Ответить на вопросы.
1.
In what century was William Shakespeare born?
2.
What education did Shakespeare get?
3.
Where many of his plays were staged?
4.
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
5.
Name some of Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies.
6.
Tell in brief about famous English writers Walter Scott, Charles Dickens,
and Somerset Maugham.
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TEXT 1
The Contribution of the British Literature to the World Culture
British Literature made great contribution to the world culture. Great Britain
gave us such poets and writers as William Shakespeare, Walter Scott, Charles
Dickens, and others.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, the greatest and most famous of English writers, and
probably the greatest playwright, was born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23,
1564. Little is known about his childhood, but we know that he was educated at
the local Grammar School.
At the age of eighteen he married Anne Hathaway of Shottery and lived in
Stratford-on-Avon until he was about twenty-one. Then he went to London. We do
not knowwhy he left Stratford-on-Avon. There is a story that Shakespeare's first
job in London was holding rich men's horses at the theatre door. But nobody can
be sure that this story is true.
Later, Shakespeare became an actor and a member of one of the chief acting
companies. Soon he began to write plays for this company and in a few years
became a well-known author. Many of his plays were staged at a London theatre
called The Globe. The theatres of those days were a lot different. No scenery was
used; there were no actresses at that time either. All women's parts were played by
boys or men dressed in women's clothes.
Shakespeare's experience as an actor helped him greatly in the writing of his
plays. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. Among them there are deep tragedies, such as
Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, light comedies, such as All's Well That Ends
Well, Twelfth Night, historical dramas, such as Henry IV, Richard III.
Most of Shakespeare's plays were not published during his life. So some of
them may have been lost in the fire when the Globe burned down in 1613.
Shakespeare spent the last years of his life at Stratford, where he died in 1616.
He was buried in the church of Stratford-on-Avon. In London there is a monument
to the memory of the great playwright in the Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.
Shakespeare's plays, translated into many languages are still performed on the
stages of the best theatres of the world.
Walter Scott
He is known as a great master of the historical novel. His novels give a full
picture of the history of England and Scotland.
His famous works are: Bob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, and many others.
Charles Dickens
He is one of the best English writers of the 19th century. Dickens was 19 years
old when he became a reporter. While he was working for his newspaper he began
writing sketches of the characters he had observed; and in 1836 they were
collected in a book Sketches by Boz.
In 1836 The Pickwick Papers was published and brought him fame. Among his
other famous works are Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and others.
William Somerset Maugham
He has written a large number of novels, plays, and short stories. He has a
natural gift for telling very interesting stories, which are all written in a simple
natural style that has made his works so popular. With the novel The Moon and
Sixpence his reputation as a novelist was established. William Somerset Maugham
is certainly one of the most talented writers. His language is so simple but at the
same time so rich!
It is impossible to tell in detail about all British writers who gave the world
wonderful masterpieces. We hope that maybe you would like to read some of the
books of the English writers we mentioned. We are sure that you will enjoy them!