Who Was Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright who was born on April 1564 and died April of 1616.  He is considered the “greatest” writer in the English language and is called England’s national poet.  From what we have counted, he has written 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and numerous other poems.  He is so well known that his poems have been translated into every major living language and performed in nations across the world.  He was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon (he was not very wealthy) and married into a wealthy family with their daughter Anne Hathaway.  He career got its first boost when he joined a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (King’s men).  He wrote most of his works between 1589 and 1613.  They were mainly comedies or histories, but then wrote more tragedies/comedies (known as romances) later in his career.  We really don’t know much about his private life and there have been many speculations.  Shakespeare is known to students as one of the greatest writers in the English history.  I’ve read at least one of his novels in every level of high school.  He has influenced the way people think and has shaped the way authors write.