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!
So it is a relatively recent development that this general, descriptive noun has taken on a specific meaning. The word is very old and referred, originally, to a poet generally, especially one who wrote impassioned, lyrical, or epic verse. Bards were originally Celtic composers of eulogy and satire; the word came to mean more generally a tribal poet-singer gifted in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds. As early as the 1st century AD, the Latin author Lucan, referred to bards as the national poets or minstrels of Gaul and Britain.
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.
The word ‘bard’ has been hijacked in recent times and used to promote things such as role-playing game ‘The Bard’s Tale’ and a titles for festivals. In the case of festivals, the title invariably refers to festivals associated with Shakespeare, such as the classic ‘Bard on the Beach‘.
The Droeshout portrait of WIlliam Shakespeare, Bard of Avon
12 replies
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Ghoest says: December 30, 2011 at 3:17 pm
How is it a “hijacking” when role playing games use the word “bard?” Its done as intentionally fanciful reference to to original Celtic meaning.
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Kavya says: April 23, 2013 at 1:22 pm
This is a really good site and has lots of info but plssss can someone tell me a para on HOW he became the great bard???
Need it for a project and cant really find, HOW….
Pls helppp!!!!!!!!!!Reply
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advika says: April 27, 2013 at 7:14 am
why do i have to get a project on william shakespere?????
but the main answer is he became the bard as he wrote many poems which were internationally praised and so he became the great bardReply
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katie says: October 24, 2013 at 2:41 pm
well he was born and his birth place was half called the bard that why he is called the great bard.
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Mainly because he became the ONLY good writer left! All of the others, (Marlowe, Green. Nash, Lodge, etc) had either died, given up playwriting, or moved away from London. So, inside 6 months, Shakespeare became the principal playwright! says: April 16, 2022 at 12:18 am
Mainly because , he was the only one left! Of the others, Marlowe (Christopher), had been murdered! Green (Robert), had died in the gutter aged 32. Young Thomas Nash, was buried by his grieving vicar father, Thomas Lodge had taken up the living of a parish in Gloucestershire, Thomas Watson, died of a “disgusting malaise” probably Bubonic Plague. So, within 6 months, Shakespeare, as I said, was the only one left!
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katie says: October 24, 2013 at 2:36 pm
william shakespere is the best cause i just cant stop thinking about romeo and juliett it is just so hart touching.
luv it wish this guy was alive could have interviewed him for my school paper, about him.Reply
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Doofus says: November 29, 2021 at 1:06 am
*Heart* touching
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Jessica Tonks says: November 22, 2013 at 4:52 pm
I’m a 15 year old freshman at Centennial High School and I LOVE William Shakespeare!!!!!!! YOLO LOL!!!!!!!!
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Anoy Antony says: November 12, 2018 at 9:41 am
please let me know who mentioned William Shakespear “THE BARD”?
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trackcoudert says: February 11, 2020 at 10:33 am
this really good site for children (je suis francais)
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Afshan sohail ahmed says: October 4, 2021 at 7:29 pm
Perfectly to be called a bard for his relatable n ummatched work
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Charlie says: May 29, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Shakespeare is called the Bard because for nearly 500 years his work is still being used as study for how to write well and for well written works in poetry, playwriting, short stories, etc. and the term “Bard” by the time he was alive, had already been transformed into what is considered a national “poet laureate” of his day. Today, as you read above, the term as yet again, morphed into a form of deity in writer. Of which, he could easily be placed! Consider the fact that his writings have all been translated into every language on Earth that studies language and culture, writing, and poetic form. His poetry, screenplays, and literature are taught in every major University there is, and most high schools in America and Europe. He is, arguably the most recognized author of romance story line in history and he was the son of a glove making leather smith in a small town in England growing up, with little known about his education. Pretty good cases if you ask me
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