Text a william shakespeare

1564 – 1616

England’s greatest poet and dramatist, William Shakespeare, was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 in the family of a glove-maker, and his mother was the daughter of a farmer. William went to a grammar school in Stratford and had quite a good education. There he learned to love reading. He was not yet 19 when he married Anne Hathaway, a farmer’s daughter some years older than himself. They had three children – Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet. Judith and Hamnet were twins.

Not much is known about what Shakespeare did in the years just after his marriage. Some accounts say that he taught at school for a while. Some accounts say that he worked for his father. In 1587 Shakespeare went to work in London, leaving Anne and the children at home. He appeared in London as an actor and a writer of plays. His plays were written in poetry.

In1592 bubonic plague , a terrible disease swept over London. For about two years al London theatres were closed. During that time Shakespeare began to write poems. Besides writing some long poems, he wrote more than 100 sonnets.

Shakespeare wrote some of his plays about early kings of England. Henry V and RichardШare two ofthese plays. They helped the English people to understand the history of their own plays.Besides historical plays Shakespeare wrote both comedies and tragedies.Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous of his tragedies. Other tragedies are Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello .Among his comedies are A Midsummer Night Dream, The Taming of the Shrew ,and The Merchant of Venice.

At the height of his success Shakespeare retuned to Srtratsford. There he died in 1616. He was buried in Stratford-upon-Avon. Thousands of people visit his birthplace and grave each year.

Vocabulary

gloves - перчатки

besides – кроме того

play - пьеса

except – за исключением

get married – жениться, выйти замуж

merchant – купец

accounts - счета

birthplace – место рождения

grave - могила

disease - болезнь

twins - близнецы

act - играть

earn - зарабатывать

for a while – на время

Exercise 1. Say if it is true or false

1.Shakespeare was born in the 16^th century. 2. Shakespeare’s father was a clock-maker. 3. William was poorly educated, but loved reading. 4. William Shakespeare had twin daughters. 5. In 1587 Shakespeare went to work in London. 6. W.Shakespeare wrote plays for the new Globe Theatre. 7. William Shakespeare never acted on the stage. 8. Shakespearelived in Stratford the last years. 9. Plays by Shakespeare are acted only in Britain.

Exercise 2. This is a list of some Shakespeare’s plays. Guess which of them are tragedies and which are comedies. Find out what these plays are called in Russian.

“The Comedy of Errors” “Twelfth Night”

“Romeo and Juliet” “Hamlet”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” “All’s Well That Ends Well”

“The Merchant of Venice” “Othello”

“Julius Caesar” “King Lear”

“As You Like it” “Macbeth”

Exercise 3. Use to where necessary.

1. We are going … read one of Shakespeare’s plays in school. I think the teacher said “Hamlet” or “Omelette” – I am not sure. – She certainly wants you … read “Hamlet”.

2. Let us visit Stratsford on 23 Apri, that is the day when Shakespeare was born.

3. – I expect you … finish reading “Romeo and Julet” by the end of January. – I don’t think I will be able … finish the play so early.

4. – Don’t … forget … visit Anne Hathsway’s cottage when you come to Stratford. – I would love … , but I’m not sure we’ll have time … do it.

5. – I can’t read Shakespeare in original. – Nobody expects you … do it. But you should … read at least some of his plays in Modern English.

Exercise 4. Write questions about William Shakespeare and his life to which the sentences below are answers.

1. On the river Avon.

2. He died on his birthday, aged 52.

3. Comedies, tragedies and historical plays.

4. He is also famous for his sonnets.

5. Anne Hathaway.

6. Three: one son and two daughters.

7. Because they want to see the place connected with the life of W.Shakespeare.

Exercise 5. Do this search square and see if you can find 10 words connected with Shakespeare.