Shakespeare’s Incredible but Somewhat Overlooked Impact on Modern Society

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Recommended: Shakespeare's influence on modern day culture

It is said, according to NoSweatShakespeare.com, that “Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer of the English language, only second to the various writers of the Bible”. Today, Shakespeare can be found all over modern society around the world. Through both his legacy and his words, Shakespeare has made innumerous contributions to society, most notably in the entertainment industry, as a major contributor to the English language, and as a large source of inspiration for English literature.
First and foremost, Shakespeare has become a great contributor to the entertainment industry. Today, according to Wikipedia.com, more than 410 feature-length films and TV versions of William Shakespeare’s plays have been produced, making Shakespeare the most filmed author in every language. His works have inspired many movies of all genres, including Pocahontas (The Tempest), The Lion King (Hamlet), West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet), Gnomeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), My Own Private Idaho (Henry V, Henry IV), 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew), and Warm Bodies (Romeo and Juliet), according to Parade.com and KSL.com. Bill DeMain from Mental Floss.com explains that there are also several pop songs influenced by Shakespeare including Love Story by Taylor Swift as well as I Am the Walrus by The Beatles. Through all of these examples, one can see just how great an impact Shakespeare has had on the entertainment industry, as references to him in music, filmed versions of his plays, and movies with plotlines inspired by his works are incredibly common across the globe. Connections to Shakespeare can almost be found in every single movie or song whether directly or indirectly.
Secondly, Shakespeare is renowned for his gargantuan...

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DeMain, Bill. "11 Popular Songs That Reference Shakespeare." Mental Floss. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014. .

Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. New York: Little, Brown, 2006. Print.

Nastasi, Alison. "10 Contemporary Novels Inspired by Shakespeare." Flavorwire. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014. .

"Shakespeare Facts: Read Facts About William Shakespeare." No Sweat Shakespeare RSS2. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .

Shakespeare, William, and John Crowther. Romeo & Juliet. S.l.: Spark Notes, 2004. Print.

"Words Shakespeare Invented." Words Shakespeare Invented. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014. .

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