Who wrote the play "Romeo and Juliet"? A) William Shakespeare B) George Bernard Shaw C) Henrik Ibsen D) Tennessee Williams
VerifiedAnswer: A) William Shakespeare
Explanation:
The correct answer is A) William Shakespeare. "Romeo and Juliet" is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, written in the early part of his career, around 1594-1596. This timeless love story has become synonymous with Shakespeare's name and remains one of his most performed and studied works worldwide.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright and poet widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote approximately 39 plays and 154 sonnets during his lifetime. "Romeo and Juliet" tells the tragic story of two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families in Verona, Italy.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
• George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright known for works like "Pygmalion" and "Saint Joan." He lived much later than Shakespeare and wrote in a completely different style, focusing on social and political issues.
• Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright famous for realistic dramas like "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler." He's often called the father of modern drama but had no connection to "Romeo and Juliet."
• Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) was an American playwright known for "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Glass Menagerie." He wrote in the 20th century, centuries after Shakespeare.
"Romeo and Juliet" has had an enormous cultural impact, inspiring countless adaptations in film, ballet, opera, and literature. The play introduced many phrases that are still used today, such as "star-crossed lovers" and "What's in a name?" The story draws from earlier Italian sources, but Shakespeare's poetic language and dramatic structure made it the definitive version that continues to captivate audiences over 400 years after it was written.
