shakespeare

shakespeare — noun

1. William Shakespeare, the English writer of plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamle

1.名詞B1
釋義

William Shakespeare, the English writer of plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth, whose works are still performed and studied around the world.

例句

The students in Joaquín's class are studying a play by Shakespeare this term.

studying a play by Shakespeare

Liang's school put on a performance of Romeo and Juliet last spring.

performance of Romeo and Juliet

同義詞
  • the Bard

    a poetic nickname for Shakespeare; used in literary or admiring contexts

  • the Bard of Avon

    a more formal or poetic epithet referring to his birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon

  • the playwright

    a general descriptive term; less specific than his name

用法筆記

In many contexts, 'Shakespeare' is used alone without a title such as 'Mr.' or 'Dr.' The nickname 'the Bard' is a common literary reference to him.

常見錯誤

❌Shakespeare wrote in old English, so it is hard to understand.
✅Shakespeare wrote in Early Modern English, which still sounds different from the English we speak today.
💡His language is Early Modern English, not Old English (which was spoken over a thousand years ago).

2. The English poet and dramatist who lived from 1564 to 1616 and is widely regarde

2.名詞B1
釋義

The English poet and dramatist who lived from 1564 to 1616 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language.

例句

Shakespeare was born in 1564 in a market town called Stratford-upon-Avon.

was born in [year] in [place]

Historians believe Shakespeare wrote most of his plays between 1590 and 1613.

wrote most of his plays between [years]

同義詞
  • the dramatist

    focuses on his profession as a writer of plays; formal register

  • the poet

    highlights his work as a poet; used in literary contexts

用法筆記

When writing about Shakespeare's life, dates (1564–1616) are commonly included on first mention. Biographies often discuss the gaps in historical records about his private life.

常見錯誤

❌Shakespeare was a very famous writer in the 1500s.
✅Shakespeare was active as a writer from around 1590 until his death in 1616.
💡His career ended in the early 1600s, so saying 'in the 1500s' alone is misleading.