William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language of all time. For more than 400 years, Shakespeare’s plays and poems have been studied in classrooms and performed on stages around the world. His way with words and profound insights into human nature have captivated generations. If Shakespeare were to “write your essay” today, here is what his writing process and style might look like based on analyzing his works.
Shakespeare had an incredible gift for language and a mastery of poetic style. He would begin by carefully selecting a topic or theme that had wide appeal or highlighted important human truths. Many of his plays explored timeless subjects like love, betrayal, politics, power, and the struggle between good and evil. By focusing on such universal topics, Shakespeare ensured his works would remain relevant for centuries. For a college essay, he may choose to examine how ambition can both empower and corrupt an individual or explore the complexities of family relationships.
Once settling on a compelling subject, Shakespeare would do detailed research to immerse himself in the topic. He was known to be a voracious reader who stayed abreast of current events and developments. For a modern essay, Shakespeare may conduct online research, read academic journals, survey psychological studies, and interview experts. Absorbing a wealth of perspectives and facts allowed him to craft multilayered, multifaceted explorations of his subjects.
Shakespeare had an incredible gift for language and a mastery of poetic style. He would begin by carefully selecting a topic or theme that had wide appeal or highlighted important human truths. Many of his plays explored timeless subjects like love, betrayal, politics, power, and the struggle between good and evil. By focusing on such universal topics, Shakespeare ensured his works would remain relevant for centuries. For a college essay, he may choose to examine how ambition can both empower and corrupt an individual or explore the complexities of family relationships.
Once settling on a compelling subject, Shakespeare would do detailed research to immerse himself in the topic. He was known to be a voracious reader who stayed abreast of current events and developments. For a modern essay, Shakespeare may conduct online research, read academic journals, survey psychological studies, and interview experts. Absorbing a wealth of perspectives and facts allowed him to craft multilayered, multifaceted explorations of his subjects.
With research complete, Shakespeare’s prolific writing process would kick into high gear. While some scholars theorize he relied on collaborators for parts of his plays, most agree Shakespeare was a prolific solo writer capable of crafting scenes rapidly on his own. For the essay, he may spend a day or two outlining major arguments, crafting an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, and developing memorable examples and anecdotes to illustrate key points.
Then the words would pour forth at a surprising pace. Shakespeare likely wrote first drafts in longhand in notebooks, covering pages with his ornate Secretary Hand script. Moving line by line, he focused on flowing language, stirring dialogue, and insightful characterizations over structural elements. Each sentence rolled off his quill purposefully but freely, guided by his encyclopedic vocabulary and impeccable sense of rhythm, meter and rhyme.
Unlike many students, Shakespeare seemed to thrive under pressure of tight deadlines. Pushed to the limits, he could spin gold from raw ideas, conjuring complex plots, believable personalities, and lyrical soliloquies seemingly from thin air in a matter of days or even hours. For the essay, he may work late into the night, caught up in a torrent of thoughts and phrases to weave a cohesive tale around the initial thesis. While tired, his writing remained crisp, colorful and absorbing.
After completing a first pass, Shakespeare would review with a critical eye, pruning unnecessary words or refining dull passages through multiple revisions. He expertly balanced concision with eloquence, packing profound wisdom into just a few evocative lines. For revision of the essay, he may distill wordier sections, tighten logical flow, and introduce literary devices like metaphors, foreshadowing or dramatic irony to give layers of meaning to readers. Looking to captivate any audience, he polishes language until it gleams without pretension.