Famous Writers of the Renaissance
Renaissance: 1350-1650
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. He was a poet/writer that wrote many famous plays including "Romeo and Juliet", "Hamlet", and "Macbeth." A book of sonnets, called "The Sonnets of Shakespeare" was published in 1609. Shakespeare invented thousands of new words, often combining different languages. He wrote more than 30 plays that are usually categorized as histories, tragedies, comedies, and romances. Although Shakespeare died in 1616, his writing is still a big part of our education and society today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geev441vbMI
William Shakespeare
Portrait of William Shakespeare
Quote
One of Shakespeare's famous quotes from "Hamlet."
Romeo and Juliet
Scene from the 1996 movie version of "Romeo and Juliet" starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes.
Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet is the story of two teenagers who fall in love but are forbidden to be together because of the family name. Juliet fakes her death in hopes of being able to be with Romeo, but once he sees her, he actually believes she is dead and as a result, kills himself. When Juliet wakes up and finds her lover dead, she too kills herself. Their deaths help end the family feud.
The story was written in the beginning of Shakespeare's career and is still read in high schools today. There are many movie versions, two of the most popular being in 1968 and 1996.
The story was written in the beginning of Shakespeare's career and is still read in high schools today. There are many movie versions, two of the most popular being in 1968 and 1996.
Macbeth by Shakespeare
Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and 1607. It is about a Scottish general named Macbeth who along with his wife Lady Macbeth, kills the king and tries to take over the throne. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and focuses a lot on madness and death.
George Chapman
George Chapman was born in 1559. He is most famous for his translation of Homer, which long remained the standard English version.His translation of the Illad was published in 1598 and his translation of the Odyssey in 1616.
John Lyly
John Lyly was an English poet, politician, dramatist, and playwright. He is most well known for his prose romance books "Euphues", written in the late 1500s. He had impact on writers such as Shakespeare. Polonius in "Hamlet", and Moth in "Love Labour's Lost" are examples of Lyly's influence. He also wrote many children's prose comedy plays such as "Compaspe" and "Midas."
John Lyly