Playwright & Poet
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, producing 37 plays and 154 sonnets that continue to be performed and read around the world.
Life and Career
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. He went on to become an actor, playwright, and part-owner of a theatre company in London. Much of his working life was associated with the Globe Theatre in London, where his plays were performed to large audiences.
He wrote across a wide range of genres — tragedies, comedies, and history plays — and his works have been translated into every major language. He died in 1616, having returned to his birthplace in his later years.
Works and Legacy
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, including some of the most famous works in world literature: Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also wrote 154 sonnets — short poems in a distinctive 14-line form.
His influence on the English language has been enormous. Many common phrases and expressions in everyday English originated in his plays and poems. He is celebrated internationally as a symbol of British cultural achievement.
Key facts for the test
- Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564
- Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language
- Wrote 37 plays including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Also wrote 154 sonnets
- Worked at the Globe Theatre in London
- Died in 1616
Test yourself
Questions about William Shakespeare appear in the Life in the UK Test.
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