ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -His 17 comedies include The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. Among his 10 history plays are Henry V and Richard III. The most famous among his tragedies are Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. Shakespeare also wrote 4 poems, and a famous collection of Sonnets which was first published in 1609.

Detailed explanation-2: -We do know that Shakespeare’s life revolved around two locations: Stratford and London. He grew up, had a family, and bought property in Stratford, but he worked in London, the center of English theater. As an actor, a playwright, and a partner in a leading acting company, he became both prosperous and well-known.

Detailed explanation-3: -Drawing from classical works, histories, and other literary sources, Shakespeare liberally adapted stories (sometimes lifting words and phrasing) in creating his plays. Gerald Langbaine was the first to note Shakespeare’s use of sources in his 1691 work, Account of the English Dramatick Poets.

Detailed explanation-4: -Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, William Shakespeare spent most of his working life in London, but also did a fair bit of traipsing around the provinces while on tour with his various theatre companies.