5 Surprising Facts About Shakespeare You Might Not Know

In celebration of William Shakespeare's birthday, let's explore some lesser-known facts about the world's most famous playwright that might surprise even the most devoted literature enthusiasts.

1. His Name Had Multiple Spellings

While we know him as William Shakespeare, the Bard himself never spelled his name consistently. In surviving documents, his name appears in more than 20 different variations, including "Willm Shakspere" and "William Shakspeare." Even his own signatures show different spellings!

2. He Created Hundreds of Common Words

Shakespeare wasn't just a wordsmith; he was a word inventor. He's credited with creating over 1,700 common words we use today, including "assassination," "swagger," and even "bedroom." He accomplished this by converting nouns into verbs, combining words, adding prefixes and suffixes, and sometimes simply making up entirely new words.

3. A Lost Play Called "Cardenio"

Among Shakespeare's lesser-known works is a completely lost play called "Cardenio." It was performed at court in 1613 but subsequently disappeared. The play was reportedly based on a character from Cervantes' "Don Quixote," and its mysterious disappearance continues to intrigue scholars today.

4. The Great Theatre Theft

In 1598, Shakespeare's theatre company literally stole their own theatre building. When their lease expired, they dismantled the entire Theatre (yes, that was its name) beam by beam during the night and used the materials to build the famous Globe Theatre on the south bank of the Thames.

5. The Curse on His Grave

Shakespeare's gravestone bears an unusual epitaph that he reportedly wrote himself: "Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones." This curse might explain why his grave has remained undisturbed in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, despite significant renovations over the centuries.

These fascinating details remind us that even after four centuries, Shakespeare continues to surprise and intrigue us. Whether you're a dedicated Shakespeare enthusiast or just discovering his works, there's always something new to learn about the Bard of Avon.