The Sonnets

Definition, origin, and development of the sonnet form. Comparison of the Shakespearean sonnet with the Petrarchan sonnet. Analysis of the rhyme scheme of the Shakespearean sonnet. Common sonnet themes. Discussion of the "young man," "the dark lady," and the "rival poet" referred to in the sonnets. Sonnets and sexuality.
Background on the Sonnet Form ..........All the Sonnets: Texts, Summaries, Annotations

Shakespeare's Craft/
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How Shakespeare Prepared Manuscripts: Word choice, prompt copy, printing and registration, editing, pirated plays, texts. 
Play Drafts and Censorship: What Shakespeare had to do to receive approval for a play.
Surviving Manuscripts: Do any of the original manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays survive?
Shakespeare's Writing Tools: All about Will's quills.
Anatomy of a Shakespeare Play: Divisions of the script and the stage drama with a glossary of terms.
The Worshipful Company of Stationers: Government trade organization that controlled the publishing industry.
Shakespeare's Four Writing Periods: Discussion of Shakespeare's four writing periods: Early, Balanced, Overflowing, and Final. 
Blank Verse and Iambic Pentameter: Explanation of the verse form of Shakespeare's plays and poems.
Prose vs Poetry and in the Plays: Why Shakespeare used three modes of expression. The difference between poetry and verse.
What Is Meter in a Play or a Poem?  Explanation of iamb, trochee, spondee, anapest, and other kinds of meter.
Why Low-Tech Special Effects Made Shakespeare a Better Writer: All the action in a Shakespeare play took place on a small stage with only a painted back wall to suggest the setting. However, the lack of sophisticated devices to create illusions forced Shakespeare to use his writing genius to describe what the audience was supposed to see.
Shakespeare's Swooping Imagery: Birds of prey help Shakespeare make apt comparisons.
Allusions to Greek and Roman Mythology
Allusions to the Bible
Shakespeare's Use of Allusions and Direct References
Thou or Thee? You or Ye? Rules governing the use of Shakespearean pronouns, including thou, thee, thy, thyself, thine, and ye.

The Theatre

Globe Theatre: Description, location, builders, actors, owners, sets, special effects, costumes, acoustics, motto of the playhouse. 
Stage Directions, Drama Terms: Definitions of alarum, aside, exeunt, exit, fair copy, foul papers, flourish, induction, master of revels, prologue, stationers' register, and other playwrighting terms used by Shakespeare.
Why Low-Tech Special Effects Made Shakespeare a Better Writer: How lack of sophisticated special effects at the Globe Theatre affected Shakespeare's writing for the better. The article includes descriptions of effects to create thunder, introduce gods and demons, and release blood during swordplay.
Shakespeare Films: The plays on DVD.
Shakespeare in the Modern Era: The story of Harley Granville-Barker, the actor and producer who rescued Shakespeare from the overblown productions of the nineteenth century and laid the foundations for modern interpretations of the plays.
Explanation of Folio and Quarto Texts: Definitions and descriptions of these printing terms used in Shakespeare's time.
Shakespeare's Views on Acting: Speaking through Hamlet, Shakespeare says a performer must exhibit restraint and subtlety; he must temper his emotions, especially when he thinks a passage requires outbursts of fury and frenzy.
Shakespeare Festivals, Workshops and Theaters: List of Shakespeare events in the U.S. and foreign countries.

Shakespeare's Life

.Biography: 5,300-word essay (with documentation) on the private and public lives of Shakespeare: childhood, the "lost years," London and the theatre, rising fortune, retirement, death.
The Shakespeare Children: Nutshell profiles of Shakespeare's brothers and sisters and his own children.
Was Shakespeare Catholic? Summary and discussion of evidence suggesting that Shakespeare was a lifelong Roman Catholic. The essay discusses Shakespeare's Catholic parents, recusancy, the queen's spy, Shakespeare's schooling, a mysterious document in the rafters of the Shakespeare home, the Gunpowder plot, and other pertinent topics.
What Did Shakespeare Look Like? How Did He Sound? Information on Shakespeare's physical appearance and voice, along with links to 24 images (paintings, engravings, etc.) of him. 
Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament: Complete text of Shakespeare's final words. The will was written in January 1616 and revised in March of the same year after the marriage of Shakespeare's second daughter.
Was Shakespeare a Seafarer?.Ships are important turning points, or plot catalysts, in many of Shakespeare plays. Rather than mere vessels of haulage, ships are carriers of hope and despair, fortune and misfortune, death and rebirth. Shakespeare’s ships, in short, represent humankind on the sea of life encountering the most formidable antagonist: caprice. Does his frequent use of ships in his plays suggest that he traveled beyond the bounds of England?
Fascinating Facts About Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Times

.London in 1600: Everyday Life, Occupations: In 1600, London was big and beautiful, dirty and dangerous. This page tells what everyday life was like for Shakespeare after he arrived in London from Stratford. Included is a glossary of the names of common occupations, such as ostler, turner, cooper, chandler, and saddler.
The Age of Shakespeare: Shakespeare lived during a time of experiment, invention, discovery, and revolution. This essay looks at the major events of the epoch. 
Shakespeare's Taverns: Whenever an ill humor or a bleak sky oppressed Shakespeare during his theater years in London, he could count on a tavern to revitalize his spirits. This essay describes the typical taverns of Shakespeare's day.

