On the cultural front, the printing press, invented about a hundred years before, was fundamentally changing the way literature reached ordinary people. ... As You Like It was written in this year, just after Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, and Julius Caesar, and just before the writing of Hamlet in 1600. Unlike many of Shakespeare's plays, As You Like It seems to contain few references to the world outside the theatre; unlike the political history Shakespeare reworked in his "history plays," or the commentaries on kingship and power that pervade his tragedies, Shakespeare's comedy ...

• Word Count: 1477
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

"In the early days of The Globe, Shakespeare wrote three of his best romantic comedies: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and Much Ado About Nothing. ... Although many stories had been done about Caesar, and the story was a legend in England, Shakespeare's version surprised many people by its originality (Timeline). ... The new ruler was King James, who was as much of a fan of acting as Queen Elizabeth. ... It is about a man who believes that his wife is unfaithful to him. ... This is about Macbeth and his wife, who believe that they can kill the King of Scotland and quietly take the throne....

• Word Count: 1655
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School