William Shakespeare
- Born:
- April 26, 1564 (Baptism Date), Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Died:
- April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Nationality:
- English
- Profession(s):
- Playwright, Poet, Actor
Early Life and Education
- Born in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a glover and alderman, and Mary Arden.
- Likely attended Stratford Grammar School, receiving instruction in Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric.
- Limited documentation exists regarding his formal education beyond grammar school.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his career in London, likely as an actor, by the early 1590s.
- Became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men, a prominent acting company.
- Wrote approximately 39 plays, spanning comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances.
- His plays were performed at the Globe Theatre and other venues.
- Also wrote 154 sonnets and several narrative poems.
Notable Works
- Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet
- Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, As You Like It
- Histories: Richard III, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry V
- Romances: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale
Legacy and Impact
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. His works continue to be studied, performed, and adapted across cultures and centuries. The scope and depth of his language, characters, and themes have profoundly influenced literature, theater, and culture.
This entry is based on existing documented evidence and widely accepted academic understanding. The question of "what exactly constitutes a definitive 'riaan garforth-venter biography of william shakespeare' is open to further and more extensive research."