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READ THIS SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND FILL IN THE 20 BLANKS

William Shakespeare was 1. …………..on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon where he attended
King’s New 2.…………… . At 18 he married 26 year 3.……………. Anne. They had a 4.………………… named
Susanna, and a set of twins named Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare 5.……………. part of the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men, a leading 6.……………….. troupe in London at the time. From 1594, they were the
only company that7. ………………………… his plays. He was a 8.……………………….. and an actor in his own plays.
In 1599, the company built their own theatre by the Thames 9.…………………. – and called it the Globe.
He wrote poetry, comedies, 10.……………………… and historical plays. The themes of 11.…………….. plays
were usually love, power and friendship. He wrote tragedies 12.……………… Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello,
Romeo and Juliet. But he dealt with history too: he got 13.…………………. from historical events and
wrote Henry V, Julius Caesar, King Lear. He created 14.……………….. realistic characters: his 15.
…………………….., tragedies and plays are in fact 16.…………….. performed today.
William Shakespeare 17.…………… on April 23, 1616, and was 18.…………….two days later in the chancel
of Holy Trinity 19……………… where he had 20.……………… baptized exactly 52 years earlier.

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KEY for the teacher
William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon where he attended King’s
New School. At 18 he married 26 year old Anne. They had a daughter named Susanna, and a set of
twins named Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare was part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a leading
acting troupe in London at the time. From 1594, they were the only company that performed his
plays. He was a playwright and an actor in his own plays. In 1599, the company built their own
theatre by the Thames river – and called it the Globe. He wrote poetry, comedies, tragedies and
historical plays. The themes of his plays were usually love, power and friendship. He wrote tragedies
like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet. But he dealt with history too: he got inspiration
from historical events and wrote Henry V, Julius Caesar, King Lear. He created very realistic
characters: his comedies, tragedies and plays are in fact still performed today.
William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, and was buried two days later in the chancel of Holy
Trinity Church where he had been baptized exactly 52 years earlier.