting fact is the assessment of the works of William Shakespeare by critics. So Bernard Shaw considered Shakespeare an outdated writer compared to Ibsen. Leo Tolstoy repeatedly expressed doubts about Shakespeare's dramatic talent. And yet, the talent and genius of the great classic is an indisputable fact. As said famous poet T. S. Eliot: "Shakespeare's plays will always be modern."
Within the framework of a brief biography of Shakespeare, it is impossible to tell in detail about the life of the writer and analyze his works. In order to assess personality and creative heritage, it is necessary to read the works and get acquainted with the works of literary critics about the life and work of William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare's life is little known, he shares the fate of the vast majority of other English playwrights of the era, whose personal life was little interested in contemporaries. Exist different views on the personality and biography of Shakespeare. The main scientific trend supported by most researchers is the biographical tradition that has developed over several centuries, according to which William Shakespeare was born in the city of Stratford-upon-Avon in a wealthy but not noble family and was a member of the acting troupe of Richard Burbage. This direction of Shakespeare's study is called "Stratfordianism".
There is also an opposite point of view, the so-called "anti-Stratfordianism" or "non-Stratfordianism", whose supporters deny the authorship of Shakespeare (Shakspere) from Stratford and believe that "William Shakespeare" is a pseudonym under which another person or group of persons was hiding. Doubts about the correctness of the traditional point of view have been known since the 18th century. However, among non-Stratfordians there is no unity as to who exactly was the real author Shakespearean works. The number of probable candidates proposed by various researchers currently amounts to several dozen.
Traditional views ("Stratfordianism")
William Shakespeare was born in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon (Warwickshire) in 1564, according to legend, on April 23. His father, John Shakespeare, was a wealthy artisan (glove maker) and usurer, often elected to various public positions, once elected mayor of the city. He did not attend church services, for which he paid large fines (it is possible that he was a secret Catholic). His mother, née Arden, belonged to one of the oldest English surnames. It is believed that Shakespeare studied at the Stratford “grammar school” (English “grammar school”), where he received a serious education: the Stratford teacher of Latin and literature wrote poetry in Latin. Some scholars claim that Shakespeare attended King Edward VI's school in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he studied the work of poets such as Ovid and Plautus, but the school journals have not survived, and now nothing can be said for sure.
The reconstructed Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's troupe worked
Criticism of traditional views ("Non-Stratfordianism")
Now known autographs of Shakespeare from Stratford
The "non-Stratfordian" line of research casts doubt on the possibility of Shakespeare writing a "Shakespearean canon" from Stratford.
For clarity of terminology, non-Stratfordians strictly distinguish between "Shakespeare", the author of Shakespeare's works, and "Shakspere", a resident of Stratford, trying to prove, in contrast to the Stratfordians, that these personalities are not identical.
Proponents of this theory believe that the facts known about Shakspere are in conflict with the content and style of Shakespeare's plays and poems. Numerous theories have been put forward by non-Stratfordians as to their true authorship. In particular, as candidates for the authorship of Shakespeare's plays, non-Stratfordians name Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlo, Roger Manners (Earl of Rutland), Queen Elizabeth and others (respectively, "Baconian", "Rutlandian", etc. hypotheses).
Non-Stratfordian Arguments
Non-Stratfordians are based, among other things, on the following circumstances:
Representatives of non-Stratfordianism
In 2003, Shakespeare was published. secret history»authors who acted under the pseudonym «O. Cosminius" and "O. Melechtius". The authors conduct a detailed investigation, speaking of the Great Mystification, which (allegedly) resulted not only in the personality of Shakespeare, but also in many others. famous figures era.
In Igor Frolov's book "Shakespeare's Equation, or "Hamlet", which we have not read", based on the text of the first editions of "Hamlet" ( , , gg.), A hypothesis was put forward about which historical figures hiding behind the masks of Shakespeare's heroes.
Dramaturgy
English drama and theater in the time of William Shakespeare
English playwrights, predecessors and contemporaries of William Shakespeare
Main article: Theatrical technique in the era of William Shakespeare
The question of periodization
Researchers of Shakespeare's work (Danish literary critic G. Brandes, publisher of Russian complete collection Shakespeare's works by S. A. Vengerov) in late XIX- at the beginning of the 20th century, based on the chronology of the works, they presented his spiritual evolution from a “cheerful mood”, faith in the triumph of justice, humanistic ideals at the beginning of the path to disappointment and the destruction of all illusions at the end. However, in last years there was an opinion that the conclusion about the personality of the author on his works is a mistake.
