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Why is Shakespeare still so widely studied?

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) continues to be regarded as the greatest playwright who ever lived. Most teachers, students, critics, and theatergoers throughout the ages have agreed that Shakespeare is, in the words of his colleague Ben Jonson (1572–1637), "not of an age, but for all time." His extensive volume of work expresses universal and unchanging human concerns as no other works have before or since. These comprise no fewer than thirty-seven plays, divided into comedies, tragedies, and histories, as well as numerous poems and sonnets. Since his death, Shakespeare's plays have been performed continuously around the world, even in non-English speaking countries; he is the most-quoted author in the world.

Shakespeare's work remains an ongoing source of fascination, imitation, and critique. Many scholars have sought to explain the secrets of his genius. His...

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1. Pablo Picasso