As You Like It - Know-the-Show Guide

Sep 20, 2026

Shakespeare’s As You Like It is presented through an audience-oriented know-the-show guide that traces key background for understanding the play. The guide covers William Shakespeare’s life and the sources of his published works, then situates the story in late-16th to early-17th century London, where theatre shaped social life and faced religious and political scrutiny. It introduces the play’s setting and themes, highlighting theatre as an experience and role-playing as a lens on human society.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time26 min

AccessFree to download

This Guide

The Life of William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s London

As You Like It: An Introduction

As You Like It: A Short Synopsis

Who’s Who in the Play

Is This English? - Exploring Shakespeare’s Language

Explore Online: Links

Sources and History of the Play

Commentary and Criticism

Terms from As You Like It

Sources and Further Reading

Cover art by Scott McKowen . # As You Like It by # William Shakespeare Know-the-ShowAudience Guide compiled and written bythe Education Department ofThe Shakespeare Theatreof New Jersey design and additional researchby Meredith Keffer The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey As You Like It: Know-the-Show Guide # This Guide – The Life of William Shakespeare 2 – Shakespeare’s London 3 – As You Like It: An Introduction 4 – As You Like It: A Short Synopsis 5 – Who’s Who in the Play. . 8 – Is This English? - Exploring Shakespeare’s Language 9 – Explore Online: Links 11 – Sources and History of the Play 12 – Commentary and Criticism 14 – Terms from As You Like It 15 – Sources and Further Reading 16 1 The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey As You Like It: Know-the-Show Guide # The Life Shakespeare of William Shakespeare, widely recognized as the greatest Englishdramatist, was born on April 23, 1564. He was the third of eightchildren born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden of Stratford -on-Avon in Warwickshire, England. Shakespeare’s father was aprominent local merchant, and Shakespeare’s childhood, thoughlittle is known about it for William Shakespeare, represented in acopper engraving by Martin Droeshout. certain, appears to havebeen quite normal. Infact,it seems that the youngShakespeare was allowedconsiderable leisure timebecause his writing containsextensive knowledge ofhunting and hawking. In1582, he married AnneHathaway, the daughterof a farmer. She was eightyears his senior, andthematch was consideredunconventional. It is believed that Shakespeare left Stratford-on-Avon and wentto London around 1588. By 1592, he was a successful actorand playwright. He wrote 38 plays, two epic poems, and over 150 sonnets. His work was immensely popular, appealing tomembers of all social spheresincluding Queen Elizabeth Iand King James I. While theywere well-liked, Shakespeare’splays were not considered byhis educated contemporariestobe exceptional. By 1608,Shakespeare’s involvementwith theatre began to dwindle,and he spent more time athiscountry home in Stratford. Hedied in 1616. Most of Shakespeare’splays found their first major publication in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, when two of his fellow actorsput the plays together in the First Folio. Other early printingsof Shakespeare’s plays were called quartos, a printer’s termreferring to the format in which the publication was laid out.These quartos andthe First Folio texts are the sources of allmodern printings of Shakespeare’s plays. From a copy of the First Folio ofShakespeare’s plays. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey As You Like It: Know-the-Show Guide Shakespeare’sLondon London, in the late 16th andearly 17th centuries, was a bustlingurban center filled with a wide variety of people and cultures.Although most life centered around making a living or goingto church, one of the main sources of diversion for Londonerswas the theatre. It was a form of entertainment accessible topeople of all classes. The rich andthe poor, the aristocrats andthe beggars all met atthe theatre. Though often appeasing thechurch or the monarchy, theatre at this time did experience afreedom that was unknown in previous generations. Evidenceof this can be found in the numerous bawdy and S homes to entertain.Despite their socialpopularity, actors wereperceived as low statuscitizens, sometimesno better than acommon beggar orrogue. Most performers were forced to earna living doing trade work. The aristocracy’s desire for entertainment, however, didspur the development of numerous new theatre pieces. Oftena nobleman would become a patron to an artist or company The of actors, providing for their financial needs and shelteringthem to some degree from official sanctions. In return, pagan references found in Shakespeare’s plays. Thisrelative artistic license and freedom of expressionmade theatre extremely unpop

FAQs

What does the guide explain about William Shakespeare’s life?

It summarizes Shakespeare’s birth, family background, marriage, rise as an actor and playwright, and later years, including the First Folio as a key source for modern printings.

How is London’s theatre culture described in the guide?

It portrays theatre as a widely accessible entertainment across social classes, while also noting how religious and political attitudes could restrict performances.

What is emphasized as the core of As You Like It?

The guide highlights the experience of theatre itself and the power of role-playing, connecting Duke Frederick’s court and the Forest of Arden to facets of human life.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Martin