William Shakespeare

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 23^rd 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 23^rd April_9. …………………, 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.