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Glossaries and Lists

Chronology of Shakespeare's Works: List of the probable dates when Shakespeare wrote his plays and poems.
Shakespeare's Characters as Symbols: List of Shakespeare characters representing themes or motifs.
Shakespeare Festivals, Workshops and Theaters: List of Shakespeare events in the U.S. and foreign countries.
Glossary of Animals and Animal Parts in Witches' Brew (Macbeth): Definitions and descriptions of adder's fork, blindworm, newt, fillet of fenny, tiger's chaudron, and other ingredients that go into the cauldron.
Glossary of Allusions to Greek and Roman Mythology

Glossary of Common Shakespeare Words: Definitions and usage of words in Shakespeare's plays and poems. These words include alack, avaunt, beseech, cuckold, durst, ere, fain, forsooth, liege, orison, rheum, sirrah, vouchsafe, wherefore, and zounds.
Glossary of Drama Terms: Definitions of alarum, aside, exeunt, exit, fair copy, foul papers, flourish, induction, master of revels, prologue, stationers' register, and other playwrighting terms used by Shakespeare.
Glossary of Elizabethan Occupations: From actor, apothecary, armorer, and cordwainer to skinner, tiler, and washerwoman.
Glossary of Feudal Terms: Gallant knights, beautiful princesses, and clashing swords are the stuff of many Shakespeare plays, notably his histories. This page defines all of the major terms of feudalism.
Glossary of Literary Terms: All the major literary terms explained, from allegory to zeugma. Included are some examples from Shakespeare's works.
Glossary of Musical Instruments in Shakespeare's Time
Glossary of Stage Directions: Explanation of such terms as alarum, aside, exeunt, induction, prologue, sennet, solus, arras, excursion, and flourish.
List of Globe Theatre Actors: The names of the twenty-six actors who performed most frequently in Shakespeare's plays.
Anatomy of a Shakespeare Play: Divisions of the script and the stage drama with a glossary of terms.
Fascinating Facts About Shakespeare
Kings and Queens of England: The royal line from the first monarch to the present.
Lord Mayors of London: 1590-1616: List of all the lord mayors during Shakespeare's time in London.
Royalty and Nobility: How They Ranked: In most of Shakespeare's plays–including Hamlet, King Lear, Richard III, Macbeth, As You Like It,The Tempest, and Measure for Measure–it was the high-born, the royals and nobles, who were the central focus. This page explains the ranking system. 
Thou or Thee? You or Ye? Rules governing the use of Shakespearean pronouns, including thou, thee, thy, thyself, thine and ye.
What Is Meter in a Play or a Poem?  Explanation of iamb, trochee, spondee, anapest, and dactyl, as well as monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, octameter, and catalexis.

Authorship: Why de Vere and Others Don't Measure Up

Who Quilled Shakespeare? Debates flourish today on whether William Shakespeare really wrote the plays and poems attributed to him. Among those promoted as the true author of the plays and sonnets are Edward de Vere, Sir Henry Neville, Christopher, Marlowe, Francis Bacon, William Stanley, and Queen Elizabeth I. This essay maintains that evidence against Shakespeare is weak and that there is no reason to doubt that William Shakespeare of Stratford was indeed the author of the plays and sonnets.

Complete Texts, Concordances

The Complete Works: The plays, sonnets, and other poems
New on This Site: The Complete Annotated Text of Macbeth With Numbered Lines
New on This Site: The Complete Annotated Text of Romeo and Juliet With Numbered Lines
Explanation of Folio and Quarto Texts: Definitions and descriptions of these printing terms used in Shakespeare's time.
Quarto Editions of the Plays: Early editions that preceded the publication of the First Folio, a collection of plays published in 1623. 
First Folio and Early Quartos, U of Virginia: Free access to texts of great importance to researchers.
Concordance: Open Source: Find any word or phrase in Shakespeare's works.
Shakespearean Prompt Books: U of Virginia

Expressions and Quotations

Famous Sayings From Shakespeare: Fool's paradise, one fell swoop, cold comfort, elbow room, green-eyed monster, Greek to me, spotless reputation, strange bedfellows, too much of a good thing, eaten me out of house and home, it smells to heaven, the short and the long of it, and other expressions originated by Shakespeare.
Shakespeare Quotations for All Occasions : A page of quotations from Shakespeare's plays and poems on a variety of subjects ranging from acting and adversity to words and the world.
Curses and Insults in Shakespeare's Plays
Glossary of Common Shakespeare Words: Definitions and usage of words in Shakespeare's plays and poems. These words include alack, avaunt, beseech, cuckold, durst, ere, fain, forsooth, liege, orison, rheum, sirrah, vouchsafe, wherefore, and zounds.

