ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -William Shakespeare ( bapt. 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon” (or simply “the Bard").

Detailed explanation-2: -The first person to assign the nickname of ‘’The Bard” to Shakespeare is thought to have been David Garrick, an actor, in a poem that he wrote in 1769.

Detailed explanation-3: -He is popularly called the Bard of Avon since he was born and raised in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire. Shakespeare’s birth date, however, is highly debatable as he is said to have been baptised on April 26, 1564, and born on April 23, which also coincides with his death date (as per the Julian calendar).

Detailed explanation-4: -When we hear the term ‘The Bard’ our minds immediatley spring to the name William Shakespeare. More specifically, Shakeseare is known as ‘The Bard of Avon’. This is because he seems to have been given the title in recognition of his stature as ‘great poet’ and the unofficial national poet of England.

Detailed explanation-5: -William Shakespeare has been known as “The Bard” since the nineteenth century, but the word has a much older history, and, when it’s not capitalized, it simply means “lyric poet."