Shakespeare wrote thirty seven plays on record, alone, before he died. Although he is credited for all of his plays, many people doubt and question whether it is true that he actually wrote his own plays. Shakespeare also wrote tragedies in his plays and it fragic stories go with his life because he lost his daughter when she was only months old. It is believed that he also lost a son as well. Shakespeare died in 1616 and he was already famous for his plays before then. He is also known to write historical fiction or plays based on history. There is plenty of evidence to point out that with no doubt, Shakespeare did write his own plays.
Shakespeare has been uncredited for his plays even though he is known as the author on record. His timeline can undoubtedly prove that he wrote plays, even though some of the plays were not produced until after he died, and that the ones that were produced are just as good as the plays produced after his death. Shakespeare even started producing plays before he died in 1616. For example,“In 1592 one of Shakespeare’s first plays were produced” (Chronology of Plays by William Shakespeare sec. 4) Also, since there is proof of the plays existing before he died and because he was famous; as well it would have been a lot harder for him to be able to use somebody elses plays and fake as being the real author. For example, “As published in Romeo and Juliet , Romeo and Juliet first performed in the autumn/winter of 1594” (Romeo and Juliet para. 2). Romeo and Juliet was performed in 1594 which is twenty years before he died. Romeo and Juliet is a super famous play written by Shakespeare; famous enough that Romeo and Juliet has even been translated into modern English and is taught throughout high schools...
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Dutch,Steven. “who Wrote Shakespeare’s Plays?” Professor Dutch’s Home Page. University of Wisconsin, 5 Feb. 1998. Web. 30 April 2014 .
Hoe, Ellie. "Why Did William Shakespeare Write Plays? for Entertainment Or An In Depth Meaning?" Blurtit. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
"The Basics." Basic Facts about William Shakespeare, His Life, His Plays and the Quartos. Folger Shakespeare Library, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
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"Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare About Romeo and Juliet." Romeo and Juliet: About Romeo and Juliet. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. McDougal Littell Literature. Ed. Allen, Janet, et. al. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 940-1049.
William Shakespeare was born on 26 April 1564 (died on 23 April 1616), in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. Shakespeare was a poet, playwright and actor and has written about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems. Shakespeare wrote many successful plays such as, Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet was written in the mid-1590s in London and even today it is considered to be one of the greatest plays ever written. It is a play based on a long dispute between two families, the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, and takes place in the cities of Verona and Mantua, Italy, over the course of four short days.
Warren, Roger. Shakespeare Survey 30. N.p.: n.p., 1977. Pp. 177-78. Rpt. in Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism. Stanley Wells, ed. England: Oxford University Press, 2000.
The ability of an author to capture the interest of the audience has and will always be an important factor in the art of storytelling and even the expression of research or related material. When an author is able to seize the attention of any partaking of their work, curiosity will develop which will lead to the wonder of what the conclusion my bring about. Not only is it important to snatch the audience’s attention in the beginning, it is necessary to hold it prisoner throughout the tale. Authors do this by having an interesting plot development in which many unexpected details come into play and the course of the story is thrown from the norm and into the conflict. Shakespeare was a master of this art in the work he produced throughout his life and was able to create stories of humor and those of tragedy. For example, his play King Lear is a terrible tragedy in which many awful things take place and the story ends by disastrous means. While in the play Much Ado About Nothing, very little conflict is present and if it is, it is resolved quickly and the play concludes with the joyfulness of marriage nuptials. His ability to develop plot and story in a way in which the audience who love to devour, Shakespeare will in a way immortalize himself, “Shakespeare proved himself to be both the "soul of the age" his works reflected and adorned and the consummate symbol of the artist whose poetic visions transcend their local habitation and become, in some mysterious way, contemporaneous with ‘all time.’” (Andrews) As stated, Shakespeare went beyond his time and created traditions, symbols, sayings, and even stories that people today will remember forever. King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing are each examples of Shakespeare's detailed ...
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1997. Print.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Although William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the most revered and well-renowned authors of all time, controversy surrounds the belief that he actually produced his own literary works. Some rumors even go so far as to question the reality of such a one, William Shakespeare, brought on by paralleling the quality of his pieces with his personal background and education. With such farfetched allegations, it persuaded others to peek into the person we all are taught to learn as “Shakespeare”, but who is actually the person behind these genius works of literary promise and enlightenment? To some, Shakespeare is as much accredited to his works as frequently as you see his name placed. To others, Shakespeare is a complex enigma into which we the people are supposed to unravel; the true author behind a falsely-given pseudonym. The debate pertaining to the true authorship of William Shakespeare’s works are still questioned in today’s society.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York City, NY: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992, 2011. Print.
Ever since the author's background has been questioned, scholars and other people have debated over who wrote the famous plays and sonnets that have the name William Shakespeare signed on them. Many alternative candidates have been presented, such as Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. However, these people do not have strong or valid arguments to support their theories. Based on biographical evidence, Shakespeare, not Edward de Vere, most likely wrote Shakespearean works. The arguments for other candidates like de Vere are not strong enough to show that Shakespeare did not write Shakespearean works.
William drastically altered history for the approval and satisfaction of King James I. Since Shakespeare was a well-established actor and playwright during King James I’s reign, James wanted William to write and produce plays for him. Although teenink.com states King James I as a “.huge supporter of theater”, he also wanted Shakespeare to glorify him and his ancestors. With William being “.offered royal protection and money. ”(shakespeare-online.com)
Ed. Cambridge, GB: Cambridge University Press, 1987. 56-74 The Works of William Shakespeare, ed. Samuel Johnson, 8 vols. (London, 1765).
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Romeo and Juliet Summary." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
“William Shakespeare." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 142-145. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.