William_Shakespeare
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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)
William Shakespeare is one of Britain's and the world's most famous writers. His plays and sonnets (type of poem) have been translated, read, and played all over the world.
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 and he grew up there. His father was a glove-maker and town official, and his mother came from a landed family. When Shakespeare was 18, he married 8-years older Anne Hathaway, and they had three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. After a few years, Shakespeare went to London – in 1590s he had become an actor and a playwright. In 1594 he was well established in the London theatre world. He was a member of an acting company known as the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later King's Men). The company built their own open-air theatre – the Globe.
Shakespeare became very popular (even Queen Elizabeth I was a big fan of his plays). When he retired and came back to Stratford, he was a rich and successful man. He died at age 52 (1616) and is buried in Stratford.
He wrote 38 plays and 157 sonnets. He wrote comedies, tragedies, romances, and historical plays. One of his most famous tragedies is Romeo and Juliet, a love story about two young lovers from fighting families. Hamlet is thought to be his best play (also a tragedy) and it's about a prince who gets revenge on his uncle for the king (the prince's father). He pretends to be crazy and there is also a tragic love story with his lover Ophelia.
As tragedies, we can also consider the plays King Lear, Macbeth, or Othello. The most known comedies are A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, or As You Like It. In historical plays we count for example Henry IV, V and VI, Richard III, or King John.
Today, the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford puts on many of his plays in the town, and his house has become a famous tourist destination. The original Globe theatre was demolished, but a replica now stands near its original spot. It is a popular tourist attraction in London.
Interesting facts:
Although many of his plays are set in Italy, France, Denmark, or Scotland, there is no evidence that Shakespeare ever travelled abroad.
He is credited with bringing or popularizing hundreds of words and idioms – for example "break the ice" or "green-eyed monster" (for jealousy).
On his grave grave in a Holy Trinity Church in a Stratford-upon-Avon there is a written warning saying: "Damage to this grave will be a curse." (not with this words, but this meaning)