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Sonnet 71 summary and analysis
Authorship of Shakespeare
Sonnet 71 summary and analysis
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Was William Shakespeare an Author?
"That every word doth almost tell my name / Showing their birth, and where they did proceed..." Some might say that this quote from Sonnet 76 eloquently expresses the narrator's desire to be heard. This is a normal enough emotion to have. In today's society, people will fight behemently for that right. In Elizabethan times, however, to be heard was not a right at all, but a privilege. The queen, Elizabeth I, had the power to silence any opposition. One could easily see how a verse like the above example could find its inspiration. Some would argue that, with the necessary information, one could just as easily see a darker purpose uncovered, William Shakespeare: Did he exist? There is no doubt of that. Was he responsible for the greatest poetry and prose the English-speaking world has ever known? That, it would appear, is a greater mystery than one would initially think. I intend to search for the answer to the question: Was William Shakespeare responsible for the writings traditionally attributed to him?
When I first became aware of this debate, I was skeptical. Who wouldn't be? A 400-year old conspiracy theory always invokes doubt, especially one of this caliber. The plays and poetry of William Shakespeare are frequently called the greatest writings of the English language. The Guiness Book of World Records, using only his plays and poetry or the word count, lists him as the man with the largest vocabulary. How then can these works be attributed to the son of a glove maker with no formal education? This is the backbone of the debate raging through the literary world today. Stratfordians, the people who hold to the traditional view, have no real answers. Oxfordians, however...
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Haugen, Peter. (1997, April 20). Who wrote Hamlet? [Online] http://www.sacbee.com/leisure/goingout/theater/hamlet.htm.
Kathman,Dave, and Terry Ross. (1997) Shakespeare authorship. [Online] http://www.bepl.net/~tross/ws/will.html
Kelly, Kathleen. (1997, April 25). The bard by any other name. . . [Online] http://www.dailycal.org/archive/04.25.97/feat/shakespeare.html
McFarlan, Donald, ed. (1990, April). Guinness book of world records. New York, NY: Bantam.
Shaking the spear. (1997, February 18) [Online] http://hhs.stcharles.k12.la.us/mypages/devere.htm
Sim, Kevin. (1992, December 22). The Shakespeare mystery. Frontline.
Stevens, John Paul. (1992, April 4). Shakespeare canon of statutory construction. [Online] http://www.shakespeare-olford.com/stevens.htm
William Shakepeare: the complete works. (1998). New York, NY: Dorset Press.
The Stolen Plays William Shakespeare is a fraud. Whoever wrote the plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and many more plays was a phenomenal writer. He or she was able to rhyme, use iambic pentameter, use puns, and was able to contribute 1,200 at minimum of the English language in one play itself. Which Williams Shakespeare was clearly unable to write these plays. Many people believe he wrote the plays that are in his name but as research shows he did not have the right
Is Shakespeare a Fraud? Who is this mysterious play write? For nearly 500 years, historians have been baffled as to how Shakespeare could have authored so many plays, if it truly was Shakespeare. Various historians have come up with numerous theories as to who wrote the plays. Yet the outcome has been the same, there is no solid evidence to neither confirm nor deny that Shakespeare truly did author the plays because most of the evidence is contradictory. When education is concerned, no one truly
Was it William Shakespeare? William Shakespeare was one of the most memorable play writers in history. However, William may have been given false credit. Many people believe that he may not author the plays. In fact, there is much evidence that shows that he did not author the plays. Some people believe that they have found the real author. According to this quote, “An English schoolmaster, J. Thomas Looney went looking for Shakespeare, After years of searching through old documents, Looney came
Did you know that William Shakespeare is the best-selling fiction author of all time (estimated 4 billion copies were sold). William Shakespeare was born on Stratford-Upon-Avon, United Kingdom on April 23, 1564. William Shakespeare died on Stratford-Upon-Avon, United Kingdom on April 23, 1616. William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582. They have 3 children together; Hamnet Shakespeare (son), Susanna Hall (daughter), Judith Quiney (daughter). William Shakespeare made 37 plays, 154 sonnets
whether or not Shakespeare is the real author of his plays. Shakespeare is famously known for his work including, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. Throughout his work it is clear to see his originality and his extensive education. Some people may use this against him and say that it is impossible for someone of his status to write so greatly about politics and be able to use such character. Through stylometry, proof of his education, the actors, and the death of one of the alleged authors, it is proven
