"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."— William Shakespeare, As You Like It
William Shakespeare
The Bard of Avon
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small English country town. His father John was a glove-maker and a town official. William went to the local school until about age 14, where he learned Latin and a lot of classical history.
At 18, William married Anne Hathaway, a local woman eight years older than him. They had three children. Then, sometime around 1589, William left home and went to London. We don't know exactly why. What's certain is that within a few years he was performing in plays, writing plays, and becoming one of the most famous actors in England.
Quick Facts
- Born: April 1564 (exact date unknown)
- From: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
- Job: Actor, playwright, theater owner
- Famous for: Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 37 plays + 154 sonnets
Shakespeare invented or popularized hundreds of phrases we still use every day, including 'break the ice,' 'wild goose chase,' 'in a pickle,' 'good riddance,' 'heart of gold,' and 'wear my heart on my sleeve.' He's been quoted more than any other writer in English.
His Famous Plays
Read Shakespeare's stories on Worldly
Shakespeare's plays work amazingly well for kids when the language is updated. On Worldly, every page is adapted to your reading level.
1597Two teenagers from feuding families fall in love at first sight. They try to find a way to be together. It's the most famous love story in the world.
1595Four young Athenians get lost in an enchanted forest, where fairies are running wild and accidentally putting a love potion on everyone.
1611A magician named Prospero lives on a magic island. When his enemies wash up shipwrecked, he must choose between magic revenge and forgiveness.
His Life, Year by Year
From Stratford to the world stage
Shakespeare's life has many gaps. Here's what historians have pieced together.
Born in Stratford
William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father John is a glove-maker.
He marries Anne Hathaway
At 18, William marries 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. They have a daughter named Susanna and then twins Hamnet and Judith.
He's a famous actor in London
By his late twenties, William is in London performing in plays. He becomes part of an acting company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men.
The Globe Theatre opens
William helps build the Globe Theatre on the south side of the Thames. It becomes his theater's permanent home. He'll write most of his most famous plays for this stage.
Hamlet
William writes Hamlet, his most famous tragedy. The melancholy prince's question "To be, or not to be" becomes the most famous line in all of English drama.
Royal patronage
King James I personally takes William's acting company under his patronage. They're now called The King's Men.
His greatest tragedies
In a few years William writes King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, and other massive tragedies. Theater audiences are stunned.
He retires to Stratford
William moves back home to Stratford a wealthy man. He buys a big house and farmland.
He dies on his birthday
William dies in Stratford at age 52, possibly on his own birthday. He's buried in the local church. Within a few years, his friends gather his plays into one big book, the First Folio, which saves most of them from being lost.
Three Famous Stories He Told
Plays that became the foundation of English drama
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. Some are comedies, some are tragedies, some are histories. Three favorites for kids.
Comedy
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Four young people, lost in a magical wood, get tangled up with fairies who are playing tricks with a love potion. Everyone falls in love with the wrong person. Hilarity follows.
Tragedy
Romeo and Juliet
Two teenagers from feuding families fall in love and try to be together despite everything. The most famous love story in English. It does not end well.
Comedy
The Tempest
A magician named Prospero lives on a magic island with his daughter and a spirit named Ariel. When his enemies' ship is wrecked on the island, he has to decide whether to use his magic for revenge or mercy.
Wait… really?!
Six surprising things about Shakespeare
He invented thousands of words
Shakespeare made up or popularized about 1,700 new English words, including 'eyeball,' 'lonely,' 'bedazzled,' and 'gossip.' English wouldn't be the same without him.
We don't have any of his original scripts
Not a single play in Shakespeare's own handwriting has survived. Everything we have today comes from later printed editions, especially the First Folio, published seven years after he died.
Some people think he didn't write his plays
A small group of scholars have argued for centuries that someone else, maybe Christopher Marlowe or the Earl of Oxford, must have actually written Shakespeare's plays. Most historians disagree, but the debate continues.
The original Globe Theatre burned down
In 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, a cannon used in the play set the thatched roof of the Globe on fire. The whole theater burned down. It was rebuilt a year later.
His exact birthday is unknown
Records show William was baptized on April 26, 1564. People assume he was born three days earlier on April 23, but no one really knows. He may also have died on April 23, 52 years later.
His grave has a curse
Shakespeare's tombstone in Stratford has a famous curse warning anyone who moves his bones. The inscription reads: 'Blessed be the man that spares these stones, and cursed be he that moves my bones.'
Good questions, answered
William Shakespeare FAQ
How many plays did he write?+
37 plays, give or take. Some scholars think a few might have been written with other writers. He also wrote 154 sonnets (short poems) and two long story-poems.
Did he invent English words?+
Yes! Shakespeare made up or popularized about 1,700 new English words and phrases. Words like 'eyeball,' 'lonely,' 'bedazzled,' and 'gossip' come from him.
What age is Shakespeare good for?+
Shakespeare's plays were written for adult audiences with old English. The Worldly versions update the language and adapt the stories for kids ages 9 and up, so the plots come through clearly.
Was he really a real person?+
Yes. Some scholars debate it, but the historical evidence is overwhelming. William Shakespeare from Stratford-upon-Avon really existed, really wrote the plays, and really became famous in London.
Why is he called 'The Bard'?+
A 'bard' is an old word for a poet, especially one who recites stories. Shakespeare was given the nickname 'The Bard of Avon' because he came from Stratford-upon-Avon. It's stuck for 400 years.
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