William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and world literature. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Shakespeare’s work spans a variety of genres including comedies, tragedies, and histories, and his influence on language, literature, and theater is still immense. Shakespeare is often called “The Bard of Avon” and is considered England’s national poet.
Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, to John S hakespeare, a successful glover and alderman, and Mary Arden, a member of the local gentry. He was the third of eight children. Not much is known about his education, but it is believed that he attended King Edward VI School in Stratford, where he likely studied grammar, rhetoric, and classical literature, though he never attended university.
At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older. They had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet tragically died at the age of 11, and it is thought that this loss influenced Shakespeare’s later tragedies.
By the early 1590s, Shakespeare had moved to London, where he began his career as an actor and writer. He became a member of the acting company Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men under the patronage of King James I. This company was one of the most successful in London, performing regularly at the Globe Theatre.
Shakespeare’s body of work is vast, comprising 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several narrative poems. His works can be divided into three main categories:
In addition to his plays, his sonnets are celebrated for their deep emotional insight and their mastery of poetic form. His works contributed significantly to the development of the English language, with phrases and words he coined still in use today.
Shakespeare returned to Stratford-upon-Avon around 1613, where he lived as a prosperous landowner. He passed away on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52. He was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, where his tombstone bears the inscription of a curse against moving his bones.
Shakespeare’s works have been translated into every major living language, and his plays are performed more often than those of any other playwright. His understanding of human nature, intricate characterizations, and poetic genius have ensured that his works remain relevant over four centuries after his death.
Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: Ding-dong. Hark! now I hear them,–ding-dong, bell.
Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under, Cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss; Who, therefore angry, seems to part in sunder, Swelling on either side to want his bliss; Between whose hills her head entombed is; Where like a virtuous monument she lies, To be admired of lewd unhallowed eyes. Without the bed … Read more
Fear no more the heat o’ the sun; Nor the furious winter’s rages, Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages; Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney sweepers come to dust. Fear no more the frown of the great, Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke: Care no more … Read more
FULL fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: Ding-dong. Hark! now I hear them– Ding-dong, bell!
WHERE the bee sucks, there suck I: In a cowslip’s bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat’s back I do fly After summer merrily: Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
COME unto these yellow sands, And then take hands: Court’sied when you have, and kiss’d,– The wild waves whist,– Foot it featly here and there; And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear. Hark, hark! Bow, wow, The watch-dogs bark: Bow, wow. Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow!
YOU spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong; Come not near our fairy queen. Philomel, with melody, Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby! Never harm, Nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby. Weaving spiders, … Read more
OVER hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moone’s sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green: The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy … Read more
But, lo! from forth a copse that neighbours by, A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, Adonis’ trampling courser doth espy, And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud; The strong-neck’d steed, being tied unto a tree, Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, And now … Read more
URNS and odours bring away! Vapours, sighs, darken the day! Our dole more deadly looks than dying; Balms and gums and heavy cheers, Sacred vials fill’d with tears, And clamours through the wild air flying! Come, all sad and solemn shows, That are quick-eyed Pleasure’s foes! We convent naught else but woes.
Blow, blow, thou winter wind Thou art not so unkind As man’s ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude. Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: Most freindship if feigning, most loving mere folly: Then heigh-ho, the holly! This life is most jolly. Freeze, freeze … Read more
Enobarbus describes Queen Cleopatra Enobarbus: I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnish’d throne, Burned on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were lovesick with them; the oars were silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made The … Read more
HARK! hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings, And Phoebus ‘gins arise, His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes: With everything that pretty bin, My lady sweet, arise! Arise, arise!
All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning … Read more
Crabbed Age and Youth Cannot live together: Youth is full of pleasance, Age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, Age like winter weather; Youth like summer brave, Age like winter bare: Youth is full of sports, Age’s breath is short, Youth is nimble, Age is lame: Youth is hot and bold, Age is … Read more
FROM off a hill whose concave womb reworded A plaintful story from a sistering vale, My spirits to attend this double voice accorded, And down I laid to list the sad-tuned tale; Ere long espied a fickle maid full pale, Tearing of papers, breaking rings a-twain, Storming her world with sorrow’s wind and rain. Upon … Read more
O mistress mine, where are you roaming? O stay and hear! your true-love’s coming That can sing both high and low; Trip no further, pretty sweeting, Journey’s end in lovers’ meeting– Every wise man’s son doth know. What is love? ’tis not hereafter; Present mirth hath present laughter; What’s to come is still unsure: In … Read more
ROSES, their sharp spines being gone, Not royal in their smells alone, But in their hue; Maiden pinks, of odour faint, Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint, And sweet thyme true; Primrose, firstborn child of Ver; Merry springtime’s harbinger, With her bells dim; Oxlips in their cradles growing, Marigolds on death-beds blowing, Larks’-heels trim; All dear … Read more
Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire! I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon’s sphere; And I serve the Fairy Queen, To dew her orbs upon the green; The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy … Read more