WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

WHO WAS WILLIAM

SHAKESPEARE?

William Shakespeare was an

English poet, playwright and
actor of the Renaissance era. He
was born in Strafford-upon-Avon,
England in 1564 and died on 23
April 1616.
WHY IS HE KNOWN?

Many people still considered

William Shakespeare the best
English-speaking writer of all time
even if he died 400 years ago.

He wrote at least 37 plays and

some of his most famous are
Macbeth, Othello, King Lear,
Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet.
 HOW DID SHAKESPEARE
INFLUENCE THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE?

Shakespeare played a really

important part in molding the
language we speak today.

His works contributed significantly to

the standardization of grammar. He
introduced 1,700 original words into
the English language and developed
phrases that are still used today.

For example the words: “lonely,”

“upstairs” or “bump” and phrases like:
“love is blind” or “heart of gold.”
WHY IS ENGLISH
LANGUAGE DAY
CELEBRATED?

23 April was chosen the

day to celebrate the
English Language Day
because it is thought to be
Shakespeare's birthday,
and the anniversary of his
death.