ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Shakespeare is widely recognised as the greatest English poet the world has ever known. Not only were his plays mainly written in verse, but he also penned 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and a few other minor poems.

Detailed explanation-2: -Shakespeare’s earliest publication, and by far the best-selling work in his lifetime, was the nearly 1200-line poem Venus and Adonis (1593), published in 10 editions between 1594 and 1602.

Detailed explanation-3: -Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more. 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.

Detailed explanation-4: -William Shakespeare lived more than 400 years ago during a period of English history known as The Elizabethan Age, named after Queen Elizabeth I.