William Shakespeare Written Books, Novels, Plays & Poem

William Shakespeare, a poet, playwright, and actor from England, is largely recognised as the best writer in history. William Shakespeare’s birth is undocumented, however, an old church record claims that he was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon Holy Trinity Church in April of 1564. The “Bard of Avon” and frequently referred to as England’s National Poet, he goes by both names. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest playwright of all time.

A deep understanding of William Shakespeare, his life and works is extremely important for acquiring the best knowledge in English Literature which happens to be a vital paper in government exams.

UGC NET English Literature Notes PDF

William Shakespeare – Career & Works

Through the writing of several poems, sonnets, plays, and other literary works, Shakespeare has presented an outline of his life. Official records from churches and courts are additional sources that offer details on his life. The archives in the church, however, simply give a brief summary of key events in his life and offer little detail about the man himself.

A brief insight into his life:

• He produced two lengthy narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and 37 plays during the course of his lifetime.
• His plays are extremely well-known, having been adapted into every language spoken across the globe.
• The plays are among the most often staged of all playwrights.
• On April 23, 1616, William Shakespeare passed away.

William Shakespeare – Books, Novels & Plays

The legendary Shakespeare had written multiple books and novels which have been staged as plays. These are read and watched by people of all age groups. The most popular ones have been mentioned below:

• Romeo & Juliet (1595) – The best love story ever written has never been surpassed. Romeo and Juliet fall head over heels in love in the feudal and gang-ridden city of Verona in the fourteenth century. The two teenage lovers, however, are caught in the crossfire of animosity, retaliation, and intolerance since their families are sworn rivals. This is a story that grips from beginning to end. It is a heady mixture of romance, violence, comedy, and tragedy.

• A Midsummer’s Night Dream (1600) – A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Shakespeare’s most often performed play, which makes sense given that it serves as the ideal introduction to his world of magic, vivacity, beauty, and imagination. Fairies and spirits live in the enchanted forest where the action is set.

• Tempest (1610-1611) – The profound tale of politics, power, and human nature in The Tempest is woven with magic and the paranormal. Ariel, an invisible spirit, and the terrifying Caliban, a witch’s son, reside on the isolated island where Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been exiled from Italy for a long time. In order to shipwreck his sworn enemies, including his brother Antonio, Prospero uses his magical abilities to call a dangerous storm.

• Hamlet (1599-1601) – Hamlet is very often performed on stage. Prince of Denmark Hamlet encounters his dead father, who accuses him of being murdered by his own brother, who is now wed to his widow. However, is his father being truthful? Hamlet, tormented by self-doubt and reflection, pretends to be insane to test the ghost and seeks revenge against his uncle.

• King Lear (1605-1606) – Old King Lear chooses to give his three daughters equal shares of his kingdom according to how much they can demonstrate their love for him. The eldest and most devoted Cordelia declines to participate in the game. Goneril and Regan, two malevolent characters, compete to rule the kingdom. They finally throw their own father into a storm, where he eventually goes insane, driven by madness. A play that is crazy, and incredibly wild.

William Shakespeare – Famous Poems (Sonnet)

William Shakespeare is most known for his plays, but he also wrote poetry that has become a staple in homes and even on school curricula. Shakespeare employed the four-line stanza or three-quatrain with a couplet at the end in nearly all 154 of his sonnets that were published in 1609. This gave rise to the term “Shakespearean Sonnet.” Some of the most popular of them have been enumerated below:

• Venus and Adonis (1593) – Shakespeare’s narrative poem, a minor epic, was perhaps the first of his poems to be published. It tells the tale of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and Adonis from Greek mythology.

• The Rape of Lucrece (1594) – The terrible story of Sextus Tarquinius, the king’s son, raping an ancient Roman woman named Lucretia and the results is told in this long narrative poem of 1,855 lines.

• Sonnet 1 (From Fairest Creatures we Desire Increase 1609) – Shakespeare’s collection of sonnets begins with this one, setting the stage for the subsequent sonnets. The poetry illuminates beauty right away, but not in a shallow way. Shakespeare emphasizes on the fading of beauty and the inevitability of time in the first words.

• Sonnet 130 (My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like The Sun 1609) – Shakespeare makes fun of the comparisons that writers frequently use to describe their loved ones, such as lightening their skin tone to snow or the color of their cheeks to roses. Instead, he creates a comparison to show the reader a different, more subtle and beautiful form of beauty.

Conclusion

Shakespeare’s life between the years 1582 to 1592 is not documented. The “Lost Years” have been referred to as those years. A mysterious life is what best describes Shakespeare, yet his plays continue to be studied and performed all over the world and are still quite popular.

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