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William Shakespeare

37 plays, 154 sonnets; invented 1,700 English words; most quoted author in history

England ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 1590 English Literature

Key Facts

  1. 1

    Four categories: Tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear), Comedies (Midsummer Night's Dream)

  2. 2

    Histories (Henry V, Richard III), Romances (The Tempest, The Winter's Tale)

  3. 3

    Globe Theatre (1599, London): open-air; 3,000 standing; all roles played by men; burned 1613, rebuilt 1997

๐Ÿ“– Did you know? Shakespeare invented or popularised 1,700 words still used today: bedroom, lonely, generous, obscene, gloomy, road, lonely, summit โ€” and the phrase "it's Greek to me"

Quick Reference

Category

English Literature

Country

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง England

Year / Era

1590

About

37 plays, 154 sonnets