The Genius Of Shakespeare
What is a genius? “Merriam-Webster defines a genius as a very smart or talented person: a person who has a level of talent or intelligence that is very rare or remarkable: a person who is very good at doing something: great natural ability: remarkable talent or intelligence” (Merriam-Webster). Was Shakespeare a genius? The goal of this paper is to explore a few of the themes of Shakespeare to see if he exemplified a rare, natural ability and talent for writing that would define him as a genius.
First I would like to start at the beginning. The very beginning and look into Shakespeare’s birth and childhood. After researching several sources, I found inadequate records of Williams’s child hood and practically none about his education except for one school. There are speculations that he attended the King’s New School in Stratford, which mainly taught reading, writing and the classics. He would have qualified for free tuition because it was believed that his dad was a public official. From birth to adulthood, William seems like he lived a decent, normal life with signs leading to a rare, natural ability and talent for writing.
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Anne was 6 years older than William. He was 18, and she was 26 and pregnant. Anne bore their first child, a daughter they named Susanna, on May 26, 1583. Two years later, she bore twins, Hamnet and Judith. History shows that Hamnet later died of unknown causes by age 11. History does not mention a career until 1592. “Records show that William earned a living as an actor and possibly had several plays produced” (biography.com). So far in his life, he as had the opportunity to get a very good education, experience love, happiness and
Shakespeare grew up in a family that was considered part of the middle class during the time period in which he lived. His father, John Shakespeare came from a family of farmers. This influenced his father in his work ethic. Growing up with a family of farmers made him a diligent and preserving man (Cousins 18). In his lifetime he held a variety of jobs that made him quite the entrepreneur, “he became a successful glover, landowner, moneylender, and dealer in wool and other agricultural goods” (Greenblatt 42). According to Gewirtz, in Shakespeare’s hometown his father was well known by all the inhabitants, “and in fact at one time held the office corresponding to that of a modern mayor” (5). Lastly, Shakespeare’s mother’s side of the family also earned their living by tending the land that was in close proximity to Stratford called Wilmcote (Bate and Thornton 55). Both sides of his family were alike not only in how they earned their livings but also through the common element of being overall conservative in their lives.
According to the William Shakespeare Biography website, it all began in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, April 26th, 1564, which is said to be the time and place where William Shakespeare was baptized. Although he was baptized on April 26, his assigned birth date was April 23, 1564. His father, John Shakespeare, was a leather merchant and his mother Mary Arden, was an heiress of local land. He had two older sisters named Joan and Judith. William was the third child of Mary and John and had three younger brothers as well: Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund. Referring back to William Shakespeare Biography, “Scant records exist of William's childhood, and virtually none regarding his education.” Like the website mentioned, there are not many records of Shakespeare's childhood or education, but there are some speculations that he attended The King's New school. This school taught reading, writing, and the classics, which would make William more than qualified to attend this school judging from his plays and sonnets.
William Shakespeare, the myth, the man, the legend. Shakespeare was born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare lived a favorable life during the Elizabeth era. William was the fourth child of eight children. His parents were a wealthy business family and they could afford Shakespeare an exceptional education. . Shakespeare’s father worked as an alderman and which attained the family’s income because it was worthy job. Rather less what’s the story behind this splendid man?
William Shakespeare was educated at the local school in Stratford. Ironically, William never attended a university although virtually every English speaking universities studies his works. Bioghrapher a man educated in " the university of life." (Bender 14). His plays and other works display Shakespeare's vast knowledge of the entertainment, social mores, and culture of his native Warwickshire. William married Anne Hathaway in 1582. He was 18 and she was 26. They had twin daughters Hamnet and Judith and later their third daughter Susanna. (Bender 15). Shakespeare lived in an England that was overwhelmingly rural and had virtually no mechanized industry. It was a society very different from the one we enjoy in the U.S. today. Death and disease were the common experiences of all families during this era in England. (Andrews 67). This society was one in which a vigorous and youthful population was growing with unusual rapidity. The resulting economic development. (Andrews 72).
