William Shakespeare was a very talented man known for his various works of literature. His works include poems, plays, and sonnets. His works are then broken down into tragedies, comedies, and histories. Shakespeare left this world centuries ago, but his writings continue to live throughout the world today. He has greatly impacted the world of literature and his existence will forever be remembered. In 1564, William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon (Hazell 32). It seems that Shakespeare’s career began around the year 1592. This was a tough time for playwrights and actors. There was an outbreak of the bubonic plague which caused concerns for those wanting to watch because of being surrounded by those potentially carrying the disease, thus making it hard for the playwrights and actors to find work (“William Shakespeare.” 653-654). Not only was disease an obstacle William Shakespeare had to overcome in his work, he was also forced to face hampering from religious aspects as well. Leaders in the Puritan community looked down upon plays, acting, and other things of that nature. These authorities thought that these activities would sway people from focusing on the importance of practicing their religion. Plays and such were not allowed to be performed while in the city of London. They were banned. Eventually, despite all the obstructions, plays and theater came to be a popular thing although still forced outside the city (“The Changing Status...”). After overcoming the troubles of becoming an actor and a playwright, William Shakespeare has become well renowned. His works reach to people all around the world despite the language barriers and different races and cultures. For centuries, the popularity of his work... ... middle of paper ... ... Co., 1919. 5. Print. Ellis, Jessica. “What are Shakespeare’s Comedies?” wiseGEEK. Conjecture Corp., 2003. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. Frye, Roland Mushat. Shakespeare’s Life and Times. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1967. 16. Print. Hazell, Rebecca. Heroes: Great Men Through the Ages. New York: Abbeville Press, N.d. 32. Print. McMillan, Eric. “Who Was the Greatest of All Writers?” The Greatest Authors of All Time. N.p. 2011. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. “Race – Introduction.” Shakespearean Criticism. eNotes.com. Gale Cengage, 2006. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. Schwartz, Debora B. “Shakespeare’s Plays: The Histories.” ENGL 339. N.p. 2002. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. “The Changing Status of Theater.” About.Com.Shakespeare. The New York Times Co., 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. “William Shakespeare.” Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 24. Danbury, CT: Grolier Inc., 1994. 652-654; 656. Print.
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Show MoreWilliam Shakespeare’s intellectual use of the English language is what brought him prosperity throughout his lifetime, and what brings us to tears and laughter in the modern world. The life of Shakespeare is of great importance to English literature because of his many contributions including poetry, stories, and plays. However, many people do not know that he also owned a business. “William Shakespeare was a professional actor, a businessman, and a playwright. Today, nearly four hundred years after his death his plays are still performed” (Greenhill and Wignall 4).
William Shakespeare's life is a mystery even if his works have been read by millions of people. "The Bard" is one of history favorite characters. His plays are some of the best written in history. William Shakespeare's word, life and his work in the globe theater aren't as familiar to people as they feel.
William Shakespeare was born in the year 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is in the United Kingdom. William was the third born child in the Shakespeare family, son to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, and brother to Gilbert, Richard, Edmund, Joan and Judith. William’s father, John, was a successful merchant, however WIlliam’s birth seemed to impoverish the family, with John’s wealth decreased by a substantial amount. William attended a school for the underprivileged and received a basic education. By 1592, William had begun his career as actor and playwright and had his first few performances published. By 1597, he had 17 more of his plays published as public performances. By this time, Shakespeare was known as one of the richest people in England, as he bought the second largest house in Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1599, Shakespeare and his group built their own theatre near the Thames river. They decided to call the theatre The ‘Globe’. Shakespeare’s first plays performed at ‘The Globe’ were Richard II,Henry VI parts 1,2 and 3. These plays were all Histories and comedies and he did not begin to make tragedies until 1600. Shakespeare’s later plays, before his death were called tragicomedies. These, as from the title, were tragedies involved with some humour.
During the time of Shakespeare the theatre was much different than it is today. There was much stricter rules and guidelines, as well as limitations that were placed on the actors. Throughout Shakespeare’s own life the theatre had changed a lot, which it still continues to do even today. Many of the actors in Shakespeare’s time were restricted to practicing the art of acting on the city’s streets (Rosmanitz). Both the Church and the police limited these practices as they thought it would promote bad behavior and keep the people out of the Church. Before some of the theatres were constructed the actors would perform in the courtyards of inns or sometimes even the homes of noblemen (Britannica). Some influential people such as Queen Elizabeth, truly enjoyed going to the theatre and watching the actors perform, to which she helped promote these practices (Rosmanitz). New reigning popularity of the theatre caused the construction of theatres to be built outside the city’s limits.
