Dante Alighieri

A.S. 2010/2011

Classe II c

There are not many biographical news about Shakespeare’s life, and somebody assumes the attribution of his works to different authors.

The only certain things were his birthplace, place of death and few other registry information.

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon, a town near London.He was an English dramatist and a poet.

He wrote Tragedies such as:

Romeo and Juliet (1594 - 1596) The most excellent and lamentable tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

The tragic history of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Hamlet (1600 – 1602)

• Othello (1604) - The tragedy of Othello,

the Moor of Venice

He wrote Comedies such as:

The Twelfth Night - (1599 – 1601)

The Merchant of Venice - (1596 – 1597)

A Midsummer Night's Dream - (1595)

He wrote Historical plays such as:

King Henry VI - (1588 – 1592)

King John(1591) – The life and death of King John

Richard III (1591 – 1592) – The life and death of King Richard III

During the prologue it is told to the audience that two noble families of Verona, the Montague and the Capulet are hostile each other since generations….

“... by fatal loins of two enemies follows a pair of lovers, born under a bad star, whose tragic suicide will of two enemies follows a pair of lovers, born under a bad star, whose tragic suicide will put an end to the conflicts”.