WHO WAS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Hundreds of authors have written written famous plays Many of their works have been performed over and over all around the world The most famous of all those playwrights is William Shakespeare Shakespeare is nicknamed the Bard of Avon He was born near the river Avon in England and became that The first printed book of Shakespeare’s collected works appeared in 1623 That was seven years after the playwright’s death 4 CHAPTER ONE
WHO WAS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Vocabulary PLAYWRIGHTS are authors who write plays country’s most famous poet or bard Although he began by writing poems he soon turned his creative energy to writing plays In all he wrote some 38 plays and more than 150 poems Some of his plays are comedies some are tragedies and some are histories Shakespeare’s plays and In a scene from Romeo and Juliet Romeo visits his sweetheart Juliet on her balcony The play is one of the most famous of Shakespeare’s tragedies poems remain popular worldwide One reason is his cleverness cleverness with words People often quote lines from his writings writings These sayings can apply to different people in different 5
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Quick Fact Shakespeare earned little money by writing poems and plays He became rich though because he owned part of the acting company that put on his plays different circumstances at different times in history Another reason is his talent for creating believable believable characters His plays also include include fast action suspense and surprising surprising twists Shakespeare’s plays are performed all over the world Here Syrian children living in a Jordanian refugee camp act in a version of the play King Lear 6
CHAPTER TWO A LAD BOUND FOR FAME William illiam Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire England His birthday is celebrated on April 23 but the exact date of his birth is uncertain In fact little is known about his childhood Stratford upon-Avon nestled William Shakespeare was born in this house in upon Avon His father made gloves and clothes for a living Historians believe that William helped him for a time 7