William Shakespeare was a great English playwright, writer and poet who lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwrights of all time in the world. No other writer’s plays, such as Macbethand Romeo and Juliet, have been produced so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his. He is generally considered to be both the greatest dramatist in the world, and the best poet who has written in the English language. Many explanations can be given for Shakespeare’s talent and fame. His fame basically is from his great understanding of human nature itself. He was able to find widespread human qualities and put them in a certain situation creating characters that are everlasting. Sometimes they are successful in life, and sometimes their lives end up being full of pain, suffering, and failure. Shakespeare had a great influence on the culture, literature, and English language throughout the world. He contributed greatly to the development of the English language in itself. Many words and phrases from Shakespear...
William Shakespeare was an English poet and a great playwright. He still has a great impact on our history today. Shakespeare has written many plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. He had very extant works which people could not understand (6). Romeo and Juliet is considered to be one of his more famous plays. His plays were translated into many different languages and styles (6). William Shakespeare was a very talented man who had a great impact on history, during the Renaissance time and still does today.
William Shakespeare was allegedly born in Stratford-upon-Avon, on April 23, 1564. He was baptized in the Holy Trinity Church on April 26, of that same year. His father, John Shakespeare, was a Glover and leather merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, a landed heiress. William was the third of eight children in his family. John Shakespeare had an outstanding run of success as a merchant, and later as an alderman and high bailiff of Stratford, during William's early childhood. His fortunes declined, however, in the 1570's.
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 was a writer who became famous for his plays. It was thus that his works were great entertainment for the Kingdom. Shakespeare was number 3 of 8 children and was also educated at one of the free schools in England. He studied Grammar, Arts and Sciences, his studies were so much difficult at his young age because he was forced to work with his father in the kingdom. And it was there that he met a woman named Ann who was 26 years of age who later became pregnant, and for that reason because of the moral question, she was forced at age 18 to get married after they announced her pregnancy.
All in all, William Shakespeare was a fantastic playwright who surprised everyone by making a name for himself even though he came from a poor family and did not receive a college education. With almost 40 published plays and over 150 published sonnets, Shakespeare certainly did a wonderful job of making himself known and also using his fortune to help his family. He was overall a great and memorable part of
The audience of Shakespeare's world were somewhat different than the audiences of our modern movies and shows. To quote "Shakespeare's Audience: A Very Motley Crowd, "The Elizabethan audience was fond of unusual spectacle and brutal physical suffering. They liked battles and murders, processions and fireworks, ghosts and insanity." Although modern entertainment has this, it is not shown in all genres of entertainment. In fact, there are plenty of types of entertainment with the complete omission of
To begin, Shakespeare is a well-known playwright and a tremendous poet. Shakespeare wrote about every possible human action, social interactions, betrayal, and tragedy. William is definitely the greatest writer because he has influenced many schools and theaters. He is hugely remembered for his splendid work and should never be forgotten. His work affects everyone and inspires them to do many good things in life. For example, in the play As You Like It Shakespeare implied, “A fool thinks himself to be wise, a wise man knows himself to be a fool” (As You Like It V.1.30). William Shakespeare’s plays are highly popular and are frequently studied. Shakespeare’s play makes his plays so real that he changed the face of drama forever. William Shakespeare has become an important landmark in English history and impacted the world of history.
William Shakespeare was raised by John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, who were united during the time Mary Arden’s first daughter was born. Mary Arden inherited ten marks, an estate in Wilmcote, valuable possessions, and the crops grown on her father Robert’s land after he passed (Schoenbaum 21-22). If it was not for their marriage William Shakespeare would not have existed. John Shakespeare, William’s father, made gloves for a living. The brilliant playwright was born in Stratford-upon-Avon (“Shakespeare” 1). Shakespeare was born with a true gift, and this gift is still enjoyed today by those who read his plays. On April 23, 1564 Shakespeare was born, three days later he was baptized on April 26, 1564 (Schoenbaum 24-25). Being only three days old, William Shakespeare ...
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.
In his time, Shakespeare was the most popular playwright of London. As time passed, his smartness covers all others of his age; Jonson, Marlowe, Kyd, Greene, Dekker, Heywood—none had the craft or the kindness of character. He was the master of poetry writing and he did it well. He created the most vivid characters of the Elizabethan stage. His usage of language, both high and low, shows a remarkable fun and insight. His themes fit all generation even to this day.