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Featured articleWilliam Shakespeare is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
Main Page trophyThis article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on October 10, 2007.
On this day...Article Collaboration and Improvement Drive Article milestones
DateProcessResult
October 31, 2005Featured article candidateNot promoted
November 1, 2005Peer reviewReviewed
April 5, 2006Good article nomineeListed
November 24, 2006WikiProject peer reviewReviewed
June 6, 2007WikiProject A-class reviewNot approved
June 19, 2007Peer reviewReviewed
June 28, 2007Featured article candidateNot promoted
August 14, 2007Featured article candidatePromoted
On this day... Facts from this article were featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "On this day..." column on April 23, 2018, and April 23, 2019.
Article Collaboration and Improvement Drive This article was on the Article Collaboration and Improvement Drive for the week of June 20, 2006.
Current status: Featured article

Tragedies

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Wondering why the original Wikipedia page did not include Romeo and Juliet when it named the other tragedies of Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth?? ~2026-83830-4 (talk) 05:58, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

By original Wikipedia page you mean? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:18, 7 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
I expect the OP is asking about the third paragraph of the lede. If so the answer seems to be that the writer is trying to divide Shakespeare's work into broad periods, and in this sentence is referring to the early seventeenth century, up to ~1608. Romeo and Juliet doesn't belong there because it was written earlier. (If I've understood the question correctly?) AndyJones (talk) 09:16, 8 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Noting

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Wikipedia:WikiProject Shakespeare/Hot articles is working again. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 09:17, 10 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Section critical reputation

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I was reading the critical reputation and was thinking that it really downplays his reputation from when he was alive when he did develop a fair amount of fame performing for several kings. Catatfrommarvelrivals (talk) 17:02, 24 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Do you think so? The section says that, while not receiving the adulation he later gained, he was highly regarded in his lifetime. It then quotes three contemporary commentators who praised his work, including Jonson’s “not of an age but for all time”. I’m not sure I’d describe that as “downplaying his reputation”. If you have a reliable source you want to include that goes further, then post it here and I’m sure you will get some responses. But remember the article seeks to cover his, extraordinarily productive, life and works in summary style, so much has to be excluded. KJP1 (talk) 20:56, 24 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]
I should have been more specific but I meant because it opens saying "He was not revered in his lifetime" and while it does go to state a number of things for how he was highly regarded I just believe this to be a bit of a misinforming way to open the paragraph that's all. Catatfrommarvelrivals (talk) 15:21, 25 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 19 April 2026

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please accept my edit request respec me Freaky sela (talk) 06:16, 19 April 2026 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want made. Please detail the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Cadddr (talk) 06:21, 19 April 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Shakespeare's Claimed Reputation at The Top of The Article

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Hello, I politely ask if there is room for negotiating Shakespeare's status as quoted: 'widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language'. Perhaps I may be arguing semantics, but the term 'writer' is far to generic, and I feel leaving Shakespeare's claim to fame as the greatest playwright and/or poet in the English language (or the world's pre-eminent dramatist, as it was so eloquently put in the initial paragraphs) would be more of a streamlined and refined take on his legacy, as opposed to adopting the phrase 'writer'; for this term broadens things way too much and places Shakespeare in a realm of far too many contenders of 'writers' who have also displayed exquisite mastery and manipulation of language, i.e. James Joyce. Granted, this is not an argument against the apparent influence, fame, legacy, or worth of Shakespeare's works and abilities as a writer. This is just a suggestion and food for thought, for the hope that we adopt a more boundary-based, precise, respectful and mindful understanding of his importance and presence. Thank you. ~2026-30818-51 (talk) 00:28, 23 May 2026 (UTC)[reply]

First off, thank you for the considered and thoughtful way in which you have made your point. As always with Wikipedia, the key issue is not what we, as editors, think about X or Y, but are we accurately reflecting what a range of Reliable Sources have said about X or Y? In this instance, if you take a look at the conclusion of the Legacy section, you will see that Gary Taylor uses the term “writer” four times in relation to Shakespeare, while other scholars also describe him as the greatest, and most performed, dramatist. For this reason, I think it is appropriate to use the term “writer” in the lead. Best regards. KJP1 (talk) 05:03, 23 May 2026 (UTC)[reply]