William Shakespeare is widely known as one of the greatest writers in the English language. His writing has captured the eyes of many people. His surviving works consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. Most of his works were produced between 1589 and 1613, and his earlier plays consisted more of comedies and historical plays. His plays became a source of entertainment for the people of his time, and not much has changed since then.
William Shakespeare was born as the son of John Shakespeare, who became a successful glover and alderman originally from Snitterfield, and Mary Arden, the daughter of a landowning farmer. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and baptized there on the 26th of April, 1564. No one really knows his true birth date, but we observe his birthday on the 23rd of April. He reigned as the third child of eight, and the oldest surviving son. No one knows for sure where Shakespeare went to school, but more biographers agree that he went to King’s New School in Stratford. This free school became chartered in 1553 a quarter mile away from his home.
Shakespeare respect level did not rise dramatically in his day, but his popularity did not increase until the 19th century. The Romantics especially appreciated his genius. In the 20th century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by movements in scholarship and performance. His plays rank high in popularity and scholars constantly study them. They are performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts all through the world.
You may know some of Shakespeare’s best work; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, and Romeo and Juliet. All of these works are comedies, with Romeo and Juliet excepted. This famous play categorizes as a tragedy. Shakespeare’s popular poetry is his sonnets. Shakespeare’s wrote his poetry mainly in the sonnet form. Few poems by Shakespeare show as written in other forms of poetry. His sonnets make for some of the best reading.
Shakespeare has left a lasting impact on this world. Besides creating about 1,700 words like aerial, amazement, and bloody, he also greatly influences writers as well. He has influenced a large number of notable novelists. Herman Melville and Charles Dickens are among said novelists. Also, it is said that Shakespeare has become the second most quoted writer in the history of the English speaking world. An author can hardly dream of having such a lasting impact on the world of literature as Shakespeare has.
Resources:
William Shakespeare. 8 May. 2011. Wikipedia
5 May. 2011 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare>
Shakespeare's influence. 27 April. 2011. Wikipedia
5 May. 2011 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_influence>
Shakespeare's Influence on Other Artists. 2011. Shakespeare Online.
5 May. 2011 < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespearewriter.html>
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