Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Avon in England on April 23, 1564. He grew up educated until 1577 when he was withdrawn from grammar school. Shakespeare is most famous for his plays and sonnets. He changed the ways of play writing from the formal Greco-Roman style to a feel that is more realistic. Another of Shakespeare’s greatest contributions to society today is in the English language. No other writer in the English language has invented so many words and phrases that are used today. He has thirteen coined words including bump, frugal, and, believe it or not, skim milk. Some of his most famous phrases used today include “laughing yourself into stitches,”, “tongue-tied,”, and “dead as a doornail.” Additionally, Shakespeare contributed, not only to the English language, but drama a...more >>s it is known today. Before Shakespeare, actors were called rouges, vagabonds, and beggars. Once Shakespeare was published, actors got much higher regards, as it can be seen in society today. Similarly, Shakespeare is also responsible for plays as they are known today. He broke the tradition of plays having one plot, one setting, and one time period, thus changing the way movies, television, and theater are today. In conclusion, Shakespeare made many contributions in the past that have changed society drastically today. He invented some of the English language and changed the way plays were written and performed. Overall, Shakespeare made a giant dent in the history of literature, and this dent is still the largest of any man or woman of the English language.