April is the month in which the playwright
and poet William Shakespeare (pictured) was born and baptized in 1564, as well as the month in which he died some 390 years ago.
For centuries he has entertained readers and theatregoers,
helping us see our commonalities and revealing our humanness. Though they were written centuries ago, his tender scenes of reconciliation, such as that between
Lear and Cordelia, continue to break hearts in the 21st century. The themes of
his love stories, such as Romeo and Juliet, are as fresh and universal today as they were when he wrote them, words he coined are an intrinsic part of the English vocabulary, and his works have been translated worldwide. So just why does Shakespeare stand out so far among his contemporaries? What
makes his speech so compelling? Where did he obtain his depth of understanding and wit? Learn more about the clever bard in Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Shakespeare.
People and Places
Explore the early influences of Shakespeare's life and work, including:
Shakespeare's Best-loved Plays
Revisit the works of the man considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time, including:
Shakespearean Actors
Meet a collection of actors and actresses who honed their theatrical talents through Shakespearean plays, such as:
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William Kempe, a famous clown and an original member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men (the company to which Shakespeare belonged), specialized in the comic roles that are often interwoven throughout Shakespeare's plays.
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Ovid, the Great Poet of Spring
By Gregory McNamee
It’s unfortunate that one of the greatest poets of change, Publius Ovidius Naso, is so little read today, for Gregor Samsa—and perhaps even the Terminator—would have found a happy place in the pages of the magisterial poem we know as The Metamorphoses. Ovid’s huge catalog of evolving forms influenced… (read more)
The Britannica Blog is a place to share smart, lively conversations on just about any topic.
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Learn about the Holocaust with Britannica
Read Encyclopædia Britannica’s feature remembering one of history's darkest chapters: the Holocaust. This feature covers everything from the origins of the Holocaust in the mind of Adolf Hitler to the legacy of the horror in art and memory.
The feature includes extensive photographs and videos (warning: some of them are graphic), an extended bibliography, and discussion questions tied to each of the five parts and written especially for teachers and classroom use.
Explore it today 
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Julius Caesar muses to Mark Antony about Cassius, “Let me have men about me that are fat” (Julius Caesar, Act I, scene 2).
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Hamlet confronts his mother and mistakenly kills Polonius (Hamlet, Act III, scene 4).
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
View Video
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Free Web Training for Britannica Online Subscribers!
See what's new with Britannica Online! Both Children's and Reference Librarians are invited to participate in a complimentary online Britannica training session! You do not even have to leave the library for this 1-hour live presentation where you will learn ways to help both children and adults find answers to their questions and get started on their projects using special Britannica Online features.
Presentations will be conducted at 11 a.m. Central Time on these upcoming dates:
- Tuesday, May 13th
- Thursday, June 19th
- Tuesday, July 15th
Sign up now! Space is limited, and only current Britannica Online subscribers can attend.
You can invite others to join you for this presentation, especially if you can project the presentation onto a screen for them to see. Please submit only one registration per location for each date.
You will be surprised at how much there is to discover!
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Britannica’s Elementary Library Package
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Elementary librarians: Get two great Britannica sets for one price with Britannica’s Elementary Library Package. Included in this package are the Britannica Student Encyclopedia and My First Britannica.
Entertaining and informative, the new Britannica Student Encyclopedia helps elementary and middle school children gain a better understanding of their world. Created by Britannica’s editors, this 16-volume, A-Z encyclopedia makes knowledge easily accessible to all students in grades 3-6.
More than 2,250 captivating articles are the perfect resource for homework help, assignments, and satisfying the curiosity of young learners. Children are sure to immerse themselves in 2,700 photos, charts, and tables that help explain concepts and subjects, as well as 1,200 maps and flags from across the globe.
My First Britannica is an exciting 13-volume reference set for elementary students that builds the foundation for a life-long journey of learning. My First Britannica encourages reading and helps form early research skills, while capturing the imagination with fact, fiction, and fable. Lively photography, artwork, and information cover the topics children love. This set is a fantastic resource for elementary school students and ESL students.
Order the Britannica Student Encyclopedia and My First Britannica now for only $475 and get free S&H. Please mention the promotion code APRIL when ordering.
Call Britannica at 1-800-621-3900 or go online to www.eb.com to place your order now.
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