Shakespeare's writings have touched many lives, both in the Elizabethan era and in today's modern society. He has so many famous writings and plays that there are too many to talk about. He put a lot of time, heart and effort into all his writings. Three of his most famous major plays are Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet. They are classic and timeless. There is also the question of why they have lasted to this day. It is most likely because of Shakespeare's popularity, imagery, and writing style. Shakespeare was very popular during the Elizabethan era. He, unlike many authors of this period, was actually famous while he was alive. Although Shakespeare was considered the leading playwright of his time, evidence indicates that both he and his contemporaries looked to poetry, not dramaturgy, to achieve lasting fame. Shakespeare's sonnets were composed between 1593 and 1601, although they were not published until 1609. That edition, The Sonnets of Shakespeare, consists of 154 sonnets, all written in the form of three quatrains and a couplet that is now recognized as Shakespearean. During this time, Shakespeare was also very famous for creating new words. “In his poems and plays, Shakespeare invented thousands of words, often combining or distorting Latin, French, and native roots.” (“William Shakespeare.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. May 5, 2014. . ) He had expanded the Oxford English Dictionary by about a thousand words. This led him to expand the way he wrote. "Shakespeare wrote more than thirty plays in his lifetime."( "William Shakespeare." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. May 5, 2014. . ) These thirty plays are normally d...... mid-paper ......during Shakespeare's early plays rather than his later plays. All in all, it's easy to say that Shakespeare's writings touched many lives during the Elizabethan era and in today's modern society. His famous plays and writings have remained with us throughout the years. This is due to Shakespeare's popularity, images and writings. There is no question where we would be here today without Shakespeare's famous plays and writings. Works Cited Spurgeon, Charles E.. Shakespeare's imagery and what it tells us. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1935. Print.Shakespeare, William. Comedies, Histories and Tragedies of Mr. William Shakespeare: A Facsimile of the First Folio, 1623. New York: Routledge, 1998. Print."William Shakespeare." Poet.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. May 5, 2014. Works Cited