William Shakespeare Biography By Esther Lombardi

William Shakespeare Biography

By Esther Lombardi

1564-1616) British writer. William Shakespeare is recognized as one of the greatest writers of all time, known for works like "Hamlet," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," "The Tempest," and many other works.

With the 154 poems and 37 plays of Shakespeare's literary career, his body of works are among the most quoted in literature. Shakespeare created comedies, histories, tragedies, and poetry. Despite the authorship controversies that have surrounded his works, the name of Shakespeare continues to be revered by scholars and writers from around the world.

William Shakespeare Birth:
William Shakespeare was born in April, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, about 100 miles northwest of London. According to the records of Stratford's Holy Trinity Church, he was baptized on April 26. It was customary to baptize infants within days of their birth, so the traditional birth date of Shakespeare is April 23rd, St. George's day, the patron saint of England.

William Shakespeare Death:
William Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616 and was buried on April 25, 1616.

William Shakespeare Marriage:
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582, or at least that's when the marriage certificate was issued. Shakespeare was 18; Anne was 26, eight years older than him.

Susanna was born around May 26, 1583; twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born around February 2, 1585.

William Shakespeare Education:
William Shakespeare was likely educated at the grammar school in Stratford from the age of six or seven.

William Shakespeare Accomplishments:
William Shakespeare published his first poem, "Venus and Adonis," in 1593. He then wrote 154 poems and 37 plays, and his fame has only increased with time.

William Shakespeare Lines From "Sonnet 18":
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date..."

William Shakespeare Lines from "Hamlet":
"To be, or not to be: that is the question."
- (Act III, Scene I)

"This above all: to thine own self be true."
-Act I, Scene III

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't."
-Act II, Scene II

"The play 's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."
-Act II, Scene II

"Brevity is the soul of wit."
-Act II, Scene II

"Doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."
-Act II, Scene II

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none." -Act III, Scene II

William Shakespeare Lines from "As You Like It":
"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts..."
-Act II, Scene VII

"How bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes!"
-Act V, Scene II

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind! Thou art not so unkind as man's ingratitude."
-Act II, Scene VII

"True is it that we have seen better days."
-Act II, Scene VII

William Shakespeare Lines from "Macbeth":
"There's daggers in men's smiles."
-Act II, Scene III

"Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it; he died as one that had been studied in his death to throw away the dearest thing he owed, as 't were a careless trifle."
-Act I, Scene IV

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
-Act V, Scene V

http://classiclit.about.com/cs/profileswriters/p/aa_wshakespeare.htm