what things did shakespeare write

What Types of Plays Did Shakespeare Write?

• Shakespeare's Innovation. Shakespeare is known for using literary devices such as genre, plot, and characterization in revolutionary ways to expand on their dramatic potential.
• Tragedies. Shakespearean tragedies are plays with somber themes and dark endings. ...
• Comedies. ...
• Histories. ...
• Problem Plays. ...

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What did Shakespeare's write?

His 17 comedies include The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. Among his 10 history plays are Henry V and Richard III. The most famous among his tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. Shakespeare also wrote 4 poems, and a famous collection of Sonnets which was first published in 1609.

What famous things did Shakespeare write?

William Shakespeare's Important WorksRomeo and Juliet (c. 1594–96) scene from Romeo and Juliet. ... Much Ado About Nothing (c. 1598–99) ... Julius Caesar (c. 1599–1600) ... Hamlet (c. 1599–1601) ... King Lear (1605–06) King Lear. ... Macbeth (c. 1606–07) ... The Tempest (1611) scene from The Tempest.

What are the Shakespeare Top 10 facts?

Shakespeare fun facts and triviaShakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. ... Shakespeare wrote 39 plays. ... Shakespeare's first play was The Two Gentlemen of Verona. ... Shakespeare's last play was The Two Noble Kinsmen. ... Shakespeare's most-produced play is A Midsummer Night's Dream. ... Shakespeare wrote 160.5 sonnets.More items...•

What are 3 types of plays Shakespeare wrote?

List of Shakespeare's plays by genre. The groups below are the classification of Shakespeare's plays according to the First Folio, a collection of 36 of Shakespeare's plays published in 1623 by his colleagues.

What was Shakespeare's most famous work?

He wrote the blockbuster plays of his day - some of his most famous are Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. It has been almost 400 years since he died, but people still celebrate his work all around the world.

What is Shakespeare's most famous book?

Our Top 5 Greatest Works By William ShakespeareThe Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice tells the intriguing tale of Bassanio, a lonely Venetian desperate to court the beautiful Portia. ... A Midsummer Night's Dream. ... Twelfth Night. ... Romeo and Juliet. ... Macbeth.

What is Shakespeare's greatest work?

Hamlet is Shakespeare's most popular, and most puzzling, play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father's murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

What is Shakespeare's most famous play?

Romeo and Juliet1597Hamlet1869Macbeth1623A Midsummer Night's Dre...1605King Lear1606The Tempest1611William Shakespeare/Plays

What literary devices did Shakespeare use?

Shakespeare is known for using literary devices such as genre, plot, and characterization in revolutionary ways to expand on their dramatic potential. He used soliloquies—long speeches by characters spoken to the audience—not only to push along the plot of a play but also to display a character's secret life, such as in "Hamlet" and "Othello."

What are some examples of Shakespeare's influence on the English language?

Many English words used in today's lexicon are attributed to Shakespeare's pen. For example, "swagger," "bedroom," "lackluster," and "puppy dog" were all coined by the Bard of Avon.

What are the themes of Shakespeare's tragedies?

Shakespearean tragedies are plays with somber themes and dark endings. Tragic conventions used by Shakespeare feature the death and destruction of well-meaning people brought down by either their own fatal flaws or the political machinations of others. Flawed heroes, the fall of a noble person, and the triumph of external pressures such as fate, spirits, or other characters over the hero are featured.

What are the four categories of Shakespeare plays?

Shakespearean critics have broken the plays into four categories: tragedies, comedies, histories, and "problem plays.". This list contains some of the plays that fall into each category. However, you will find that different lists place some plays into different categories.

What is Shakespeare's comedy?

Comedies. Shakespearean comedies are, on the whole, more light-hearted pieces. The point of these plays may not necessarily be to make the audience laugh, but to think. Comedies feature the clever use of language to create wordplay, metaphors, and smart insults.

What are Shakespeare's problem plays?

Problem Plays. Shakespeare's so-called "problem plays" are plays that do not fit into any of these three categories. Although most of his tragedies contain comic elements, and most of his comedies have bits of tragedy, the problem plays shift rapidly between truly dark events and comic material.

Is Shakespeare's history accurate?

Histories. Despite their category's name, Shakespearean historie s are not historically accurate. While the histories are set in Medieval England and explored class systems of that time, Shakespeare was not trying to depict the past authentically.

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays and over 150 short and long poems, many of which are considered to be the finest ever written in English.

Does the Folger have copies of every play?

