In Episode 4 of Man's greatest achievements we take a brief look into the wide and wonderous world of Literature. William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare ranks as the most popular author in the English language. Since his death in 1616, no other writer has surpassed his ability to capture the human soul in words, and no other writer has been more read, more written about, and more debated. Shakespeare wrote prolifically during the late 1500s and early 1600s and, like Chaucer, took the language into new and creative literary territory. His influence on English drama and poetry 3 continued to grow after his death and he has never been surpassed as the best known and most read poet/playwright of modern English. Shakespeare did not always write alone. We know that he collaborated with John Fletcher, George Wilkins and Thomas Middleton, and it is possible that other authors contributed lines and scenes to many more plays. Hamlet: Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language. Romeo and Juliet: Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of Shakespeare about two young star - crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers. Episode 4 also takes a look at many other writers such as Christopher Marlowe, who was an English dramatist, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. We also take a look at Thomas Kyd, who was an English dramatist, the author of The Spanish Tragedy, and one of the most important figures in the development of Elizabethan drama. Kyd may have been author of a Hamlet play pre - dating Shakespeare.
