William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminant dramatist. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. His actual birthdate remains unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April and he was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 April 1564. Shakespeare began his career as an actor, writer and part owner of a play company called the Lord's Chamberlain Men (later known as the Kings Men) in London. Few records of Shakespeare's private life exist.
Most of Shakespeare's work was produced between 1589 and 1613, this included 38 plays(including Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth), 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems(Venus & Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece) and several other poems. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the 16th century. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. Most of the plays were performed in the Elizabethan theatres of that Era.
In his later years, Shakespeare became part of the ownership of the famous Globe Theatre where many of his plays were later performed. The Globe opened in autumn 1599, with Julius Caesar one of the first plays staged. Most of Shakespeare's greatest post-1599 plays were written for the Globe, including Hamlet, Othello and King Lear.William Shakespeare died on April, 1616. However, written upon his tomb stone is an appeal bearing a curse to anyone who were to move his bones. It read:
"Good friend, for Jesus´ sake forbeare
To digg the dust enclosed here!
Blest be ye man that spares thes stones
And curst be he that moues my bones."
Shakespeare has been commemorated in many statues and memorials around the world, including funeral monuments in Southwark Cathedral and Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey.
In his later years, Shakespeare became part of the ownership of the famous Globe Theatre where many of his plays were later performed. The Globe opened in autumn 1599, with Julius Caesar one of the first plays staged. Most of Shakespeare's greatest post-1599 plays were written for the Globe, including Hamlet, Othello and King Lear.William Shakespeare died on April, 1616. However, written upon his tomb stone is an appeal bearing a curse to anyone who were to move his bones. It read:
"Good friend, for Jesus´ sake forbeare
To digg the dust enclosed here!
Blest be ye man that spares thes stones
And curst be he that moues my bones."
Shakespeare has been commemorated in many statues and memorials around the world, including funeral monuments in Southwark Cathedral and Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey.
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