Romeo & Juliet Lesson 1: Shakespeare's Life and Times - William Shakespeare Biography

William Shakespeare, an iconic figure in English literature, was born on April 23rd, 1564, in the market town of Stratford upon Avon. His parents, John Shakespeare, a successful local businessman, and Mary Arden, the daughter of a landowner, were relatively well-off, which likely enabled them to fund William's education. While there is no record of Shakespeare attending university, the quality and breadth of his literary work suggest a solid educational foundation. At the tender age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior, and they welcomed their first daughter, Susanna. The couple had two more children; however, their only son, Hamnet, tragically passed away at the age of eleven.

Details about Shakespeare's life are somewhat limited, but it is believed that he spent the bulk of his time in London, where he focused on writing and acting in his plays. He would return to Stratford upon Avon during Lent, a period when theatres were traditionally closed. The 1590s were particularly significant in Shakespeare's career as he penned most of his sonnets during this time. His literary output was not only prolific but also stirred interest and debate. Among his many works created in this era were 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Romeo and Juliet', and 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona', all written between 1589 and 1595, marking a period of intense creativity and the development of his distinctive dramatic style.