Career & Major Works-
Shakespeare's career was centered in London. He worked primarily with the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). Shakespeare was both a writer and a business partner for the company.
The Globe Theatre: In 1599, Shakespeare and his company built this iconic open-air theater on the south bank of the Thames.
Tragedies: Notable works include Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear.
Comedies & Histories: Notable titles include A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and Henry V.
Poetry: Shakespeare published 154 sonnets and long narrative poems, such as Venus and Adonis.
Key Facts-
The "Lost Years": There is a gap in historical records between 1585 and 1592 where his activities are unknown.
Linguistic Influence: Shakespeare is credited with introducing or popularizing over 1,700 words (e.g., eyeball, fashionable), and dozens of common phrases (e.g., "wild goose chase").
The First Folio: Shakespeare's plays might have been lost if his colleagues had not published a collection of 36 plays in 1623, seven years after his death.
Personal Life: Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He married Anne Hathaway at age 18 (she was 26) and had three children.
Authorship Questions: Some people, called "Anti-Stratfordians," have debated whether a commoner from Stratford could have written such sophisticated works. Most scholars dismiss these theories.