Poetry –

is a writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience

in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through
meaning, sound, and rhythm (www.merriam-webster.com). With this technical
definition, there is no wonder why poetry is something some, if not most people love to
hate. But giving poetry the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it has only been a victim of
misjudgment. We might have a change of heart toward it once we understand what it is
and what it is made of, how it uses language, structure, and mathematics altogether to
awaken particular emotions among its readers.

Many of us may have known Shakespeare through his tragedy, Romeo and
Juliet, but not many people are aware that Shakespeare was also a sonneteer. As a
matter of fact, during his time, Shakespeare has been commissioned to write sonnets
which were then compiled to a portfolio and later published. Shakespeare’s works
undeniably has influenced other writers and playwrights for generations; hence, his title
The Bard of Avon, (bard is a writer) which is equivalent to our National Artist for
Literature. Aside from this title, he is also known as the Greatest writer of the English
language.

William Shakespeare was born to a middle-class family in Stratford-Upon-Avon,

England to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in 1564. His birthday is commonly
celebrated on April 23 as the exact date is unknown. Although a simple glove-maker,
John, William’s father gained recognition for his civic involvements in the community,
and for this, the children were sent to the local grammar school where the young
William learned both Latin and theater. Perhaps this is where he discovered his love for
writing and drama. When William was 18 years old, he met 26-year old Anne
Hathaway.

In November of the same year (1582), they were married with Anne being
pregnant with their first child, Susanna. Few years after which, their twins, Hamnet and
Judith were born in 1585. Unfortunately, Hamnet died when he was 11 years old. As
for Anne, so much is known about her except from the information in the legal records
during the time. However, it is a known fact that she outlived her husband for 7 years
when William died in 1616 and she in 1623.
 Shakespeare’s career in theater and literature began to flourish in 1592;
however, critics and scholars couldn’t find any recorded information as to what
happened to him between the year the twins were born (1582) and 1592, which is now
referred to as The Lost Years. Nevertheless, Shakespeare began publishing his works,
initially, of poetry, and he also became a regular dramatist and actor of the theater
group, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1594. Soon in 1603, with the support of no other
than King James I, the company changed its name to The King’s Men for obvious
reasons. It was in Globe Theater where the group would perform most of
Shakespeare’s works. At the same time, Shakespeare was also one of the five partners
who shared the paying of its lease.

The theater was burned down in 1613; however, another Globe Theater was
immediately built on the same site in the next year. Today, the theater still exists with
its new name Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and still showcases various plays.

Throughout his career, William Shakespeare wrote a total of 194 literary pieces
including 2 narrative poems, 38 plays, and 154 sonnets. His sonnets were said to have
been written from 1593 to 1601, but these were not published as Shakespeare’s
Sonnets until 1603 through his publisher, Thomas Thorpe. The first 126 of his sonnets
were said to be talking about a handsome young friend, which critics associate to Henry
Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. However, before jumping into a hasty
speculation about Shakespeare’s gender, we must remember that during this time,
artists were constantly looking for patrons to support their art – one who would
commission and pay them for their work—and that was the relationship that existed
between Shakespeare and Wriothesley. Sonnets 127 to 154, on the other hand was
talking about a ‘dark lady’ who he seemed to unexpectedly love and admire.

Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. The scope of
Shakespeare’s contribution was not limited only to literature but also to the development
of the English language as some of the words we know now were first used by him in
his writings; words such as birthplace, courtship, downstairs, leapfrog, pageantry,
schoolboy, and stillborn are just some of Shakespeare’s contribution to the language.

Visit the following source to know more about the life of one of the world's
greatest playwrights and sonneteers.
William Shakespeare