The Folger has copies of every play , from the earliest printings to modern editions, and we offer carefully edited print and digital texts. Follow the links below for more information, including plot synopses, brief textual histories, and selected images from our collection.

What is Shakespeare known for?

Known colloquially as "The Bard" or "The Bard of Avon," Shakespeare was also an actor and the creator of the Globe Theatre, a historical theatre, and company that is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. His works span tragedy, comedy, and historical works, both in poetry and prose. And although the man is the most-recognized ...

What are the two tragedies that Shakespeare wrote?

Interestingly, two tragedies bookend Shakespeare's comedic era - Romeo and Juliet were written at the beginning of the 1590s, and Julius Caesar was written at the end of the era. For the last portion of his writing career, Shakespeare focused his work on tragedies and "problem" plays.

How old was Shakespeare when he married Anne Hathaway?

In 1582, an 18-year-old Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who, on the occasion of her wedding, was 26 years old and already with child. Hathaway gave birth to the couple's first child six months later, a daughter named Susanna, with twins, named Hamnet and Judith, following two years later in 1585. Hamnet died at the age of 11 from unknown reasons.

What is Shakespeare's most famous phrase?

But Shakespeare was, and still is, the most prominent influential figure in language. Phrases such as "breaking the ice" or "heart of gold" are colloquial now, but are also known to have originated in Shakespeare's plays and sonnets.

What is Shakespeare's influence on the world?

Shakespeare's influence on art, literature, language and the vast array of the creative arts has long been known and documented. He is the most-read playwright in the Western Hemisphere, and the English language is littered with quotes and phrases the originated from his works.

When did Shakespeare publish his first quartos?

It was in 1594 that the first known quartos of Shakespeare's plays were published, solidifying his reputation by 1598 when his name became the selling point in new productions. This led to his success as both an actor on stage and a playwright, and his name was published on the title page of his plays.

When did Shakespeare first appear on the Globe?

Career and Creation of the Globe. William Shakespeare first made his appearance on the London stage, where his plays would be written and performed, around 1592, although the exact date is unknown. He was, however, well known enough to be attacked by critics in newspapers, and thus was considered to be already an established playwright.

What was Shakespeare's upbringing?

Little is known about Shakespeare's upbringing or why he became a playwright and a poet. However, there is evidence that by 1592, Shakespeare was earning a living as an actor and a playwright in London. He was also a managing partner in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, one of the prominent acting companies in London.

How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?

William Shakespeare is known most for his playwriting, but he also wrote 154 sonnets as well as a number of other poems. Born in 1564, Shakespeare is considered by many the greatest dramatist of all time. Little is known about Shakespeare's upbringing or why he became a playwright and a poet.

What is the first line of Shakespeare's sonnet?

All of Shakespeare's sonnets were written with just a number rather than a title. His first sonnet begins with the line, "From fairest creatures we desire increase.". His second sonnet begins with the line, "When forty winters shall beseige they brow.". ADVERTISEMENT.

Who wrote the poem "Venus and Adonis"?

Shakespeare also began writing poems at this time and dedicated his first and second published poems ("Venus and Adonis" in 1593 and "The Rape of Lucrece" in 1594) to the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley. All of Shakespeare's sonnets were written with just a number rather than a title.

What did Shakespeare write about the royal court?

There's no doubt Shakespeare found the royal court to be something of an enigma. He crafted tales of betrayal, love, and murder, all within the king's court. We can learn a lot about this period in time through these plays:

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

How many plays did Shakespeare write? Most scholars agree that he wrote at least 37 plays. However, either because they are lost or poorly documented, no one knows exactly how many plays Shakespeare wrote for certain.

What are the three types of plays that Shakespeare wrote?

The three types of plays Shakespeare wrote are tragedies, comedies, and histories. Tragedies are often marked by death and sadness, while comedies include happy endings (and often a wedding). Histories reflect a dramatization of historical monarchs and periods of time from Shakespeare’s perspective. Although the exact dates that Shakespeare penned ...

What are some of the most famous plays of Shakespeare?

His most well-known works include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, and Hamlet.

How long did Shakespeare's plays shut down?

Although his plays were exceedingly popular, theaters and other public forums had to shut down from roughly 1592 to 1594.

Which tragedies have tragic flaws?

Following the Greek tragedy tradition, characters in Shakespearean tragedies often have tragic flaws that lead to their ultimate downfall. Here are the tragedies penned by Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus (1591 - 1592) Romeo and Juliet (1595 - 1596) Julius Caesar (1599) Hamlet (1600) Othello (1604)

When was the first Shakespeare play published?

