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Get ready to celebrate Talk Like Shakespeare Day on April 23rd! This day honors one of the most renowned playwrights and poets of all time, William Shakespeare. Born in 1564, his works have been studied in schools around the world for centuries. On this day, people come together to appreciate the beauty of Shakespeare's writing and language by speaking like him. Whether it's a few lines from your favorite play or an entire sonnet, take some time to honor one of history's greats and immerse yourself in the Bard's language.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1564</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>William Shakespeare's Birth</div><div class='timeline-text'>The renowned playwright and poet, William Shakespeare, is born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1593</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shakespeare's First Published Works</div><div class='timeline-text'>Shakespeare's first published works, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, are released, marking the start of his literary presence.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1609</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shakespeare's Sonnets Published</div><div class='timeline-text'>Shakespeare's sonnets, a collection of 154 poems, are published, showcasing his mastery over language and poetic form.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1616</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shakespeare's Death</div><div class='timeline-text'>William Shakespeare passes away, leaving behind a legacy of plays and poetry that continue to inspire and influence the literary world.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1879</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Shakespeare Memorial Theatre</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opens in Shakespeare's hometown, preserving his works and promoting performances of them.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2009</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inauguration of Talk Like Shakespeare Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Talk Like Shakespeare Day is inaugurated by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater to honor the life and work of William Shakespeare on his supposed birthday, April 23.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Read a Shakespeare Play</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Reading one of the many plays that Shakespeare wrote is a great way to celebrate his work. Pick up a copy of your favorite play and read it out loud with friends and family.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a Shakespeare Movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many movies have been made from Shakespeares plays, from Romeo and Juliet to Much Ado About Nothing. Watch one of these movies with friends and discuss how well the movie portrayed the original play.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a Local Performance</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Check with local theatres or performing arts centers to see if they have any upcoming performances of Shakespeare's plays. This is a great way to experience Shakespeare’s works in person.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write in the Bard’s Style</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to write in the style of William Shakespeare. Try writing some sonnets, or even just some short lines of iambic pentameter.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share Your Favorite Quotes</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your favorite quotes from Shakespeare on social media or write them out and post them around town. Spread the love for the bard’s works by sharing your favorite lines.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Shakespearean language is beautiful</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>William Shakespeare invented thousands of words, turning English into a beautiful and poetic language. This "bardolatry" has been inspiring writers ever since the Bard's day in the 16th century, creating a legacy that people can still appreciate today.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's fun to talk like Shakespeare</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Commemorating Talk Like Shakespeare Day allows you to have some fun with the language. For example, it's easy to convert modern slang into flowery dialogue straight out of King Lear - all you need are some puns and an active imagination.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a great way to honor history</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Shakespeare has left us with some of the most iconic lines in literature, which makes Talk Like Shakespeare Day a wonderful way to preserve his legacy. It also encourages us to be creative when speaking and writing, something we can carry on throughout our lives!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shakespeare Invented Over 1700 Words</h3><p class='facts-content'>The English language owes a lot to Shakespeare as he invented over 1,700 words that we still use today. On Talk Like Shakespeare Day, you could be using words he coined, like "eyeball," "lonely," or "excitement."</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shakespeare Wrote in Iambic Pentameter</h3><p class='facts-content'>Much of Shakespeare's works are written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern that has five sets of unstressed syllables followed by stressed syllables.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>It's Celebrated Worldwide</h3><p class='facts-content'>While Talk Like Shakespeare Day originated in Chicago, it has become known and celebrated globally, making it truly a cultural phenomenon.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shakespeare's Influence on Modern Expressions</h3><p class='facts-content'>Many common expressions used today, such as "break the ice," "heart of gold," and "in a pickle," were introduced by Shakespeare in his works.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shakespeare's Sonnets are Favorites for Recitations on this Day</h3><p class='facts-content'>Shakespeare's sonnets are some of the most frequently recited works on Talk Like Shakespeare Day, with Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day") being a consistent favorite among many participants.</p></div></div>
Talk Like Shakespeare Day is celebrated on April 23 every year. In 2024 Talk Like Shakespeare Day will occur on a Tuesday.
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