Shakespeare, William (1564-1616), English playwright and poet, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. Hundreds of editions of his plays have been published, including translations in all major languages. Scholars have written thousands of books and articles about his plots, characters, themes, and language. He is the most widely quoted author in history, and his plays have probably been performed more times than those of any other dramatist. .
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Shakespeare's Plays © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. .
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Globe Theatre Interior Audience members at the reconstructed Globe Theatre in London can sit on benches in one of the three covered galleries or stand in the open yard, just as audiences did in the original Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's time. The projecting stage has a thatched roof and an elaborately decorated back wall. Large oak pillars, painted to look like marble, support a canopy, which has been painted to represent the heavens.Andrea Pistolesi/The Image Bank .
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William Shakespeare Quick Facts © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. .
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There is no simple explanation for Shakespeare's unrivaled popularity, but he remains our greatest entertainer and perhaps our most profound thinker. He had a remarkable knowledge of human behavior, which he was able to communicate through his portrayal of a wide variety of characters. He was able to enter fully into the point of view of each of his characters and to create vivid dramatic situations in which to explore human motivations and behavior. His mastery of poetic language and of the techniques of drama enabled him to combine these multiple viewpoints, human motives, and actions to produce a uniquely compelling theatrical experience. .
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GREAT WORKS OF LITERATURE .
From Richard III .
English dramatist William Shakespeare portrayed Richard III, king of England from 1483 to 1485, as bitter, deformed, and conniving.