In 1930, the Shakespeare scholar E.K. Chambers proposed a chronology of Shakespeare's work by genre, later it was corrected by J. McManway. There were four periods: the first (1590-1594) - early: chronicles, Renaissance comedies, "tragedy of horror" ("Titus Andronicus"), two poems; the second (1594-1600) - Renaissance comedies, the first mature tragedy ("Romeo and Juliet"), chronicles with elements of tragedy, chronicles with elements of comedy, ancient tragedy ("Julius Caesar"), sonnets; third (1601-1608) - great tragedies, ancient tragedies, "dark comedies"; fourth (1609-1613) - fairy tale dramas with a tragic beginning and happy ending. Some of the Shakespeare scholars, including A. A. Smirnov, combined the first and second periods into one early one.
First period (1590-1594)
The first period is approximately 1590-1594 years.
By literary devices it can be called a period of imitation: Shakespeare is still completely at the mercy of his predecessors. By mood this period was defined by supporters of the biographical approach to the study of Shakespeare's work as a period of idealistic faith in the best sides life: “The young Shakespeare enthusiastically punishes vice in his historical tragedies and enthusiastically sings of high and poetic feelings - friendship, self-sacrifice, and especially love” (Vengerov).
Probably Shakespeare's first plays were the three parts of Henry VI. Source for this and subsequent historical chronicles Holinshed's "Chronicles" served. The theme that unites all Shakespearean chronicles is the change in a series of weak and incapable rulers who led the country to civil strife and civil war and the restoration of order with the accession of the Tudor dynasty. Like Marlowe in Edward II, Shakespeare does not simply describe historical events, but explores the motives behind the actions of the characters.
S. A. Vengerov saw the transition to the second period “in absence toy poetry of youth, which is so characteristic of the first period. The heroes are still young, but they have already lived a decent life and the main thing for them in life is pleasure. The portion is piquant, lively, but already the gentle charms of the girls of the Two Veronians, and even more so Juliet, are not in it at all.
At the same time, Shakespeare creates an immortal and interesting type, who still had no analogues in world literature - Sir John Falstaff. The success of both parts Henry IV» not in last turn and the merit of this brightest actor chronicle, which immediately became popular. The character is undoubtedly negative, but with a complex character. A materialist, an egoist, a man without ideals: honor is nothing for him, an observant and insightful skeptic. He denies honors, power and wealth: he needs money only as a means of obtaining food, wine and women. But the essence of the comic, the grain of the image of Falstaff is not only his wit, but also a cheerful laugh at himself and the world around him. His power is in knowledge human nature, everything that binds a person is disgusting to him, he is the personification of freedom of the spirit and unscrupulousness. A man of the passing era, he is not needed where the state is powerful. Realizing that such a character is out of place in a drama about an ideal ruler, in " Henry V Shakespeare removes it: the audience is simply informed of Falstaff's death. According to tradition, it is believed that at the request of Queen Elizabeth, who wanted to see Falstaff on stage again, Shakespeare resurrected him in " The Merry Wives of Windsor» . But this is only a pale copy of the former Falstaff. He lost his knowledge of the world around him, there is no more healthy irony, laughter at himself. Only a self-satisfied rogue remained.
Much more successful is the attempt to return to the Falstaff type in the final play of the second period - "Twelfth Night". Here, in the person of Sir Toby and his entourage, we have, as it were, a second edition of Sir John, although without his sparkling wit, but with the same infectious good-natured chivalry. It also perfectly fits into the framework of the “Falstaffian” period, for the most part, a rude mockery of women in "The Taming of the Shrew".
Third period (1600-1609)
The third period of artistic activity, approximately covering 1600-1609 years, supporters of the subjectivist biographical approach to Shakespeare’s work call the period of “deep spiritual darkness”, considering the appearance of the melancholic character Jacques in comedy as a sign of a changed worldview "As You Like It" and calling him almost the predecessor of Hamlet. However, some researchers believe that Shakespeare, in the image of Jacques, only ridiculed melancholy, and the period of alleged disappointments in life (according to the supporters of the biographical method) is not actually confirmed by the facts of Shakespeare's biography. The time of creation by the playwright greatest tragedies coincides with the flowering of his creative powers, the solution of material difficulties and the achievement of a high position in society.
