8-1Death&Grave

**How and when did Shakespeare die? What is his grave like?**  //Answer Prepared by Serena Shimshak: // On April 23, 1616 Shakespeare passed away. To this day the cause of his death is unknown, although, some suspect that Shakespeare was well aware that he was sick at the time at which he signed his will on March 25, 1616. Two days following his death, on April 25, 1616, Shakespeare was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. At this church Shakespeare was baptized in 1564. Today this church still stands, and is also where Shakespeare’s tomb lies. The tomb is buried below the church floor, and is covered by a stone inscribed with a curse, that may or may not have been written by Shakespeare himself. Writing a curse on a tombstone was an old tradition. In the day it was very common to open the graves and move bones to make room for another burial. The curse on Shakespeare’s tomb wishes for this not to happen to him, but that he may rest in peace. To this day he has not been disturb, and although the building, which he was buried in, has been torn down, his bones remain in the same place they were put, in 1616.

Shakespeare was buried at Holy Trinity Church. Works Cited: Gray, Terry. "1616 Death." 1998. Web.14 Apr 2009. [].

"Shakespeare's Death." //Internet Shakespeare Editions//. Web.14 Apr 2009.[].

"When did Shakespeare die, Where was he buried?." //Shakespeare Birthplace Trust//. 2009. Web.14 Apr 2009. [].