What did people in Tudor times think of Shakespeare?

Answer 1

Shakespeare was a popular actor, poet and playwright in his own time, which included "Tudor times" (up to 1603). There are several contemporary references to him as an actor, all complimentary if not enthusiastic. The references to him as a writer are more enthusiastically positive, especially Francis Meres's Palladis Tamia. Passages from Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis show up in other writers' plays more than once, as a kind of homage. The clincher to show how popular Shakespeare was is that booksellers started to put his name on plays he hadn't written so they would sell better. As for Shakespeare's personal life, nobody seems to have been interested in it--it did not form a part of what they thought of him.

Answer 2

People in Tudor times generally viewed Shakespeare as a talented playwright and poet. Although opinions may have varied, many recognized his skill in crafting stories and language. Shakespeare was well-respected in his time and his works were popular among the elite and the general public.