William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was the best and most famous
playwright of all time. He was born in the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized there on 26
April 1564. His actual date of birth is unknown, but is traditionally
celebrated on 23 April, on Saint George's Day.
His father was a glove maker and his mother was
a daughter of a rich farmer. William was the third of eight children and the
eldest boy in the family. He probably left school at the age of 14, and later
may have worked as a school teacher. Little is known about his childhood, but
there is some evidence to show that he married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway when
he was 18, and that he had three children.
Around 1592, Shakespeare moved to London where he started
writing and acting at the theatre. During these early years in London
he wrote among others, such plays as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, one of the
funniest comedies he ever wrote, and “Romeo and Juliet” – a love story set in
the beautiful Italian town of Verona.
One thing is sure, with this and other plays, Shakespeare became England’s
leading playwright. Shakespeare was a successful man as his plays were popular
with all levels of society. After 1594, Shakespeare's plays were performed only
by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company owned by a group
of players, including Shakespeare, that soon became the leading playing company in London. After the death
of Queen Elizabeth I in
1603, the company was awarded a royal patent by the new King James I, and changed its name to the King's Men. In 1599, the King’s Men company
built their own theatre on the south bank of the River Thames, which they named the Globe Theatre.
Shakespeare was a very prolific playwright and
was full of ideas. Between 1604 – 1605 he wrote the tragedies “Macbeth”,
“Hamlet”, “King Lear” and “Othello” which today are considered to be classics.
After writing “The Tempest” Shakespeare came back to Stratford where he died on 23rd
April 1616, at the age of 52.
He invented a lot of phrases which became part
of everyday English: to have seen better days, to be true to yourself, to
smell a rat etc.
Although he died so long ago, his works are
still read all over the world and are an endless source of inspiration for many
contemporary film directors and writers.
Źródło: Wikipedia
Fill in the gaps in the text below with one word or
date. / Uzupełnij luki w tekście poniżej jednym słowem lub datą. (10 p.)
William Shakespeare was born in April 1. ………………….. His
father was a 2.
…………………… maker and his mother was a daughter of a rich
farmer. He 3. ………………………………….. 26-year-old Anne Hathaway when he was
18, and had three children.
Around 1592, Shakespeare moved to 4. ………………………………… where he started writing and acting at the
theatre, and he became England’s leading playwright. After the death of Queen
Elizabeth 5. …………….. in 1603, his acting company was awarded a
royal patent by the new King James I, and changed its
name to the King's Men. In 1599, the King’s Men company
built their own theatre on the south bank of the River 6. ………….... , which they named the 7. …………………. Theatre.
Shakespeare was a very prolific playwright. Between
1604 – 1605 he 8. …………………… the tragedies “Macbeth”, “Hamlet”, “King
Lear” and “Othello” which today are considered to be classics. Later
Shakespeare came back to Stratford
where he died on 23rd April9.
…………………, at the age of 52.
Although he died so long 10. ………………………., his works are still read all over the world
and are an endless source of inspiration for many contemporary film directors
and writers.
