William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor who was baptised on April 26, 1564. He was born in England's Warwickshire, at Stratford-upon-Avon.
O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
William Shakespeare, Hamlet, (Act-II Scene-II)
Biography
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor who was baptised on April 26, 1564. He was born in England's Warwickshire, at Stratford-upon-Avon. He had three children with Anne Hathaway, twins Hamnet and Judith, and Susanna, whom he married at the age of 18. Shakespeare started his prosperous career in London as a writer, actor, and member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men theatre group, which would later become the King's Men. About 1613, he retired to Stratford, where he passed away three years later.
Literary Career
Shakespeare's literary career spanned over two decades, during which he wrote approximately 39 plays and 154 sonnets with the rhyming scheme AB AB CD CD EF EF GG. His earliest plays were primarily comedies and histories. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwright. His works were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime.
Plays
Shakespeare's plays are performed all over the world and are generally considered to be among the best in the English language. There are translations of his plays in every major language currently in use. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Othello, and Hamlet are a few of his most well-known plays. Tragedies, comedies, and history make up the majority of his play categories.
Poems
Shakespeare penned a few other lines as well as two lengthy narrative poems, "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece," in addition to his plays. Additionally, he composed 154 sonnets. Sonnet 29, Sonnet 71, and Sonnet 55 are among his most well-known sonnets.
Shakespeare’s Contribution to the English Language
Shakespeare's writings made a substantial contribution to the English language's standardisation of vocabulary, syntax, and spelling. He added around 1,700 new words to the language, many of which are still in common usage today. Among these are the terms "lonely," "frugal," "dwindle," and several others. He also coined numerous expressions that we use on a daily basis.
Points to Remember:
1. Birth and Early Life: William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. His father, John, was a wealthy merchant.
2. Education: It is believed that he may have attended the town's free grammar school, where he would have studied Latin and Greek among other subjects.
3. Marriage and Family: At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 at the time. They had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
4. Career Beginnings: Shakespeare moved to London around 1590. Initially, he earned a living as an actor before his first poem 'Venus and Adonis' was published in 1592.
5. Playwright and Poet: Shakespeare is known for his considerable output which included 37 plays and 154 sonnets. He introduced up to 300 words and dozens of well-known phrases.
6. The Globe Theatre: Around the time he became a partner in the new Globe Theatre on Bankside, just south of the Thames. This proved to be a risky but extremely successful investment.
7. Personal Tragedy: His personal life was dealt a severe blow by the sudden death of his son Hamnet aged 11 in 1596.
8. Return to Stratford: After his son's death, Shakespeare re-established his ties with Stratford by buying and renovating a large mansion called New Place.
9. Legacy: His works have been translated into 80 languages, including Star Trek’s Klingon. His plays are known around the world for their universal themes and insight into the human condition.
10. Death: Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.