William Shakespeare's early life is very unclear to many people, but his legacy was still great. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford- upon Avon, England. Shakespeares exact birth date is unknown but we celebrate it on April 25. We know he was baptized in Stratfords Holy Trinity Church in 1564. They choose that day because its a holiday in England filled with play acting and parties which seemed fitting to honor their greatest playwright ( Who Was William Shakespeare? pgs 6-7). Shakespeare was born into a world where books had to be rewritten to be coped and most people learned to read or write like that. Shakespeare became interested in plays by learning from plays and folktales on the street. William never finished school so most people believe that is why he didn't write ...
Though William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literature's greatest influences, very little is actually known about him. What we do know about his life comes from registrar records, court records, wills, marriage certificates and his tombstone. Anecdotes and criticisms by his rivals also speak of the famous playwright and suggest that he was indeed a playwright, poet and an actor.
William Shakespeare spent the later years of his life in London, England. This part of his life deserves to be noted, because of his outstanding accomplishments towards society. A big part of Shakespeare’s accomplishments derive in the city of London. William Shakespeare’s life in London consisted of the lost years, involvements with the Globe Theater, creations of brilliant Early works, articulate writing styles that catch the eye, and controversies about whether Shakespeare was educated enough to construct plays the way that he did in this short time period.
“William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was and English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist” (vodppl.upm.edu 2). He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, he also passed away in his hometown. “When Shakespeare died in 1616 the event was barely noticed” (Epstein 7). “Shakespeare’s family was initially prosperous but began having financial difficulties in the 1570’s” (Allen 325). “Shakespeare gained his education by attending the local grammar school, King’s New School, where the curriculum stressed a classic education of Greek mythology and roman comedy”(shakespeareinamericancomunites.org 1). He never carried his educational career to a higher level as in a university. “William Shakespeare was not recognized as an actor, poet, and playwright until 1592” (Allen 346).
William Shakespeare: Who Wrote His Plays? “To be, or not to be: that is the question” as stated in one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet, is a question that has yet to be answered (Hanson). Over the years, many a great mind have argued whether or not Shakespeare wrote his own works. Some historians believe that Shakespeare was written by other great philosophers and poets, while others believe he was the true author. Even though some people believe that William Shakespeare is one author, it can be proven that “Shakespeare” was just a pen name by the fact that there are no documents suggesting that Shakespeare was a writer and many other people who lived during Shakespeare’s time had the qualifications to be an excellent poet
It is harder to imagine a more universal writer than William Shakespeare. Rarely if ever is one of his many plays not being performed somewhere in the world and similarly rare is the tertiary English student who has not examined his work at length. His plays, sonnets and poems are common fodder for high school English departments across the globe.
In English literature, the content and the story of a piece are undoubtedly important, but correct use of literary devices is invaluable. And maybe this is what separates many other writers of the Early Modern period from the infamous Shakespeare. And maybe this is why King James I adored many of the Bard’s works. And maybe this is why Shakespeare is still a part of our English curriculum centuries after his glory days.
There was a gap in his life where no one had any evidence of him or his wife. Between 1585 and 1592. All people know, is that he left Stratford for London either in 1586 or 87.
There are very few records of Williams childhood that exist, and barely any about his education. Scholars suspect he attended the King's New School, in Stratford, where he was most likely thought reading, writing and the classics. He would have most likely been qualified for free tuition due to the fact that he was the ...
In April of 1564 in an area of England known as Stratford upon Avon, William Shakespeare was born. Although his work can be found around the world and in various languages, Shakespeare’s personal life remains a mystery. What is understood about Shakespeare’s personal life can be found in his plays, poems, and publicly recorded information.(William Shakespeare 1). Although there is no birth record of Shakespeare it can be estimated that he was born on April 23, 1564 and he was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford upon Avon April 26, 1564. Shakespeare was born into a prominent family his father, John was a Glover and merchant, and his mother Mary inherited a lot of wealth (Shakespeare, William 1). William gr...
Throughout the United States and the entire world people are aware of Shakespeare; however, many people wonder why society wants their citizens to continue to read William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Shakespeare continues to influence today’s environment and brings people together by speaking of a common author that most people know. All across the world, students must read at least one of Shakespeare’s works; which often develop those children who read his works into better writers. During the Elizabethan Era, William Shakespeare experienced an uneventful childhood and had a basic education; however, his life still seems to be shrouded with mystery and raises the argument that he was not only the most successful, but also the most mysterious playwright, actor, and poet from that time period.