Essays and Short Articles

Shakespeare and Medicine: Discussion of Shakespeare’s knowledge of both physical and mental illness, as well as common diseases, disorders, and cures during his age. A glossary of afflictions appears at the end of the essay.
Shakespeare and the Bible: Discussion of Shakespeare's allusions to Scripture.
Shakespeare and Music: Discussion of the role of singers, instrumentalists, and dancers in Shakespeare's plays.
Shakespeare, Shylock, and Anti-Semitism: This essay asserts that close scrutiny of The Merchant of Venice reveals that Shakespeare wrote it mainly to condemn the moral and ethical values of errant Christians, not Jews.
Why Hamlet Did Not Become King of Denmark: Keen readers and audiences often ask why Claudius acceded to the throne in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Should not the crown have passed to the dead king’s son, Prince Hamlet?
Romeo and Juliet: Why the Capulets and Montagues Hate Each Other: This essay provides the answer. Although Shakespeare himself did not address this question, the source play on which he based Romeo and Juliet identifies the cause of the feud. 
Titus Andronicus: Shrewd Business Coup: Aware that Elizabethan audiences had a huge appetite for bearbaiting, bullbaiting, dog-fighting, and cock-fighting, Shakespeare may have decided to give the people what they wanted—another bloody spectacle—when he staged Titus Andronicus, his goriest play.
Troilus and Cressida: Tragedy of Ignorance: The real tragedy in this play lies in the major characters' ignorance of who they are and what spurs them to action. Troilus, Cressida, and other characters fail to learn from the mistakes they make.
In Macbeth, True is False and Fair Is Foul: The world of Macbeth and his wife is a world of contradiction. Good is bad. True is false. Light is dark. Nothing is what it seems. Shakespeare holds up a mirror that reflects not only the outward substance of man but also his conflicting inner essence. This mirror reveals glory as blood-stained, safety as dangerous, friends as inimical.
Fate vs Free Will in Shakespeare's Works: Is an individual in complete control of his destiny?
The Suicides of Romeo and Juliet: Had the lovers lapsed into insanity?
Why Low-Tech Special Effects Made Shakespeare a Better Writer: Discussion of how special effects at the Globe Theatre affected Shakespeare's writing for the better. The article includes descriptions of effects to create thunder, introduce gods and demons, and release blood during swordplay.
Shakespeare's Ships: Ships are important turning points, or plot catalysts, in many of Shakespeare plays. Rather than mere vessels of haulage, ships are carriers of hope and despair, fortune and misfortune, death and rebirth. Shakespeare’s ships, in short, represent humankind on the sea of life encountering the most formidable of antagonists: caprice.
Hamlet and Oedipus: This short article notes that Hamlet exhibits the symptoms of an Oedipus complex in his relationship with his mother, Gertrude, and stepfather-uncle, Claudius. The article also provides a brief summary of the Oedipus myth.
Shakespeare's Swooping Imagery: Birds of prey help Shakespeare make apt comparisons.
Portia: Mean, Detestable Hypocrite: Close examination of The Merchant of Venice reveals its leading lady, Portia, as deeply flawed and even detestable. Especially reprehensible is her racial bigotry. 
How Shakespeare Prepared Manuscripts: Writing tools, illumination, manuscript preparation, word choice, censorship, prompt copy, printing and registration, editing, meter, pirated plays, texts, glossary of drama terms.
What Is Meter in a Play or a Poem?  Explanation of iamb, trochee, spondee, anapest, and dactyl, as well as monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, octameter, and catalexis.
Explanation of Folio and Quarto Texts: Definitions and descriptions of these printing terms used in Shakespeare's time.
Shakespeare's Openings.Shakespeare knew how to open a play. Forging words into magical keys, he opened doors into the labyrinth of the human mind and bid the audience enter.
Shakespeare's Blunders: Although William Shakespeare can stun audiences with the brilliance of his muse, his plays are not without shortcomings. This essay discusses them.
Was Shakespeare a Plagiarist? Evidence indicates that Shakespeare is innocent of all charges of plagiarism. 
Authorship Question
Feudalism: Gallant knights, beautiful princesses, and clashing swords are the stuff of many Shakespeare plays, notably his histories. This page explains feudalism. A glossary of feudal terms accompanies the explanation.
Shakespeare's Use of Allusions and Direct References
Shakespeare's Four Writing Periods: Analysis of Shakespeare's four writing periods: Early, Balanced, Overflowing, and Final. 
Blank Verse and Iambic Pentameter: Explanation of the verse form of Shakespeare's plays and poems.
Prose vs Poetry and Verse in Shakespeare's Plays: Why Shakespeare used three modes of expression: prose, poetry, and verse. The difference between poetry and verse.
Curses and Insults in Shakespeare's Plays

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