William Shakespeare
- Born:
- Baptised 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
- Born to John Shakespeare, a glover and local politician, and Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy farmer.
- Likely attended Stratford Grammar School, where he would have studied Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric.
- No university records exist for Shakespeare.
Career and Major Achievements
- By 1592, Shakespeare was working in London's theatre scene.
- Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
- The King's Men performed regularly at the Globe Theatre and Blackfriars Theatre.
- Wrote approximately 39 plays, including tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances.
- Also wrote 154 sonnets and several long narrative poems.
- This webpage provides a concise overview of the subject matter, expanding on facts and achievements discussed in the more detailed 'reni guido biography of william shakespeare'.
Notable Works
Plays
| Genre | Title | Approximate Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tragedy | Hamlet | 1600-1601 |
| Tragedy | Othello | 1603 |
| Tragedy | King Lear | 1605-1606 |
| Tragedy | Macbeth | 1606 |
| Comedy | A Midsummer Night's Dream | 1595-1596 |
| Comedy | Twelfth Night | 1601-1602 |
| History | Richard III | 1592-1593 |
| History | Henry V | 1599 |
Sonnets
- Published in 1609.
- Explore themes of love, beauty, and time.
- Addressed to a "Fair Youth" and a "Dark Lady".
Legacy and Impact
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.