4. Complete the text by filling the correct words in the

4. Complete the text by filling the correct words in the gaps.

Comedies member performances

Sonnets dramas middle class

Profits tragedies mayor

Playwrights scripts writer

William Shakespeare was one of the worlds greatest 1)__________. He

lived in England during the second half of the 16th century and the early part

of the 17th century. William grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town where

his father had been 2)__________. His family was 3)__________ and young

William attended a grammar school in Stratford.

Later on Shakespeare went to London to find a job as an actor and

4)__________. It was very difficult because only the best were able to work

there. Between 1592 and 1594, Shakespeare wrote mainly 5)__________ and

poems. All theatres were closed because of the Black Death, which killed millions

of people.

When theatres opened up again he became a 6)__________ of Lord Chamberlains

Men, the best acting company in the country. The plays were performed

in the Globe, a round theatre without a roof. The actors and writers owned the

theatre. They bought the costumes and wrote their own 7)__________ . They

also shared their 8)__________.

Plays started in the early afternoon. People who didnt have money to

buy a seat were allowed to stand in the front. Sometimes there were special

9)__________ for kings and queens.

Shakespeare wrote three types of plays. 10)_________ show the downfall

of one of the characters. 11)_________ are funny plays that have happy endings

and historical plays are 12)________ about the lives of famous English

kings.

In 1610 William retired from the theatre and went back to his home town

Stratford. He died there in 1616.