The Bard
epithet

- William Shakespeare

Collins Dictionary

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A bard is a poet. Anyone who has spent any time at all learning the English language has probably read a play or sonnet written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), who is sometimes referred to as "The Bard".

Many people consider Shakespeare to be the greatest poet and playwright who ever lived. He is also called "The Bard of Avon" because he came from, and was probably born in, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The word bard comes from the Scottish Gaelic. In medieval England and Ireland, poets and singers travelled from town to town, performing their music and telling stories, which were commonly about the legendary deeds of their heroes or about the leaders of their tribes.

Many bards played the harp to accompany their verse and their tales of love, war, death and honour. Similarly, Shakespeare's works centred around comedies, tragedies and histories.

Shakespeare's works were popular with all classes of English society. His comedies blended simple and subtle humour in language that was easily understood.

The Bard is one nickname (or epithet) for Shakespeare. Another is "Sweet Swan of Avon", which compares him to the beautiful long-necked white birds in his home town.

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SYNONYMS
for bard

minstrel, playwright, poet, troubadour

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Practice OWAD in a conversation

"Throughout 2016, special events took place across Britain and the world to mark 400 years since the death of THE BARD."