Around 1600 Shakespeare creates "Hamlet", according to many critics, is his deepest work. Shakespeare kept the plot famous tragedy revenge, but shifted all attention to spiritual discord, inner drama Main character. A new type of hero has been introduced into the traditional revenge drama. Shakespeare was ahead of his time - Hamlet is not familiar tragic hero carrying out vengeance for the sake of Divine justice. Coming to the conclusion that it is impossible to restore harmony with one blow, he experiences the tragedy of alienation from the world and dooms himself to loneliness. According to the definition of L. E. Pinsky, Hamlet is the first "reflective" hero of world literature.
Cordelia. Painting by William F. Yemens (1888)
The heroes of Shakespeare's "great tragedies" are outstanding people in whom good and evil are mixed. Faced with the disharmony of the world around them, they make a difficult choice - how to exist in it, they create their own destiny and bear full responsibility for it.
At the same time, Shakespeare creates drama. Despite the fact that in the First Folio of 1623 it is classified as a comedy, there is almost no comic in this serious work about an unjust judge. Its name refers to the teaching of Christ about mercy, in the course of action one of the heroes is in mortal danger, and the ending can be considered conditionally happy. This problematic work does not fit into a specific genre, but exists on the verge of genres: going back to morality, it is directed towards tragicomedy.
- Sonnets dedicated to a friend: 1
-126
- Chanting a friend: 1 -26
- Friendship Trials: 27
-99
- The bitterness of separation: 27 -32
- First disappointment in a friend: 33 -42
- Longing and fears: 43 -55
- Growing alienation and melancholy: 56 -75
- Rivalry and jealousy towards other poets: 76 -96
- "Winter" of separation: 97 -99
- A celebration of renewed friendship: 100 -126
- Sonnets dedicated to a swarthy lover: 127 -152
- Conclusion - the joy and beauty of love: 153 -154
Dating issues
First publications
It is estimated that half (18) of Shakespeare's plays were published in one way or another during the playwright's lifetime. The folio of 1623 (the so-called "First Folio"), published by Shakespeare's troupe actors John Heming and Henry Condel, is considered to be the most important publication of Shakespeare's legacy. This edition includes 36 Shakespeare's plays - all except "Pericles" and "Two Noble Kinsmen". It is this edition that underlies all research in the field of Shakespeare.
Authorship issues
Plays commonly considered Shakespearean
- The Comedy of Errors (g. - first edition, - probable year of first production)
- Titus Andronicus (g. - first edition, authorship is debatable)
- Romeo and Juliet
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Merchant of Venice ( r. - first edition, - probable year of writing)
- King Richard III (r. - first edition)
- Measure for Measure (g. - first edition, December 26 - first production)
- King John (r. - first edition of the original text)
- Henry VI (r. - first edition)
- Henry IV (r. - first edition)
- Love's Labour's Lost (g. - first edition)
- As You Like It (writing - - gg., d. - first edition)
- Twelfth Night (writing - not later, d. - first edition)
- Julius Caesar (writing -, g. - first edition)
- Henry V (r. - first edition)
- Much Ado About Nothing (r. - first edition)
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (g. - first edition)
- Hamlet, Prince of Denmark ( r. - first edition, r. - second edition)
- All's well that ends well (writing - - gg., g. - first edition)
- Othello (creation - no later than the year, first edition - year)
- King Lear (December 26
- Macbeth (creation - c., first edition - c.)
- Anthony and Cleopatra (creation - d., first edition - d.)
- Coriolanus ( r. - year of writing)
- Pericles (g. - first edition)
- Troilus and Cressida ( d. - first publication)
- Tempest (November 1 - first production, city - first edition)
- Cymbeline (writing - g., g. - first edition)
- Winter's Tale (g. - the only surviving edition)
- The Taming of the Shrew ( d. - first publication)
- Two Veronians ( d. - first publication)
- Henry VIII ( r. - first publication)
- Timon of Athens ( d. - first publication)
Apocrypha and lost works
Main article: Apocrypha and Lost Works of William Shakespeare
Love's Efforts Rewarded (1598)
Literary criticism of the works of the Shakespeare Corpus
Russian writer Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy in his critical essay "On Shakespeare and Drama" based on a detailed analysis of some of the most popular works Shakespeare, in particular: "King Lear", "Othello", "Falstaff", "Hamlet" and others - sharply criticized Shakespeare's abilities as a playwright.
