William Shakespeare is perhaps the most celebrated playwright in history. Most of his work was written between 1589 and 1613 and is composed of 38 plays and 154 sonnets. His writing is known for being composed in the poetic form of blank verse, in an iambic pentameter style (most of the time his lines are unrhymed, with every other syllable emphasized).

Many doubt the ability of a common layman, from the small England “Stratford-upon-Avon,” to compose such literary masterpieces, leading to a debate over the authorship of his plays. However, today the works of William Shakespeare are the most performed of any playwright; his plays are constantly being analyzed, interpreted, and performed around the world. Below are some resources that Best Online College has put together to help you learn more about the famous “bard” and his literary masterpieces.