By: William Shakespeare

For all his fame and celebration, William Shakespeare remains a mysterious figure with regards to personal history.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, allegedly on April 23, 1564. He died on his birthday.

It is estimated that Shakespeare arrived in London around 1588 and began to establish himself as an actor and playwright.

His company was the most successful in London in his day. He had plays published and sold in "penny-copies" to the more literate of his audiences. Never before had a playwright enjoyed sufficient acclaim to see

his works published and sold as popular literature in the midst of his career. In addition, Shakespeare's ownership share in both the theatrical company and the Globe itself made him as much an entrepreneur as artist.

William Shakespeare's legacy is a body of work that will never again be equaled in Western civilization. His words have endured for 400 years, and still reach across the centuries as powerfully as ever.

In medieval and Tudor, England, the Twelfth Night marked the end of the winter festival.

January 6th is the twelfth night after Christmas. It is the official end of the Christmas season.

On Twelfth Night, the Lord of Misrule is chosen and symbolizes the world turning upside down. On this day the King and all those who were the socially

elite would become the peasants and vice versa. At the beginning of the Twelfth Night festival, a cake

that contained a bean was eaten. The person who found the bean would rule the feast.

Midnight signaled the end of his rule and the world would return to normal.

The common theme was that the normal order of things was reversed.

Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night was written to be performed as Twelfth Night entertainment.

The earliest known performance took place at Middle Temple Hall, February 2, 1602.

The play has many elements that are reversed, in the tradition of Twelfth Night.

Daily grades Participation in scenes and readingClassroom activities and assignments

QuizzesWriting summaries and identifying the

significance of the scenes and/or major events Identification and definition of unfamiliar wordsWriting personal thoughts about and making

connections between the scenesChoosing and discussing memorable lines

Summative (test grades) You already have 2 for this six weeks-

they will be put in the grade book over the break.

Your final summative grade will be discussed when we get back from break.

Peevishly – irritably; rudely Stooping – bending down Churlish – peasant-like Pregnant – significant Proper-false – good looking but

deceitful Waxen – made of wax Fadge – succeed; turn out well Soliloquy – when the actor is on stage

alone and reveals his inner most thoughts to the audience