Writer · 1564 – 1616
William Shakespeare
Wrote some 37 plays and 154 sonnets — including Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet — that transformed English drama, enriched the language with countless words and phrases, and have been performed and studied worldwide ever since.
Greatest Achievements
- Wrote the most influential body of work in English literature.
- Transformed drama, the English language and the depiction of human character.
- Created enduring characters and stories retold across the world.
Major Accomplishments
- Wrote the most influential body of work in English literature.
- Transformed drama, the English language and the depiction of human character.
- Created enduring characters and stories retold across the world.
Major Works
- Hamlet
- Romeo and Juliet
- Macbeth
- King Lear
- The Sonnets
Impact Analysis
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.
Historical influence score: 96/100