All About Shakespeare

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Shakespeare introduced mankind to these words like fashionable, comfortable and other 7,000 words through his literature and these words were not used before the Shakespearian era. An ordinary literary person knows up to 20,000 words but it is said that Shakespeare knew 27,000 to 33,000 words. If we calculate the number of synonyms he knew then we might come across the mind-boggling value of 70,000 synonyms.

 

Quotations by Shakespeare

1. Love is blind.
2. All that glitters is not gold.
3. All is well when end's well

 

Other Facts

1. His work has been translated into every language spoken on the planet earth.
2. Every 10th quotation is quoted of Shakespeare in religious as well as ordinary books all around the globe.
3. He spelled his name as Willam Shakspr.

 

Birth and Parentage

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, at Stratford, England, in which the river Avon flows. With reference to the river, he is well known as The Bard of Avon. The name of his father was John Shakespeare, who had been dealing with leather to make gloves. His mother was renowned as the woman of higher rank. Her name was Mary Shakespeare. Shakespeare was the third one among his siblings. They were five brothers and three sisters. After the birth of Shakespeare, his father had to face a severe financial crisis and his mother tried her best to bridge this financial gap. He had been learning Greek and Latin languages in school but due to the financial crisis, he was made leave the school education.

 

Shakespeare as a Drama Actor

He decided to make his way to London to earn his livelihood. It is said that he had been wandering jobless for almost six months. But it was a golden era of theatre and he learnt the art of playwright by taking care of the horses which were used in royal carriages: driven towards The Theatre. Then he started taking part as a minor actor in dramas. His superior intellect soon paved his way to play as a leading role in dramas.

 

The King's Men - A Playing Company of Shakespeare

A royal playing company which was managed by Lawrence Fletcher and by William Shakespeare. This company was well known for playing acts and dramas in the royal court of Queen Elizabeth. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, this company was renowned as Lord Chamberlain's Men. When King James I took over the throne, the company was renamed as King's Men.

 

Marriage and Children of Shakespeare

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582. He, himself was 18 and his wife was 26 years old during the marriage. Their first child was Susanna, born in May 1583. Later on, two twins were born, named as Hamnet (the boy) and Judity (the girl). His son died of some unknown consequences at eleventh age. Judity's children died and Susanna's children were not married. Thus, the lineage of Shakespeare ended and there is no one to call Shakespeare as his grandfather.

Workings of Shakespeare

The literary work of Shakespeare has been divided into 4 phases:

 

1st Phase | Immature Works (Early)

The first period of Shakespeare literary and dramatic genius lasted till 1594. The language used in these dramas is loaded with difficult phrases. But the Plots are well connected with the story. Here are the notable works of that period:

Comedies

1. Comedy of Errors (1592)
2. Taming of the Shrew (1593)
3. Love's Labour's Lost (1594)

Tragedies

1. Henry VI (1590-1592) (Historical play)
2. Titus Andronicus (1594)

2nd Phase | Histories and Comedies (Balanced Period)

The second phase of Shakespeare's works holds an important position due to his historical plays. The language used in these plays is simple. This phase started from 1594 and lasted till 1600. Here are some works of this period:

Historical Plays:

1. Richard II (1595)
2. Henry IV (1597)
3. Henry V

Comedies

1. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)
2. The Merchant of Vence (1596) (Tragicomedy)
3. Much Ado About Nothing (1599)
4. As You Like It (1599)
5. Twelfth Night (1600)

Tragedies

1. Romeo and Juliet (1595)
2. Julius Caesar (1599)

3rd Phase | Tragedies and Dark Comedies (Overflowing Period)

The literary genius of this period by Shakespeare is made of complex plot, challenging the reader with sudden reversal of expected situations. This phase is also renowned for the blood thirsty tragedies as every tragedy of that period is littered with deaths of characters, including the protagonist as well. Here are some well-known plays of this period:

Tragedies:

1. Hamlet (1601)
2. Troilus and Cressida (1602)
3. Othello (1604)
4. King Lear (1605)
5. Antony and Cleopatra (1606)
6. Macbeth (1606)
7. Coriolanus (1607)
8. Timon of Athens (1608)

Problem Plays (Dark Comedies):

1. All's Well That Ends Well (1602)
2. Measure of Measure (1604)

4th Phase | Romantic Tragedies (Final Period)

The final period of Shakespeare literary genius. During this period, he gave up his motives regarding bloody spectacles and promoted peace and calm mixed with proper language, technical skills and psychological wisdom. These plays often illustrate magical illusions and mythical creatures. Here are some works of the final period:

1. Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608)
2. Cymbeline (1610)
3. The Winter's Tale (1610)
4. The Tempest (1611)

Product of Collaboration:

1. Henry VIII (1613 – Historical Drama)
2. Two Noble Kinsmen (Written in 1613 and Published in 1634)

Poems by Shakespeare

This seems a bit confusing as 154 sonnets are also a part of his poetry but there are two long narrative poems which are "considered" the only pieces of poetry. He wrote these poems during the plague in England when the Government of England temporarily shut all the theatres to prevent the citizens from getting infected with plague. Here are the names of these two poems:

1. Venus and Adonis
2. The Rape of Lucrèce

 

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays (without mentioning 2 lost plays) and 160 sonnets (actual 154 and 6 in dramas) collectively. 

Everything Famous Regarding Shakespeare

Some Oblique Words and their Meanings

1. He left us straight (at once).
2. I marry her, what a customer (prostitute)
3. O brave new world for I charge (to give authority) thee to obey me. I pray thee have a better chair.
4. Thou art a silly (less educated woman).

The famous words invented by Shakespeare

1. Amazement
2. Lonely
3. Fashionable
4. Hurry
5. Majestic
6. Excellent

Famous Idioms

1. Heart of Gold
2. Pillar of Strength
3. Green-eyed Monster (Jealousy)
4. To wear one's heart on one's sleeve
5. Method in Madness
6. More sinned than sinning
7. Vanish into the thin air
8. Foregone conclusion

Famous Lines

1. To be or not to be, that's the question.
2. You too brutus. (not certain regarding its spelling)
3. The course of true love never did run smooth
4. There's nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so.
5. Hell is empty and all the devils are here.