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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (Apr 26 1564 – Apr 23 1616) was an English writer of poetry and plays, widely considered one of the greatest English writers ever, and is likely the greatest playwright in all of western history.

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Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for William Shakespeare

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  1. What is a description for hero from the Much ado about nothing by William Shakespeare?

    Hero, depicted as a virtuous and mild young woman, proves to ...

  2. How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?

    Wow - Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets! Thanks for using ChaCha!

  3. Why won't Brutus swear an oath? In the story Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare?

    Brutus will not swear an oath because he thinks a just cause ...

  4. What line does the turn occur in William Shakespeare's Sonnet 30?

    The tightly woven rhyme scheme, abba, abba, cdecde or cdcdcd,...

  5. How does Malcolm test Macduff's honesty in Macbeth by William Shakespeare and how does Macduff nearly fail the test?

    Malcolm begins by questioning Macduff's motives for leaving h...

  1. How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?

    Wow - Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets! Thanks for using ChaCha!

  2. What were the names of William Shakespeare's children?

    Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. Would you like more info on thes...

  3. What is a description for hero from the Much ado about nothing by William Shakespeare?

    Hero, depicted as a virtuous and mild young woman, proves to ...

  4. Who is is william Shakespeare?

    William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literature's grea...

  5. What is an acrostic poem for William Shakespeare?

    W=witty, I=intelligent, L=Loving, L= literary, I= interesting...

  1. What is an example of a hyperbole from Hamlet by William Shakespeare?

    At the burial of Ophelia in Hamlet (1600), her brother Laerte...

  2. Who wins the first battle in act 5 of the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare?

    Brutus and his army lost the battle that occurred. Furthermor...

  3. What are examples of figurative language in sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare?

    Figurative language present in Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 inclu...

  4. What is the correct MLA citation for the play "hamlet" by william shakespeare?

    "Ophelia in William Shakespeare's Hamlet." ChaCha!

  5. How does william shakespeare show in time at the end of scenes in romeo and juliet?

    Time is an oppressive force on the couple at the close of the...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for William Shakespeare

In the Last:
Day | Week | Month

  1. What is a quote by William Shakespeare?

    "The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day" is a quote b...

  2. How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?

    Wow - Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets! Thanks for using ChaCha!

  3. What are all plays William Shakespeare wrote?

    Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Merchant of...

  4. What are some love quotes by William Shakespeare?

    "Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." / "Lo...

  5. Who is william shakespeare?

    William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literature's grea...

  1. What is a quote by William Shakespeare?

    "The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day" is a quote b...

  2. How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?

    Wow - Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets! Thanks for using ChaCha!

  3. Who is william shakespeare?

    William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literature's grea...

  4. Who was William Shakespeare?

    William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widel...

  5. What are some quotes from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

    Act 2, Scene 2 "See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O ...

  1. What is a quote by William Shakespeare?

    "The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day" is a quote b...

  2. What are all plays William Shakespeare wrote?

    Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Merchant of...

  3. What are some love quotes by William Shakespeare?

    "Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." / "Lo...

  4. What is a William Shakespeare greatness quote?

    "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achiev...

  5. What are examples of figurative language in sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare?

    Figurative language present in Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 inclu...

About William Shakespeare

Shakespeare was raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. He began acting and writing as a young man, as the theater as we know it was just being developed. Previously, there were traveling troupes of actors doing short productions, but large permanent theaters were just coming into vogue. The public began to demand fresh new plays weekly, and Shakespeare and a handful of other writers suddenly found a huge demand for their skills.

While many great writers were working, Shakespeare quickly rose through the ranks (possibly helped by the fact that he was a part owner in one of the more popular theaters). Many of his plays have been lost to time, but the remaining work includes about 38 plays, and 154 sonnets. While most people have heard the names of at least some of his great works, few realize the impact his writing has had on western culture.

The epic tragedy King Lear, for example has been adapted into both novels and graphic novels, and dozens of film versions exist. Shakespeare's Hamlet is the second most filmed and adapted story in western literary history: Disney's 'The Lion King' and the TV show 'Sons of Anarchy' are both direct adaptions of Hamlet.

While history is full of writers and playwrights who have achieved great fame and success, William Shakespeare is one of very few who is literally in a class of his own.

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William Shakespeare