William Shakespeare

Born:

Baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Died:

April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Nationality:

English

Profession(s):

Playwright, Poet, Actor

Early Life and Education

• Son of John Shakespeare, a glover and local politician, and Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy landowner.
• Likely attended the King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he would have studied Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric.
• Limited documented information exists regarding his formal education beyond grammar school.
• Married Anne Hathaway in 1582.

Career and Major Achievements

• By the early 1590s, Shakespeare had established himself as an actor and playwright in London.
• Became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men), a prominent acting company.
• The company performed at The Theatre and later at the Globe Theatre, which they co-owned.
• Wrote approximately 39 plays, spanning tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances.
• Also wrote 154 sonnets and several narrative poems.
• His plays were performed at the royal court and achieved widespread popularity.

Notable Works

• Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet
• Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew
• Histories: Richard III, Henry IV, Part 1 & 2, Henry V
• Romances: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale
• Poetry: Sonnets, Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece

Legacy and Impact

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. His plays continue to be studied, performed, and adapted across cultures and centuries. His works have profoundly influenced literature, language, and theatre. Various biographies have attempted to capture the essence of his life, with texts such as the jean philippe maury biography of william shakespeare exploring different perspectives and interpretations of his work and impact.

Table of Selected Plays

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