Shakespeare

Encyclopedia Article

Article

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, actor, and poet who is the author of some of the world’s most famous plays. He was born in 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England during the Renaissance. He authored 154 sonnets, 38 plays, and other poems and verses. The plays touched on such topics as comedy, tragedy, and historic persons and events. His most famous plays include: Romeo and Juliet; The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; The Tragedy of Macbeth; The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice; and King Lear. Shakespeare was the partial owner of the playing company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, and they had exclusive rights to perform his plays. This company was later renamed The King’s Men upon the coronation of King James I, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare died in 1616 in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Photo Credit: 

"Chandos portrait: A painting of William Shakespeare from life" by Unknown is licensed under Public Domain.

Term Type: