Who is known as Bard of Avon?

When we hear the term ‘The Bard’ our minds immediatley spring to the name William Shakespeare. More specifically, Shakeseare is known as ‘The Bard of Avon‘. This is because he seems to have been given the title in recognition of his stature as ‘great poet’ and the unofficial national poet of England. It was only as the twentieth century advanced that he became inextricably identified with that title. Before that, the mind sprang to the name ‘Robert Burns‘, the Scottish poet. The Scots, proud of their national poet, would still argue that point as to who ‘The Bard’ actually is!

The word ‘bard’ has lost its original meaning, although we might use it ironically to refer to a friend or local person who writes poems. In present-day usage the term ‘bard’ has become synonymous with a revered poet (and one who has gifted the world with so many wonderful quotes). Given the reverence in which Shakespeare is held worldwide, and given that the original bard’s tale was of great deeds, great events, and the great themes of heroism, love, war and death, it seems indisputable that Shakespeare is entitled to the name, ‘The Bard’. One of the reasons Shakespeare’s plays and his characters as diverse as Lady Mabeth and Prospero have lasted and grown ever stronger in the worldwide public consciousness as time has passed is that his stories are all filled with those ingredients. Some explore war, some death, and some love; and some explore them all in one play.

Picture Credit : Google

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