In one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet, he writes his lead character Juliet these lines: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other word would smell as sweet." (2. 2.43–44). Many people dedicate their entire careers studying Shakespeare's life and his work. Naturally, with research, arises evidence to support and also disprove a subject. The question on if William Shakespeare wrote the works he is widely accredited for is a very triggering one. This inquiry
known as the Renaissance. The English Renaissance was period dating from 1550-1660 and this was a period of development. The English Renaissance saw a growth in human population, literary Dramas, and one of the greatest authors, William Shakespeare. This huge growth played hand in hand with literature allowing for greater diversity of works and the allowing Shakespeare to create diverse works for his readers. More over, the English Renaissance was a time like no other
that this topic was such a debate in the world of literature. My goal in writing this paper is to hopefully bring some insight and knowledge to those who read it. Who was the man we call William Shakespeare? William Shakespeare was a man who wrote more than 36 world-famous dramas portraying the range and depth of human nature. Surprisingly, we know very little about the man who created these dramas, a man often referred to as the greatest literary genius in history. Shakespeare did not in his
The works of Shakespeare are some of the most respected in English literature. They have set the standard for all the great writers who followed. Although these works have been attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford, they could have been written by anyone. The definite authorship of a work is always uncertain, but these works are particularly contested. There are those who believe someone besides Shakespeare of Stratford wrote the works, while others believe his identity, as a whole, is a
No one knows whom or if Shakespeare is real. There are only theories that have come up about him. One of the theories is that Shakespeare of Stratford wrote his own plays. The other theory, the Oxfordian theory, is that Edward De Vere wrote the plays. Edward De Vere was a very smart boy growing up. After five years of attending Cambridge university, his tutor said “my work for the Earl of Oxford cannot be much longer required” (Murray) and Edward received his masters in Arts. Edward De Vere is also
Evidence of Shakespeare Not Writing His Plays How would the world react if they found out the famous William Shakespeare did not write his plays? If the conspiracy that Shakespeare was not the actual author of his words was revealed to be true, the world would be devastated. The issue is that Shakespeare might have not written his plays. Prior knowledge to this matter is that there are no records of Shakespeare ever going to school. Other knowledge is that he did not travel enough to describe his
you hear the names “Romeo and Juliet”, the first person that comes to mind might be Shakespeare. This represents the imprint that a person who has been referred to as “one of the greatest writers in the English language” can leave on the world of literature. Shakespeare's trademarks were comedic and tragic plays that left and continue to leave lasting impressions on people who are exposed to them. William Shakespeare, a 16th century playwright, is composed of many layers, like his plays. Even after
Vere, Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and, of course, William Shakespeare. There are a few other mentioned possibilities, but there is so little evidence for them that they do not appear worthy of mention. Each of the proposed authors have different traits and their own pieces of evidence suggesting that they are the true authors of Shakespeare, but only one theory can be true, or can they? Is it possible that there is more than one author of Shakespeare's work? These lead to the biggest question
Is William Shakespeare a Writer or a Fraud William Shakespeare is famous all around the world for his playwrights but is he really the one who wrote them or did someone else. You may be wondering where you would come up with such an accusation. Well, there is evidence that supports that William Shakespeare wrote his plays and there is also information supporting the other side of the argument that is claiming that Shakespeare didn’t write his plays. “There is no hard evidence supporting that Shakespeare’s
William Shakespeare ”This above all; to thine own self be true.” said by William Shakespeare in his famous play called Hamlet. This quote means that no matter what happens to any person, they have to be true to themselves, as Shakespeare did in his time. His works created an understanding and awe of literature itself. Throughout many years, William Shakespeare shared new ideas about literature based on his comedies, plays, and poems. Throughout his life Shakespeare struggled with many difficulties