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 and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Believed to have attended Stratford Grammar School, although records are incomplete. This provided a basic education in Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric.
- Married Anne Hathaway in 1582.
Career and Major Achievements
- Became a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men acting company (later known as the King's Men).
- Co-owner of the Globe Theatre.
- Wrote approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several other poems.
- His works are translated into every major living language and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.
Notable Works
- Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet
- Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew
- Histories: Richard III, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, Henry V
- Sonnets: 154 sonnets on a variety of themes.
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 had a lasting impact on literature, theatre, and language itself. Scholarly analysis of his works continues, including approaches inspired by source material such as what might be discovered in an 'ibi kaslik biography of william shakespeare'.