William Shakespeare

 William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in April 1564. The exact date of his birth is not recorded, but it is most often celebrated around the world on 23 April. William Shakespeare is renowned for his plays and poems, with some of his most famous works including the tragedies Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello, the comedies Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Much Ado About Nothing, and the historical plays King Lear and Henry V. Scant records exist of Shakespeare's childhood and virtually none regarding his education. Scholars have surmised that he most likely attended the King's New School, in Stratford, which taught reading, writing, and the classics, including Latin. He attended until he was 14 or 15 and did not continue to university. William Shakespeare was a prolific English playwright, poet, and actor, known for his 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems, which have had a lasting impact on literature and theatre. 

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Siblings

Sister: Joan Shakespeare (born in 1558)

Sister: Margaret Shakespeare (born in 1562)

Brother: Gilbert Shakespeare (born in 1566)

Sister: Joan Shakespeare (born in 1569)

Sister: Anne Shakespeare (born in 1571)

Brother: Richard Shakespeare (born in 1574)

Brother: Edmund Shakespeare (born in 1580)

Shakespeare’s parents were Mary Arden and John Shakespeare. He was one of eight children, only five of whom survived into adulthood. It is important to understand that in Elizabethan England, disease was rampant and life expectancy was much lower than today. This society didn’t have access to modern medicine, sanitation, or even much fresh water. One of the most common diseases was the bubonic plague or ‘Black Death’ which was incredibly painful and had a high rate of spread and mortality. Children were especially susceptible to disease, and in Shakespeare’s time, around 20% of infants died each year. In his biography of Shakespeare, writer Bill Bryson states. William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582 and they remained married until Shakespeare's death. At the time of their marriage, William was 18, while Anne was 26—and pregnant with their first child. Here's a more detailed look at some of his most celebrated works:

Tragedies: