William Shakespeare was born in Stratford, England. His baptism date is recorded to be April 26, 1564. Legends say that as a boy he killed a calf, poached deer and rabbits, and was forced to flee to London. This is where he became connected to the theater and wrote the thirty seven plays which are connected to his name. He acted with the Chamberlain's Men and wrote theater in the time of Johnson and Marlowe. Many of his plays such as MacBeth, Hamlet, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Merchant of Venice are recognized as outstanding literary works and studied in high schools and universities all over the world.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, theater in London flourished. While Shakespeare was young, Elizabethan actors performed wherever they could-in great halls, courtyards of inns, or at court. But in 1574, the common council of London ordered that plays and playhouses obtain licenses. The annoyance of having to obtain a license drove actor James Burbage to build a theater outside of the walls and jurisdiction of London. Soon, many imitators were built, the most famous of which was the Globe.

It is estimated that Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet somewhere between 1594-1596. It was, and still is, one of his most popular plays. Its portrayal of young and passionate love continues to engage those who read and see the play today, just as it did the citizens of London in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century.

In this investigation, you will be exploring the world of William Shakespeare. You will investigate theories, ideologies, historical information, the plays, current resources, and other information. You will also read and analyze the play Romeo and Juliet along with modern versions and literary connections to the play.

In order to complete this investigation and assignment, you must complete the following tasks. You should utilize online resources and other materials (textbook, public library, oral histories, etc...) as necessary to access information.

1. Research and investigate the following questions. Prepare notes on what information you find to answer the questions.

• What information can you find about the life of William Shakespeare?
• What key historical events occurred during the late sixteenth and seventeenth century?
• What historical events did William Shakespeare write about in his plays?
• What cultural qualities were significant during the late sixteenth and seventeenth century? How could the period be identified culturally?
• What elements of Shakespeare's plays connected with the audiences during the late sixteenth and seventeenth century?
• Why are Shakespeare's works timeless?
• How has the play Romeo and Juliet inspired other literary and artistic works?
• What makes Romeo and Juliet a timeless, romantic tragedy?

2. Romeo and Juliet Essay

• Write an essay that explains how the passionate, romantic tragedy has influenced modern literature and film. What imitations and adaptations have been written and performed that model the structure of the play? What might have influenced Shakespeare to write the play?

3. Shakespeare Presentation of Information

• Design a visual (web page, poster, other) that includes textual information to present what you have discovered by answering questions and researching the life of William Shakespeare. Include information about the Elizabethan Age and modern interpretations of the bard's works.

Utilize the following online resources in order to complete the assigned investigation and tasks. Students are encouraged to locate other resources at the library or on the Internet.

• Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
• Literary Links for Shakespeare
• Shakespeare Web
• West Side Story
• Romeo and Juliet (1968)
• Romeo and Juliet (1996)
• Webspeare
• Shakespeare Magazine
• The Shakespeare Mystery

As you have investigated the life of William Shakespeare and the period of time in which he lived, you have gained an understanding of who he was and what he accomplished. His literary work is timeless, and you have been able to explore the influences and contributions he has made to modern culture. This lesson was intended to provide insight and knowledge of Shakespeare's world and his literary work.