William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Introduction English play wright and poet William Shakespeare lived from 1564 until 1616. Four hundred years after his death, his words remain very much alive. Many people consider Shakespeare the greatest writer in the history of the English language.

Shakespeare is a popular writer for many reasons. People admire his plays because they're exciting stories that touch people's feelings. Shakespeare is able to make people feel happy, sad, shocked, or scared along with his characters. His stories also include morals that make people think about big ideas such as good and evil. The way Shakespeare uses language sets him apart from other writers. His beautiful writing is still thought of as the benchmark for writers who want to tell good stories.

Shakespeare's Family William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 to John and Mary Shakespeare. The family lived in Stratford, England, where William attended a good school. This was uncommon for the time, as many people could not read or write. Shakespeare married a woman named Anne in 1582. They lived in Stratford with their three children. Sadly, their only son died young.

Shakespeare in London Between 1585 and 1592, Shakespeare left his family in Stratford and moved to London. He worked as an actor and a playwright. By 1594, he had become part owner of a popular theater group. Even Queen Elizabeth liked to watch them act. Shakespeare helped found the Globe, a theater in London, in 1599. Many of his own plays were put on there.

Shakespeare's Plays Shakespeare wrote three main types of plays: tragedies, histories, and comedies. Tragedies are plays in which the hero makes mistakes that lead to disaster. Macbeth is the terrible story of one family's desire for power. Shakespeare's plays about history mostly celebrate England's kings. Shakespeare's comedies were often funny love stories with happy endings. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, a magic potion makes characters fall in love with the wrong people, with funny results. Writers of plays, poems, and books have used Shakespeare's stories as guidelines for their own work.