English Playwrights

Page 5 of 6

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

As far as we can know William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote at least 38 plays in a prolific 24-year period that started in approximately 1589 and ended in 1613.

At the turn of this century, Shakespeare was named "Man of the Millennium" in a British poll. Now in a new century, a new millennium, Shakespeare still appears on stages around the globe.

Why is Shakespeare still such a dominant figure? Is it because he writes on timeless issues, such as life and death, tragedy and love, family and politics... things we can still relate to in the 21st century. Even though some academics might claim him as one of their own, Shakespeare still has something for everyone.

Library Resources
eReserve
AV Resources
Web Resources
Comedies
Tragedies
Histories
Sonnets

Library Resources

On the shelves

Dewey numbers

With a number all of his own you can find books by Shakespeare and books about William Shakespeare at 822.33

Keyword searching

Type in the name of the play, if that is what you are looking for. If you are looking for criticism and interpretation it may be better to click on one of the subject links below.

Subject headings

Fast facts

The following book from the Biographic series contain 50 defining facts, dates, thoughts, habits and achievements of Shakespeare.

eBooks

For Info Base titles, remember you will need your user name and password to log onto these books.

Collection highlights

These books are held on the Library's non-fiction shelves and may be borrowed:

Reference resources

eReserve

AV Resources

ClickView

YouTube

Web Resources

eBooks

General

Online study notes

Tragedies

Plays

eBooks

eReserve

Study notes for King Lear

Online

Play 2 Film

You will find below links to some of the film and motion picture adaptations of Shakespeare's plays held in the A.V. collection. For other versions or interpretations you can search in the Library catalogue or ask one of the Library staff or help.

  • Hamlet - Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, 1991
  • Hamlet - Starring Laurence Olivier, Two Cities Films production, 1948
  • King Lear- Starring Laurence Olivier, produced for television, 1983, 2008. Also starring Colin Blakely, Anna Calder-Marshall, Leo McKern and John Hurt
  • Macbeth - Directed by Roman Polanski
  • Othello - With Laurence Fishburne, Warner Brothers, 2003
  • Romeo and Juliet - Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, directed by Baz Luhrmann
  • Romeo and Juliet - Starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, directed by Franco Zeffirelli

Web resources

BBC GCSE English Literature

Online movies

King Lear

Histories

Plays

eBooks

Play 2 Film

  • Henry V - Kenneth Branagh, BBC, 1989

Online Movies

Sonnets

eReserve

Online study notes

Online movies