Musical Theatre
- - "Otello" (opera), composer G. Rossini
- - "Capulets and Montagues" (opera), composer V. Bellini
- - "The Prohibition of Love, or the Novice from Palermo" (opera), composer R. Wagner
- - "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (opera), composer O. Nikolai
- - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (opera), composer A. Toma
- - "Beatrice and Benedict" (opera), composer G. Berlioz
- - "Romeo and Juliet" (opera), composer Ch. Gounod
- A. Thomas
- - "Otello" (opera), composer G. Verdi
- - "The Tempest" (ballet), composer A. Toma
- - "Falstaff" (opera), composer G. Verdi
- - "Sir John in Love" (opera), composer R. Vaughan Williams
- - "Romeo and Juliet" (ballet), composer S. Prokofiev
- - The Taming of the Shrew (opera), composer V. Shebalin
- - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (opera), composer B. Britten
- - "Hamlet" (opera), composer A. D. Machavariani
- - "Hamlet" (opera), composer S. Slonimsky
- - "King Lear" (opera), composer S. Slonimsky
- A crater on Mercury is named after Shakespeare.
- Shakespeare (according to the Stratfordian position) and Cervantes both died in 1616
- Shakespeare's last direct descendant from Stratford was his granddaughter Elizabeth (b. 1608), daughter of Susan Shakespeare and Dr. John Hall. Three sons of Judith Shakespeare (married Queenie) died young without issue.
Notes
Bibliography
- Anikst A. A.. Shakespeare theater. M.: Art, . - 328°C. 2nd ed.: M., Drofa Publishing House, . - 287 p. - ISBN 5-358-01292-3
- Anikst A. Shakespeare: The Dramatist's Craft. M .: Soviet writer, . - 607 p.
- Anikst A. Shakespeare. M.: Mol. guard, . - 367 p. ("Life of Remarkable People")
- Anikst A. Shakespeare's work. - M .: Goslitizdat, . - 615 p.
William Shakespeare is one of the world's greatest playwrights. Plays, sonnets, poems have survived to this day English classic. There is a version that not all the works created by this legendary figure are known to mankind. In addition, there are many white spots in the biography of the playwright. In today's article will go about the early years of the poet. Let's also talk about the city where Shakespeare was born.
Family
William Shakespeare was born in 1564. The exact date of his birth is unknown. According to some researchers, this is April 23rd. By the way, it was on this day, in 1616, that the great playwright passed away. The poet's father was a craftsman, while most During his lifetime, he held important public positions. For example, for several years he was an alderman, that is, a member of the municipal council in the city where Shakespeare was born. The father of the future playwright did not attend church, for which, according to the laws of that time, he was forced to pay impressive fines.
William's mother belonged to an old Saxon family. There were eight children in total in the family. William was born third.
Education
In the village where Shakespeare was born, there were two schools in the 16th century. The first is grammar. Pupils in this institution acquired good knowledge Latin. The second is the school of King Edward VI. The opinions of historians about which of them the playwright graduated from are divided. school magazines and no documents have survived. And therefore, unfortunately, there is no exact information regarding the education of Shakespeare.
What else is known about the great playwright?
Information about where Shakespeare was born and where he passed early years, can be considered reliable. As for more late period in his biography, then there are only assumptions. However, there is information about the poet's wife and children. Shakespeare married in 1582. His chosen one was eight years older. Soon they had a daughter, who was named Susan. Three years later, twins were born, one of whom died at the age of eleven.
Attempts by researchers to find out what happened in the 80s in the creative life of Shakespeare did not bear any fruit. They called this period "the lost years". One of the researchers believed that the playwright just then left the city where he was born.
Shakespeare was forced to leave in order to escape the persecution of the representatives of the law. Perhaps he wrote some obscene ballads, as a result of which he acquired well-wishers. There are other versions regarding the events that took place during this period in the life of the future playwright (he had not yet written his great works). One way or another, Shakespeare left the city where he was born in the late eighties of the 16th century.
