He was known for his way with words; his colorful, enigmatic, and unforgettable characters; and so much more...

When the name is mentioned, do you ever need to pause to think about who this fellow is? You may not remember the title of every one of his plays; and you may not remember the lines from his sonnets; but you probably know the title of at least something he wrote. And, you likely read at least one of his plays in high school or college (maybe both places, depending on what your major concentration was).

The man we know as Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. He died on the same day in 1616. So, what's the deal with this guy? Why is he so famous? His exploration of words touches us in ways we probably don't even realize. So, how much do you know about Shakespeare?

• Shakespeare - Matthew Arnold
• Sonnet on Mrs. Kemble's Reading from Shakespeare - H.W. Longfellow
• Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
• O Mistress Mine - William Shakespeare
• Forgotten & Interesting Words
• Globe Theatres

Read more about William Shakespeare!