shakespeare biography

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, who is known for his plays even today. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, often called ‘Bard of Avon’ (or simply ‘The Bard’). Amongst all his works, the ones that have survived till date include 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 long narrative poems and several other poems. Shakespeare’s plays have been translated to almost all the major languages in the world and have been performed on stage, more often than those of any other playwright. His plays and poems are also studied as a part of the literature curriculum, in many universities.   Childhood William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized on 26th April 1564. He was the son of John Shakespeare, a successful Glover and alderman from Snitterfield and Mary Arden, the daughter of a rich landowning farmer. He was the third amongst his parents’ eight children, apart from being the eldest surviving son. Since his exact birth date is unknown, people usually celebrate 23rd April, St George's Day, as his birthday. It is believed that Shakespeare studied at the King's New School, in Stratford. It was a free school chartered in 1553, which was around a quarter of a mile from his home.   Early Life Shakespeare got married to Anne Hathaway, a 26-year-old woman, when he was hardly 18 years old. The couple was issued a marriage license on 27th November 1582, by the consistory court of the Diocese of Worcester. Anne was pregnant before the marriage and gave birth to a daughter, Susanna, six months after the ceremony. Susanna was baptized on 26th May 1583. Around two years after the birth of Susanna, the couple had twins - son Hamnet and daughter Judith, who were baptized on 2nd February 1585. Hamnet died at the age of 11, of causes that are unknown, and was buried on 11th August 1596.   Shakespeare's Lost Years From the birth of his twins, to the time when Shakespeare appeared on the London theatre circuit, in 1592, there are hardly any historical records on him. In fact, because of lack of information about these years of his life, the period is often referred to as ‘Shakespeare's Lost Years’. However, there are a number of apocryphal stories attributed to this period. While some believe that he fled to London, to escape prosecution for deer poaching, others are of the opinion that he used to look after the horses of theatre patrons in London. Yet another story is that he worked as a country schoolmaster.   London and Theatrical Career Though there is no conclusive evidence on the time Shakespeare began writing, it is believed to be somewhere in the end 16th century. There are records of shows, based on his plays, performed at the London stage by 1592. In fact, he was so well known by that time that playwright Robert Greene even attacked him in print. From 1594, Shakespeare's plays were performed only by one company, named the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It was owned by a group of players, including Shakespeare. Within no time, ‘Lord Chamberlain's Men’ became the leading playing company in London.   The quarto editions published some of Shakespeare's plays, from 1594. In the next four years, he gained major recognition and his name became a selling point. He even started appearing on the title pages. However, along with working as a playwright, he continued to act in his own as well as other plays. In 1599, the members of the ‘Lord Chamberlain's Men’ entered into a partnership and built their own theatre ‘Globe’, which was situated on the south bank of the Thames. Shakespeare acted in ‘Every Man in His Humour’ in 1598 and was seen in Sejanus, His Fall, in 1603.   In 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, ‘Lord Chamberlain's Men’ was awarded a royal patent by the new king, James I. Following the award of the patent, it had its name changed to the ‘King's Men’. Around five years later, in 1608, they took over the Blackfriars indoor theatre also. During the time the company was prospering, Shakespeare also became quite wealthy. He bought New Place, the second-largest house in Stratford (1597) and also invested in share of the parish tithes in Stratford (1605).    London and Stratford Throughout his career, Shakespeare divided his time between London and Stratford. In 1596, he was living in the parish of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate. The next year, he bought New Place, his family home in Stratford. Two years later, in 1599, he moved to Southwark. During this year, his company was constructed the Globe Theatre in Southwark. By 1604, Shakespeare had moved to the north of the river again. He shifted to an area that was situated to the north of St Paul's Cathedral and boasted of many fine houses. Finally, he moved back to Stratford and lived his last days in New Place.   Later Years and Death In the 17th century, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays. In fact, there has been no record of a play being written by him after 1613. Even his last three plays are believed to be collaborations, probably with John Fletcher. The latter succeeded Shakespeare as the house playwright for the ‘King’s Men’. Though he retired to Stratford some years before his death, he continued visiting London. Shakespeare died on 23rd April 1616, survived by his wife and two daughters, both of whom were married. Susanna had married John Hall, a physician, in 1607, while Judith was married to Thomas Quiney, a vintner. He was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church, two days after his death.

a letter to an editor to sa newspaper

Dear editor
Iam young lady living in west kingston and I have noticed that the people that live in west kingston have found a hatred towards rastafarian. Rastafarian is a new religion movement that arose in a christian culture in jamaica. Halie selassie I of ethopia. Rastafari is not highly organised religion,but a way of life. The rasta movement encompasses themes such as spritual use of cannabis and the rejection of western society called babylon. There is this man called brotherman who lives in west kingston jamaica and everyone looks up to him as a healer. He's very kind,giving,caring person but he's caught up in a serious situation. Where he was sent to jail for haveing counterfeit money.when brotherman came from jail the day he decided to take a walk down the lane and they where a lot of people down the lane and they started to condole him and offer him their sympathy,but three days after the whole incident they began to look at brotherman with resentment. They wrote letters to the newspaper stating that all beared man should be placed behind barbed-wire,they should be publicly washed and shaved. Sterilized and publicly flogged. Living in the lane I witness the vicious attack they did to brotherman. While he was walking they jibbered and jeered him a woman throw ahalf a brick on the side of his head then blood began to sprout freelyfrom his head. A woman tried to help him but they just threw her on the side of the road and they began to kick her in the ribs and trample her. After they where finished with brotherman they rocked and screamed with laughter. It was the worst attacks I have ever seen.

irony in brotherman

Irony is palyed out in brotherman the book.

Papacita was planning on leaving and killing girlie and it was so ironic that girlie killed papacita in the end.

Everyone looks up to brotherman in the lane he was a representation of god always there for the people very giving, loving,kind,sharing and caring. People also wanted to be his followers but its ironic how the people turned on him and brutally attacked him.

Another aspect of irony is when cordelia went to brotherman for help to heal her sick son tad and he couldn't do it he gave her money to take the child to the doctor but instead she took the money to bra ambo a obeah man in the village who she thought could help but couldnt its very ironic because she began to hate brotherman after he tried to help her.

three types of irony

Dramatic-where the audience knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know.

Verbal- a contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant.

Situational-a contadiction of expectation what might be expected and what actually occurs often connected to a fatalistic or pessimtic view of life.

internal and external conflict

Internal conflict is when mental or emotional struggle that occurs within a character.

External conflict is struggle that ocurs between a character and outside forces,which could be another character or the enviroment.

conflicts in brotherman

There are a number of conflicts in brotherman

Cordelia is asking gerself the question why brotherman cannot heal her son tad and why he gave her money to take tad to the doctor. She though of going to bra ambo. This is internal conflict.

Jasmina is where she and shine went on a date and her body was there physically but her mind wasn't there mentally she had her mind on her sister cordelia. This is internal conflict.

Girlie & papacita had a aruguement about papacita cheating ways and him being a womanizer and also going on a data with minnette they eventually got into a fight. This is external conflict.

Papacita is planning on leaving and killing girlie because he wants to be with minnette. This is internal conflict.

Brotherman was faced with betrayal from the people in the lane where they verbally and physically attacked him. This is external conflict.

Nathaniel is faced in a situation where his wife had a baby when he was in jail and the whole situation is bothering him. This is internal conflict.

Minnette lives with brother want and want to be with him constanly throws her self on him and thinks about him all the time this is known as internal conflict.