The time has come to name the settlement, which is invariably mentioned in the playwright's biography. Where was William Shakespeare born? What is this city? Why is he remarkable?
Poet's hometown
Where was Shakespeare born? Anyone can name a country. The famous playwright, whose works have been staged by theater directors around the world for several centuries, was born in the UK. William Shakespeare's hometown is Stratford-upon-Avon. It is located in Warwickshire.
Stratford-upon-Avon is located thirteen kilometers from Warwick and thirty-five from Birmingham. Today, just over twenty thousand people live in this city. In Shakespeare's time, about fifteen hundred. The city is known, of course, primarily thanks to William Shakespeare.
Stratford-upon-Avon was founded at the end of the 19th century. Its name has Old English roots. In 1196 English king granted the city permission to hold weekly fairs. And soon Stratford became a trading center.
In Shakespeare's time, one of the prominent public figures there was a man in town named Hugh Clopton. He carried out extensive work on the improvement of Stratford. It was Clopton who replaced the wooden bridge with a stone one that still stands today. He also paved roads and restored the local church.
For a long time, representatives of the Flowers family were at the head of the city. Once they got rich thanks to the brewing business, founded in the beginning 19th century. The office of mayor has been held by four generations of the Flower family. And their brewery for a long time remained largest enterprise in Stratford. Thanks to one of the members of this respected family, the Royal Shakespeare theater.
many years in Stratford-upon-Avon conducted by the writer Maria Corelli, who did a lot to restore its historical appearance.
The main attraction of Stratford
The most interesting historical place in this city is, of course, the house where Shakespeare was born. Moreover, this building can be called one of the most visited attractions in the whole of the UK. In the house on Henley Street, Shakespeare was born, spent his childhood, adolescence, youth and the first years of married life.
For several centuries, the building has been a place of pilgrimage for fans. outstanding poet and playwright. And among them in different time met some famous people. On the wall of the house, for example, you can see the autograph of Walter Scott himself. There is also an inscription left by Thomas Carlyle.
Leaving an autograph on the walls is one of the types of vandalism. But only if the author of such notes is not Walter Scott or any other famous prose writer. A few words left by the author of "Ivanhoe" gave even more historical value the building in which, 450 years ago, the creator of Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and more than one hundred and fifty sonnets was born.
house museum
The building, of course, has long been converted into a museum. Inside is the workshop of Father William Shakespeare. He was a famous glover in Stratford. In the back yard is a small outbuilding that was formerly used to store skins and other materials needed in Shakespeare Sr.'s craft.
Probably William's parents kept horses and chickens. In addition, vegetables and fruits were grown. The garden that sprawls near this old building is picturesque picture, but what did this part of Henley Street look like in XVI century, one can only guess.
Shakespeare... William Shakespeare! Who doesn't know this name? The Greatest Playwright and a poet, the pride of the English nation, the heritage of the whole world. That's who it is. His brilliant works have been translated into most languages of the world, they are included in the mandatory literature program of many countries. Is this not a confession?
Childhood.
It is generally accepted that Shakespeare, whose years of life differ in some sources, was born in April 1564. The exact date is still not known to anyone, since no documentary evidence has been found. But in the church book is the date of his baptism - April 26.
He was born in the center of England, in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is known that his father was John Shakespeare, who was originally a craftsman (engaged in the manufacture of gloves). A little later, he took the position of alderman, that is, in fact, the head of the municipal assembly, then became the head of the city council.
John was pretty wealthy man, as evidenced by the fact that he constantly paid huge fines for not attending church services. There were rumors that Shakespeare Sr. was a secret Catholic.
The mother of the future playwright was Mary Arden from an ancient and respectable Saxon family.
William Shakespeare (years of life - 1564-1616) had seven brothers and sisters. He himself was the third child in the family.
Youth
Since no school documents of Shakespeare have been preserved, the researchers of his biography were guided by some scraps of information from various sources. According to them, Shakespeare studied at the Grammar School of Stratford, and later at the school of King Edward the Sixth, where he studied poetic creativity ancient authors.