The first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays were published in 1623 as the First Folio.

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Classification of the plays. The Plays of William Shakespeare. By Sir John Gilbert, 1849. Shakespeare's works include the 36 plays printed in the First Folio of 1623, listed according to their folio classification as comedies, histories, and tragedies.

What are the two themes of Shakespeare's poems?

In 1593 and 1594, when the theatres were closed because of plague, Shakespeare published two narrative poems on sexual themes, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. He dedicated them to Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. In Venus and Adonis , an innocent Adonis rejects the sexual advances of Venus; while in The Rape of Lucrece, the virtuous wife Lucrece is raped by the lustful Tarquin. Influenced by Ovid 's Metamorphoses, the poems show the guilt and moral confusion that result from uncontrolled lust. Both proved popular and were often reprinted during Shakespeare's lifetime. A third narrative poem, A Lover's Complaint, in which a young woman laments her seduction by a persuasive suitor, was printed in the first edition of the Sonnets in 1609. Most scholars now accept that Shakespeare wrote A Lover's Complaint. Critics consider that its fine qualities are marred by leaden effects. The Phoenix and the Turtle, printed in Robert Chester's 1601 Love's Martyr, mourns the deaths of the legendary phoenix and his lover, the faithful turtle dove. In 1599, two early drafts of sonnets 138 and 144 appeared in The Passionate Pilgrim, published under Shakespeare's name but without his permission.

How old was Shakespeare when he married Anne Hathaway?

Few details of Shakespeare's sexuality are known. At 18, he married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant. Susanna, the first of their three children, was born six months later on 26 May 1583. Over the centuries, some readers have posited that Shakespeare's sonnets are autobiographical, and point to them as evidence of his love for a young man. Others read the same passages as the expression of intense friendship rather than romantic love. The 26 so-called "Dark Lady" sonnets, addressed to a married woman, are taken as evidence of heterosexual liaisons.

What was the indoor setting in Shakespeare's Cymbeline?

The indoor setting, combined with the Jacobean fashion for lavishly staged masques, allowed Shakespeare to introduce more elaborate stage devices. In Cymbeline, for example, Jupiter descends "in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle: he throws a thunderbolt. The ghosts fall on their knees.".

Where did Shakespeare live in 1596?

In 1596, the year before he bought New Place as his family home in Stratford, Shakespeare was living in the parish of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, north of the River Thames. He moved across the river to Southwark by 1599, the same year his company constructed the Globe Theatre there.

When did Shakespeare appear in the London theatre?

After the birth of the twins, Shakespeare left few historical traces until he is mentioned as part of the London theatre scene in 1592 . The exception is the appearance of his name in the "complaints bill" of a law case before the Queen's Bench court at Westminster dated Michaelmas Term 1588 and 9 October 1589.

Where was William Shakespeare born?

He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was baptised on 26 April 1564.

Where is Shakespeare's work studied?

15) Today, Shakespeare’s work is studied in schools and universities around the world , and his stories are depicted on TV and in films. In 1997, the modern Globe Theatre was opened in London.

What happened to Shakespeare in 1613?

Disaster struck in 1613 when a cannon shot set fire to the roof of the Globe and burned it down! It wasn’t long after that Shakespeare retired from the theatre. 13) Towards the end of his life, William lived quietly back in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. He died on 23 April 1616, aged 52, after falling ill.

Who hired Shakespeare's company to perform at the royal court?

Both Queen Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland and I of England would often hire Shakespeare’s company to come and perform at the royal court. 11) Plays in Shakespeare’s time were different to the ones we have today. There were no female actors (women’s parts were played by men!), and audiences could be very rowdy.

Where was William Shakespeare born?

2) William was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, during England’s Tudor period. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a well-to-do glove-maker and leather worker, and his wife, Mary Arden, an heiress from a wealthy family. 3) Very little is known about William Shakespeare’s early years.

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Nothing has been found documenting the composition of the more than 36 plays and 154 sonnets attributed to the Bard. Most scholars accept that William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, and spent time acting in London before returning to Stratford, where he lived until his death in 1616. But actual documentation ...

What are the doubts about Shakespeare's authorship?

Doubts about Shakespeare’s authorship and attempts to identify a more educated, worldly and high-born candidate, Stratfordians contend, reveal not only misguided snobbery but a striking disregard for one of the most outstanding qualities of the Bard’s extraordinary work —his imagination.

Shakespeare's Innovation

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Tragedies

Comedies

Histories

Problem Plays