Back to school time means for many students another confrontation with, yuck -- William Shakespeare. The iconic scribe that annually is the source for millions of middleschooler migraines; and who almost singlehandedly can be credited for making a "notes" publisher named Cliff very wealthy, need not cause such consternation. Here are some interesting Shakespeare facts.

1)  The first of our interesting Shakespeare facts is that many popular movie plots of today originated with the plays Shakespeare first put on stage, The Lion King (based on Hamlet); 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew), West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet) and Forbidden Planet (1956 --The Tempest). Even more movies borrow snippets of plots; and most children's shows and "goofy" comedies that rely on confusion caused by people in disguise owe something to England's greatest playwright. 

2) Many common phrases of today --- "sea change," "one fell swoop," "wild goose chase," "a sorry sight," "fair play," "heart's content," "hot-blooded," love is blind," "off with his head," "woe is me"-- have only become popular because they appeared in Shakespeare's plays. There are still four more interesting Shakespeare facts. 

3) If you think it seems impossible that any of the first London audiences could have understood plays like Hamlet upon first hearing, then you may be in good company.  It seems that Shakespeare and company shortened and simplified a number of the literary masterpieces for the stage so that they focus more on swordfights and less on chit chat. 

4) Though a "night at the theater" is a common expression, plays in Shakespeare's day were performed in the open-sunshine of the afternoon. Shakespeare's famous Globe theater had no roof which is one of the more interesting Shakespeare facts many people don't know.

5) Women were not allowed to act in the theaters of the day so all those great love stories -- Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, etc. -- were played with a young male actor in drag.  

6) One of the most interesting Shakespeare facts is that he did not invent the storyline of almost any play. Instead, nearly all his works were based on real histories or authentic legends. Obviously, Julius Caesar and Henry V were histories. But even Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet were all stories of medieval legends.

Maybe if kids knew these interesting Shakespeare facts, they'd better appreciate the legend and his work.