The life of Shakespeare was rich and inclusive of many experiences. Throughout his life there were many important incidences. He faced deaths, failures, successes, and changes, including a shift in the royal family. Family can play a large part in any person’s life. Whether the family has a positive or negative role, each person takes a bit of their family experiences with them throughout life. There are many things that are rumored about Shakespeare’s life. Some believe that Shakespeare was a homosexual which can be seen in some of his sonnets (Novelguide.com). It’s also been surmised that Shakespeare aspired to being a playwright at a young age. During the plague in 1575, Queen Elizabeth ventured to the Kenilworth Castle near Stratford in order to avoid the disease. The Queen enjoyed many festivities arranged by her host during her stay. It’s believed that those events had a strong impact on William while he was at such a young age (Shakespeare’s Life). The life of William Shakespeare played an important role in his works. The link, Shakespeare’s Family Life, presents an adequate biography on his life. It highlights the familial aspects more than the influential aspects. The site is well organized and easily navigable for any first time viewer. The second link, Life Influences, is a short biography that approaches the details of the occurrences in Shakespeare’s life that affected his works. The links complement each other well in providing an excellent source of information regarding the life of William Shakespeare

Society tends to have a way of influencing each individual. The current laws, standards, ideas, and trends affect each person. Shakespeare lived during the Renaissance era of the late 16^th century. This era was filled with many laws and there were also a lot of political ideas being presented. This link leads to an amazing site which shows an in-depth view on Elizabethan England. The Elizabethan era was full of rich influences. Shakespeare’s major works were written during this time period. To understand where he was coming from it will be helpful to learn about the time period he lived in. The reign of Queen Elizabeth was the primary influence of this time period. Having a female ruler played a large difference during the times. Shakespeare’s plays were also comedies for the most part during this time due to the Queen’s desire for such plays. After her death and the succession of King James I, Shakespeare’s plays turned to tragedies. Of particular importance on this site is the Language link. The information presented is extremely helpful to understanding the play. It is also interesting to see how much language has changed throughout the years. Some words have remained the same in speech and meaning. However, there are also words that have remained the same in speech, but now carry a different meaning.

Life in Elizabethan England (1558-1603)

Life in Elizabethan England (1558-163): Language

The 16^th century was an ever-changing period. Views on a plethora of topics changed on a daily basis. Theater was an interesting subject for many. The first permanent theater was not built until 1576. Playwrights were seen on the same level as thieves and cheats. Shakespeare was able to benefit and entertain many with his plays in a society that was not accepting of such a lifestyle. The character of Jaques in some ways shows the feeling of Shakespeare at the time. Playwrights were continually wary of their works being misconstrued by the audience (Barnaby 373). This link provides a broad overview of the Elizabethan theater that Shakespeare was forced to contend with as a playwright. The rules surrounding plays and theater can be seen in his works. The language, the scenes, and the characters each represent a part of the time period.