Shakespeare (see years of life above) married at the age of eighteen. His chosen one was the daughter of a landowner named Ann, and besides, she was pregnant. A few months after the marriage, the newlyweds had a girl named Susan. Two years later, twins were born - son Hemnet and daughter Judith.
Theatrical career. Life in London
Since 1585 (after the birth of children), there is no information about Shakespeare. Only in 1592 his trace was discovered in London, where he was actively engaged in theatrical activities. Thus, the seven-year period simply disappeared from the biography of the great playwright. None of the researchers can say with accuracy what Shakespeare was doing during these years.
Since everyone knows what century Shakespeare lived in, such gaps should not be surprising.
From various documents it became known that the plays of William Shakespeare were successfully staged in London. But again, it is not entirely clear since when he started writing them, how he ended up in the capital and why he is close to the theater.
The Servants of the Lord Chamberlain Company had first-hand rights to the production dramatic works Shakespeare, since he himself was there as an actor, and a little later became its co-owner. Soon this theater organization became one of the most popular in London.
The years of Shakespeare's life went on as usual. In 1603, his troupe became known as the "Servants of the King", which meant the recognition of merit and creativity by all the nobility.
Theatrical performances were a huge success, which allowed the troupe to acquire their own building. New theater named "Globe". A few years later, they also bought the Blackfriar Theater. Shakespeare quickly grew rich and did not hide his wealth. So, he got the second largest house in Stratford.
Literary activity
Shakespeare, whose years of life flowed inexorably, began to think about the publication of his manuscripts. The first was published in 1594. But even after he became famous in literary circles, the playwright did not stop playing in the theater. It was his brainchild, which he could not abandon.
The entire period of Shakespeare's work is divided into four stages:
- The first one is early. Renaissance comedies, chronicles, two poems, "the tragedy of horror" were written.
- Second. A mature dramaturgy appeared, an ancient play, sonnets, chronicles with a dramatic narrative.
- Third. Antique tragedies, great tragedies, gloomy tragedies have been written.
- Fourth. Shakespeare created fairy tale dramas.
Dramaturgy
Shakespeare (life: 1564-1616) is undeniably considered the greatest playwright of all time. And there is no such name in the world that could stand on equal terms with his name.
In the early 1590s, historical drama was in literary fashion. It is to this period that the plays "Richard the Third" and "Henry the Sixth" belong.
It is quite difficult to determine the periodization of the creation of specific works, since they are not dated by the author himself. But researchers believe that the early period of creativity includes:
- "Two Verona".
- "The Taming of the Shrew".
- "Titus Andronicus".
- "Comedy of Errors"
Also early period characterized mainly by farcical and ironic works. Unlike the second stage, where romantic works come to the fore. For example, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Merchant of Venice".
With each new work, Shakespeare's characters become more complex and interesting.
At the peak of the playwright's work is the writing of tragedies. Among them are "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear".
Shakespeare lived in a century full of opportunities to create, to embody his ideas, to write something new, innovative. In plays last period poetic mastery of the author reached its apogee. That is why the style of such dramas as "Antony and Cleopatra", "Coriolanus" is considered ideal.
Some researchers believe that several plays were written by Shakespeare in collaboration with another writer. For that period, it was a normal and frequent practice.
"Romeo and Juliet"
Perhaps this is the most famous story love all over the world. There were countless theatrical productions, and the number of adaptations is also amazing (more than fifty). But it is also surprising that, despite the past centuries, this story still touches the soul and makes one think about the essence of being.
The plot of the drama is probably known to all reading people. The action begins in the Italian city of Verona. In what century did Shakespeare live, in this the events described take place.
The Montagues and the Capulets are two families that have been at enmity for many years and have probably already forgotten the reason for their hatred. Fate disposes so that the children of the leaders fall in love with each other. Romeo and Juliet decide to get married in secret. But the young man, in the heat of a fight, kills his beloved brother and is expelled from the city.
Out of desperation, the girl is going to drink poison, but the monk gives her a drug that simply puts her to sleep. The family decides that Juliet has left this world and put her in a tomb.
Romeo, unable to survive the loss of his beloved, drinks poison, waking up, the girl sees a lifeless body at her feet. She decides to follow her beloved and stabs herself to death.
The death of children led to the end of the irreconcilable strife between the two families.
