5 minute read
READING 4 FUN
1 Read about William Shakespeare’s READING4 FUN!
life and answer the questions below.
W. Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratfordupon-Avon. His father was a glove-maker. William went to a grammar school and had a good education. There he learned to love reading. William married when he was still a teenager. His wife,
Anne Hathaway, was several years older than him. He carved his living helping his father in the family business. William had three children when he left for London in 1587. Some people say that the reason he left his wife and children was his love to poetry and theatre. In London Shakespeare began to act and to write plays and soon became an important member of a well-known acting company. Most of his plays were performed in the
Globe Theatre, built on the bank of the River Thames. In 1613 he stopped writing and went back to live in Stratford where he died in 1616. His plays are still acted not only in England but on the stages of many theatres of the world. zzWhen was W. Shakespeare born? zzWhat is his birthplace? zzWas his father a farmer? zzDid William have a family? zzHow long had he lived in London? zzWhere did he die? zzWhy did he become famous?
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180 2 Listen and read.
THE ACTORS COME TO TOWN
(from the book ‘W. Shakespeare’ after Jennifer Basset) The story is told by William Shakespeare’s friend, Toby.
William married Anne Hathaway in November and she came to live in Henley Street. Will was only eighteen.
Susannah was born the next year. All babies look the same to me and Will was very pleased with her.
* * *
Soon in February 1585 I hurried round to Henley Street to hear the news. Will came running down the stairs.
“It’s two of them!” he said. “Twins! A girl and a boy. Isn’t that wonderful!” Will called the twins1 Hamnet and Judith [9dzu:diO].
Will was still reading and writing but he had changed. He was twenty-three at that moment and he was not happy with his life.
1twins [twinx] — близнюки
He didn’t answer.
In the summer months companies of players often came to small towns. Will and I always went to see the plays. Will loved to talk to the actors and to listen to all their stories of London.
One evening I walked into the Shakespeare’s kitchen and saw Anne with a red, angry face, shouting at the top of her voice.
“How can you do this to me? And what about the children?” Then she saw me and stopped.
Will was sitting at the table and looked pleased to see me. “I’ve told Anne,” he said quietly, “that I’m going to live in London. I want to be an actor and to write plays if I can.”
“How soon shall we start?” I asked.
3 Find out and read the following passages.
a William as a happy married man. b Will had changed his views. c A quarrel between Will and his wife. d Will’s decision.
1to scream [skrI:m] — кричати, репетувати 2a thief [8I:f] — злодій 3a criminal [9krimin3l] — злочинець
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182 4 Say if it is true or false.
1 Shakespeare was born in the 15th century. 2 Shakespeare’s father was a glove-maker. 3 William was badly educated. 4 Will went to work to London. 5 Shakespeare wrote plays for Royal Opera. 6 Shakespeare never acted on the stage. 7 Shakespeare lived in Stratford during the last years of his life. 8 Plays by Shakespeare are famous all over the world.
5 Speak about Shakespeare’s married life.
Make the story as if you were Will.
6 Read the list of the most famous plays written by Shakespeare. a) Say if you have heard anything about some of them.
1593 “The Comedy of Errors” 1595 “Romeo and Juliet” [9reUmi3U en 9dzu:lj3t] 1596 “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 1597 “The Merchant1 of Venice” 1599 “Julius Caesar” 1600 “As You Like It” 1600 “Twelfth Night” 1601 “Hamlet” 1603 “All’s Well That Ends Well” 1604 “Othello” [3U98el3U] 1606 “King Lear” [li3] 1606 “Macbeth” [m3k9be8]
b) Guess which of the plays are comedies and which of them are tragedies2 .
1a merchant [9mE:tSnt] — купець 2a tragedy [9tr2dzidI] — трагедія
