C.E.C.I.E.Nº 21 D.E. N° 21

2ND LEVEL
TEACHER: MONICA

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was the greatest writer in the English language. He was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of eighteen he married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than himself. A few years later he moved to London, where he worked as an actor and playwright.

Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays and 154 sonnets. His most famous plays are the four great tragedies- Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet and King Lear. He also wrote several historical plays. Eight of these plays were about English kings, including Richard II, Henry V and Richard III.  Others dealt with Roman history and included Julius Caesar and Anthony and Cleopatra. But not all of Shakespeare’s plays were serious. He also wrote comedies, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Twelfth Night. 

Shakespeare died in Stratford-upon-Avon on 23 April 1616, but his plays are still very popular today. They have been translated into several different languages, and many of them have been made into films, both English and other languages. Shakespeare’s plays are about great issues:  love, life, jealousy, power, ambitions, death and so on. So, his plays are just as relevant today as they were in the sixteenth century. To show this, modern directors sometimes do the plays in modern dress, and one of Shakespeare’s plays has even been turned into a modern musical. His romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, was the basis for the musical.

Task I.  True or False?

⦁ William Shakespeare was born in 1954 in Stratford-upon-Avon.

⦁ At the age of 20 he married Anne Hathaway.

⦁ A few years later he moved to London.

⦁ Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets.

⦁ His most famous plays are the four great tragedies- Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear.

⦁ He also wrote comedies.

⦁ His plays have been translated into several different languages.

⦁ Modern directors always do the plays in modern dress.

⦁ Romeo and Juliet was the basis for the musical West Side Story.

Task II. Circle the correct answer.

⦁ Who was William Shakespeare?

a) Actor   b) writer   c) painter   d) poet

⦁ When and where was he born?

a)  In 1564 in London   b) in 1600 in Manchester   c) in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon    d) in 1598 in London

Task III. Answer the questions
    3. At what age did he married?

a) 20   b) 30   c) 18   d) 25

    4. Who was his wife?

a) Mary Brown   b) Helen White   c) Anne Hathaway   d) Linda Scott   

   5. Where did he move a few years later?

a) America   b) Scotland   c) London   d) Paris

  6. What was his job?

a) an actor   b) an actor and playwright   c) a poet   d) a director

 7. Did William Shakespeare write any comedies?

a) never   b) yes   c) only one   d) he wrote only comedies

 8. When and where did he die?

a) in 1616  in London   b) in 1616 in Stratford   c) in 1667 in Paris  d) in 1620 in Stratford

9. Are his plays just as relevant today as they were in the 16th century?

a) yes   b) no   c) some of them   d) only comedies