Writer · 1564 – 1616
William Shakespeare
Key Takeaways
- Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.
- He wrote about 37 plays and 154 sonnets.
- His works include Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear.
- He coined or popularized hundreds of words and phrases still used today.
William Shakespeare is, by common consent, the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist. From the market town of Stratford-upon-Avon he rose to remake the English stage.
The plays
In a career spanning the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages, Shakespeare wrote some thirty-seven plays — tragedies like Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear, comedies, histories, and the eternal romance of Romeo and Juliet. He gave drama a new depth of character and psychological truth that has never been surpassed.
Master of language
Shakespeare’s influence on English is unmatched. He coined or first recorded hundreds of words and phrases — from “eyeball” to “break the ice” — that remain in everyday use. His 154 sonnets stand among the finest poems ever written.
Legacy
Printed and preserved thanks to the revolution of Gutenberg, Shakespeare’s works have been performed, adapted and studied across the globe for four centuries. “The Bard” has become a synonym for literary genius itself.
Influence
Shakespeare shaped the English language and Western literature more than any other writer, his plays endlessly performed, adapted and studied, and his phrases woven into everyday speech.
Legacy
Four centuries on, Shakespeare remains the most performed and studied playwright in the world, a synonym for literary genius itself.
Major Works
- Hamlet
- Romeo and Juliet
- Macbeth
- King Lear
- The Sonnets
Controversies
- A fringe theory disputes his authorship, but it is rejected by the scholarly consensus.
Notable Quotes
“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
“To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright and poet regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's foremost dramatist.
What did Shakespeare write?
He wrote about 37 plays — including Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet — and 154 sonnets, transforming English drama and the language itself.
Biography Books
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare — William Shakespeare (1623)intermediate
The collected plays and poems of the Bard.
View on Amazon ↗
Citations & Sources
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