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Chapter overview
Learning goals
Learning Goals
English
Summary
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is famous today for all of his work. His plays are still performed in theatres all over the world!
Shakespeare wrote many different plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies and histories. He wrote a total of 154 sonnets and around 40 plays in his lifetime.
'Romeo and Juliet' is an example of a tragedy. Spoiler! – The two main characters who are in love with each other die at the end.
In his time, it was common for writers to take ideas from an already-existing story. The idea of Romeo and Juliet, for example, was taken from an Italian story which had been translated into French and then afterwards, English. Shakespeare also took inspiration from real life events to use in his historical plays, although he did change some events and added more characters.
Here are some examples of Shakespeare's famous plays:
romeo and juliet | The children of mortal enemies who fall in love with each other. |
the tempest | Magic, love, betrayal and forgiveness is what this play is about. |
twelfth night | A tale of unrequited love. |
othello | The most powerful play about racism ever written. |
king lear | The last of Shakespeare's great tragedies in which a father of three takes early retirement and becomes a little crazy. |
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is famous today for all of his work. His plays are still performed in theatres all over the world!
Shakespeare wrote many different plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies and histories. He wrote a total of 154 sonnets and around 40 plays in his lifetime.
'Romeo and Juliet' is an example of a tragedy. Spoiler! – The two main characters who are in love with each other die at the end.
In his time, it was common for writers to take ideas from an already-existing story. The idea of Romeo and Juliet, for example, was taken from an Italian story which had been translated into French and then afterwards, English. Shakespeare also took inspiration from real life events to use in his historical plays, although he did change some events and added more characters.
Here are some examples of Shakespeare's famous plays:
romeo and juliet | The children of mortal enemies who fall in love with each other. |
the tempest | Magic, love, betrayal and forgiveness is what this play is about. |
twelfth night | A tale of unrequited love. |
othello | The most powerful play about racism ever written. |
king lear | The last of Shakespeare's great tragedies in which a father of three takes early retirement and becomes a little crazy. |
Context of Shakespeare's plays
Language of Shakespeare's plays
Structure of Shakespeare's plays
FAQs
Question: What plays did Shakespeare write?
Answer: Shakespeare wrote many different plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies and histories.
Question: When was Shakespeare born?
Answer: Shakespeare was born in 1564.
Question: Who is Shakespeare?
Answer: William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor.
Theory
Exercises
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