William shakespeare

William Shakespeare, the greatest and most famous of English writers, and probably the greatest playwright who has ever lived, was born on the 23d of April, 1564, in Stratford-on-Avon.

In spite of his fame we know very little about his life. At the age of six he was sent to school, but had to leave it at the age of 13. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glove-maker, and when he fell into debt, William had to help him in the trade.

At the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. Ann was eight years older than her husband and the marriage wasn't a happy one.

When Shakespeare was twenty-one, he went to London. We don't know why he left Stratford-on-Avon.

There is a story that Shakespeare's first job in London was holding rich men's horses at the theatre door. But nobody can be sure that this story is true.

Later, Shakespeare became an actor and a member of a very successful acting company. It's highly probable that The Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet and some other plays by Shakespeare were performed for the first time on this stage.

Very soon, however, the actors were told that they could no longer use the land that their theatre was built on.

There is a story that in the dead of night the whole acting troop took down their theatre, timber by timber, brick by brick. They carried it across the river and rebuilt it. The new theatre was called the Globe.

Shakespeare's Globe was rather different from modern theatres. The plays were performed in the open air and the audience got wet if it rained. Women in those days weren't allowed to act in public and all the parts (even Juliet!) were played by men.

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, 10 tragedies, 17 comedies, 10 historical plays. He also left 7 books of poems. Shakespeare died, ironically, on the same date as his birthday, the 23d of April, 1616.

Notes

fame – слава

to fall into debt – влезть в долги

in the dead of night – глубокой ночью

timber by timer – по бревну

brick by brick – по кирпичику

Text 7

Traditions and customs in britain

Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in people's life than in other countries.

The British are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. Some ceremonies are rather formal, such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour, the State opening of Parliament. Sometimes you will see a group of cavalrymen riding on black horses through the streets of London. They wear red uniforms, shining helmets, long black boots and long white gloves. These men are Life Guards. Their special duty is to guard the king or the queen of Great Britain and very important guests of the country.

To this day a British family prefers a house with a fireplace and a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. Most British love gardens. Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted green in imitation of grass and a box of flowers. They love flowers very much.

The British like animals very much, too. Pet dogs, cats, horses, ducks, chickens, canaries and other friends of man have a much better life in Britain than anywhere else. In Britain they have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. In recent years the British began to show love for more "exotic" animals such as crocodiles, elephants, tigers, cobras, camels.

Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday and in Scotland it is not observed at all. But six days later, on New Year's Eve the Scots begin to enjoy themselves. All the shops and factories are closed on New Year's Day. People invite their friends to their houses. Greetings and presents are offered.

Some British traditions are strange, some are funny, but they are all interesting.

Notes

to keep up – соблюдать, придерживаться

to troop the colour – торжественно проносить знамя (на параде)

the state opening of Parliament – торжественное открытие сессии парламента

Life Guards – лейб-гвардия

To observe - соблюдать

Text 8