William Shakespeare, born April 1564, is known as England's National poet. He was giving the nickname The Bard of Avon, and he is the greatest writer in English Literature. Shakespeare started his life in the middle class. His father worked a number of jobs to fund a family of five. During his years of early education he was taught how to speak and read Latin; however, it was not in the common practice to teach how to spell, so Shakespeare spent his entire life spelling words and his name anyway he wanted. What an introduction to English Literature! 

       Shortly after becoming an adult, Shakespeare moved to London, along with his brother Edmund, to become an actor. However, spoiler alert, he had better luck in writing plays. He found a passion for writing  tragedies, romances, historical pieces, and comedies. With a total of thirty-seven plays, ten tragedies, ten comedies, eight historical, and three problem plays,  written throughout his life, this averages him writing two plays per year. Not to mention his poetry, which one year he wrote 154 poems! 

       Amongst being an icon to the English language, Shakespeare had an interesting side to him. A humorous side. Unlike his established presence, he wore a gold hoop earring and a symbol of artistic style. Shakespeare, following in the drama of his works, had penned a curse on his own grave. On his grave read:

"Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here:
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."

He did this to stop anyone from taking his grave or digging up his bones for room for another person. This might seem silly, but it was the common practice of the times when cemeteries got too full. If I were the greatest writer of all time, I'd do the same. This curse worked too. To this day, his grave remains in the same spot.