ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The world’s greatest playwright only left Anne Hathaway his “second best bed” in his will. However, on the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death, X-ray and infra-red analysis by a team from The National Archives has revealed that the clause was inserted a month before he died in April, 1616, aged 52.

Detailed explanation-2: -When William Shakespeare died he famously left his wife Anne only one thing: their ‘second best bed’. But new infra-red analysis on Will’s will claims this was far from a snub, but an act of love from a man who knew he was dying.

Detailed explanation-3: -He adopted the first-person possessive, “my second-best bed, ” because that established his authority to make the bequest, but he gave the bed no biography. Like any man of property, Shakespeare devoted most of his will to distributing lands and houses, not furniture or objects.

Detailed explanation-4: -William Shakespeare wrote in his last will and testament, dated March 25, 1616, “Item I gyve unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture” (furniture is used to refer to the curtains and bedcover which formed part of the complete bed).

Detailed explanation-5: -Shakespeare left the bulk of his property to his two daughters: Susanna Hall, his first child, and Judith Quiney. He left money and clothes to his sister Joan Hart and her three sons (the name of the third son, Thomas, is left blank), and plate to his grand-daughter Elizabeth Hall, whom he refers to as his niece.