"Hamlet"
William Shakespeare experienced a great tragedy in his life - the death of his son. Hemnet died at the age of eleven, presumably from bubonic plague.
Since the playwright worked in London, he did not often visit hometown and at the time of the death of his son, he was not there either. Shakespeare was very tormented by this circumstance.
It is with this event that researchers of creativity connect the creation of the tragedy about Hamlet, linking them with the similarity of names.
There is, of course, no connection in the plot. The action takes place in the Kingdom of Denmark. A prince named Hamlet encounters the ghost of his dead father, the king. He tells young man that he was killed by the current king, Hamlet's uncle - Claudius. The ghost asks for revenge for what has been done to him.
Hamlet is confused, he cannot make a decision. To protect himself, he pretends to be crazy. But his uncle is not so simple, he does not believe in the farce of his nephew. In the head of Claudius, a plan is born to kill Hamlet.
As a result, Hamlet drinks poison without knowing it. But before his death, he manages to avenge his father.
Frontinbras, the Norwegian ruler, enters the throne.
Poems and sonnets
What century did Shakespeare live in? In the century of development of economic relations and accelerated development of the country. It so happened that the main trade sea routes ran through England. As a result, in 1593 the country was seized by a plague epidemic that lasted almost two years.
Of course, no public institutions, including Shakespeare's theater, worked in such conditions. The playwright was forced to sit without work. He read a lot, and was inspired to write two erotic poems.
The third was "The Complaint of a Lover", which was reprinted several times during the life of the author.
But William Shakespeare is best known for his sonnets. There are 154 of them in the poet's work. The sonnet is a verse of fourteen lines, in which the following rhyme is adopted: abab cdcd efef gg.
The cycle of sonnets is conventionally divided into twelve thematic groups, among which:
- chanting a friend;
- longing and fear;
- the joy and beauty of love.
Shakespeare style
William Shakespeare, whose years of life are indicated in the review, has been greatly transformed in terms of literature. His first works were written in ordinary language, which did not distinguish the playwright from the crowd of the same hacks. To avoid the routine in his works, Shakespeare loaded them with metaphors, literally planting them on top of each other. This prevented him from revealing the images of heroes.
However, soon the poet comes to his traditional style, adapts to it. The use of (written in iambic pentameter) becomes standard. But it also differs in its quality, when compared initial work and subsequent ones.
A feature of Shakespeare's style is that he wrote with a focus on theatrical performances. Enjambements, unusual constructions and length of sentences are used on a large scale in his works. Sometimes the playwright invites the viewer to think out the end of the phrase, inserting a long pause there.
Criticism
Shakespeare, years of life, whose brief biography is known to all literary figures, had a huge impact on his followers in writing.
Despite this, during his lifetime he was not considered a great playwright. And at the end of the seventeenth century, he was even criticized for mixing the tragic and the comic in his works.
However, already in the eighteenth century, these opinions were forgotten, literary critics began to thoroughly study his work. And soon the now well-known fact that Shakespeare is the national poet of England was voiced. After that, close attention drew on the years of Shakespeare's life.
The nineteenth century was marked by massive translations of Shakespeare's plays into other languages. In particular, this was done by August Schlegel.
However, there were still critics. So, he declared that Shakespeare was outdated compared to Ibsen, and he did not understand this idolatry.
Leo Tolstoy also doubted the existence of Shakespeare's dramatic abilities.
But the beginning of the twentieth century brought him back to the pinnacle of fame, when the expressionists and futurists began to stage his plays, and the poet declared that Shakespeare's plays would always be modern.
Last years
The last years of Shakespeare's life were spent in his hometown. Although he often traveled to London on business. He was replaced by J. Fletcher as the chief playwright of the troupe. According to some researchers, he also became a co-author of the last plays.
Shakespeare lived in an age when it was impossible to know exactly what happened to a person. But according to the remaining documents, it was clear that his handwriting had changed, became uncertain and sweeping. On the basis of which historians have concluded that William Shakespeare was seriously ill.
Death
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. It is believed that it was his birthday. According to the will, all the property of the playwright passed to the daughters and their direct descendants.
The last direct descendant of the poet was his granddaughter Elizabeth, who died in 1670.
Where Shakespeare spent the last years of his life, there is a bust of the poet.
