A
Free Site Maintained as a Public Service by Michael
J. Cummings, a Freelance Writer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
.
Plays,
Sonnets, Long Poems
.
The
Plays: Summaries, Themes, Analyses..Plot
summaries of all the plays, including those of doubtful or joint
authorship, such as Edward III, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Sir Thomas
More (partly written by Shakespeare),and Cardenio (probably
partly written by Shakespeare). Criticism, sources, settings, dates, themes,
and other information.
The
Sonnets: Background, Analyses..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.
The
Major Poems..Background
information, themes, style, and summaries of Shakespeare's long narrative
poems–Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece–and the complaint
poem, A Lover's Complaint. Analysis of The Phoenix and the Turtle.
.
Shakespeare's
Craft
.
How
Shakespeare Prepared Manuscripts Writing tools, illumination,
manuscript preparation, word choice, censorship, prompt copy, printing
and registration, editing, pirated plays, texts.
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 Verse in Shakespeare's 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 dactyl, as well as monometer, dimeter,
trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, octameter,
and catalexis.
Why
Low-Tech Special Effects Made Shakespeare a Better Writer.Modern
filmmakers use dazzling special effects to enhance realism or create fantasy
worlds. When Shakespeare wrote plays, all the action 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.
Thou
or Thee? You or Ye? Rules governing the use
of Shakespearean pronouns, including thou, thee, thy, thyself, thine,
and
ye.
.
The
Theatre
.
Globe
Theater 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
in the Modern Era.The
story of Harley Granville-Barker, the actor and producer who rescued Shakespeare
from the overblown productions of the 19th 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.
.
Now
Available.....................Shakespeare:
a Guide to the Complete Works............................................
.
By the Author
of This Web Site
Plot Summaries
of All the Plays and Narrative Poems | Themes | Imagery | Historical Background
| Glossaries
Shakespeare's
Theatre | Drama Terms | Essays | Analysis of the Sonnets | and Much More
|
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 of antagonists: caprice. Does his frequent use of ships in his
play 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..
.
Glossaries
and Lists
.
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 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 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.
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.
Shakespeare
Festivals.Links
to Shakespeare festivals and companies. You can list your group or organization
free of charge.
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.
Complete
Texts, Concordances, and Authorship
.
Authorship
Question 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.
Was
Shakespeare a Plagiarist? Evidence
strongly indicates that Shakespeare is innocent of all charges that he
plagiarized.
Explanation
of Folio and Quarto Texts Definitions and descriptions of
these printing terms used in Shakespeare's time.
Complete
Works at MIT Free access to
the plays and poems of Shakespeare.
Complete
Works: 1914 Oxford Text Free
access to this classic text of the plays and poems of Shakespeare.
Complete
Works, 1866 Globe Edition: U of Virginia Free
access to this classic text of the plays and poems of Shakespeare.
First
Folio and Early Quartos: U of Virginia Free
access to texts of great importance to researchers.
Search
for a Key Word Find the occurrence
of words in Shakespeare.
Concordance:
Open Source Find any word or phrase
in Shakespeare's works.
Concordance:
Shakespeare Illustrated Find
any word or phrase in Shakespeare's works.
The
Classic Text: Traditions and Interpretations
Shakespearean
Prompt Books: U of Virginia
.
.
Expressions
and Quotations
.
Everyday
Expressions 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.
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,
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.
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.
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 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, the sonnets, and the long poems, such
as Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece.
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
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.
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.
.
Castles
and Kings and the Age of Feudalism
.
Feudalism
Gallant knights, beautiful princesses, and clashing swords are the stuff
of many Shakespeare plays, notably his histories. This page explains feudalism.
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.
King
and Queens of England.The
royal line from the first monarch to the present.
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?
.
Study
Guides for the Plays
Plot
Summaries, Themes, Sources, Analysis
.
Study
Guides for the Poems
Plot
Summaries, Themes, Analysis
.
The
Rape of Lucrece Shakespeare's narrative
poem resembling a revenge tragedy. This page summarizes the plot of the
poem and includes information on the setting, sources, rhyme scheme, meter,
and imagery.
Venus
and Adonis Shakespeare's
narrative love poem. This page summarizes the plot of the poem and includes
information on the sources, rhyme scheme, meter, imagery, and ambiguities
and double entendres.
The
Phoenix and the Turtle Shakespeare
poem characterized as an allegory and an elegy. This page provides historical
background, an interpretation of the poem, and a discussion of symbolism,
and other information.
A
Lover's Complaint.As
the title suggests, this is a complaint poem, popular in medieval and Renaissance
times. This guide provides information on the genre, on the rhyme scheme
and meter, and on an authorship question. A summary is included.
Shakespeare
News Read the latest news on Shakespeare
plays, poems, films, books, research, and other topics gathered in one
place from thousands of newspapers around the world. Most of the top 20
stories are current, posted within the last 24 hours or within the last
week or so.
.
Shakespeare
DVDs at Amazon.com
.
| Film |
Director |
Actors |
| Antony
and Cleopatra (1974) |
Trevor Nunn, John Schoffield |
Richard Johnson, Janet Suzman |
| As
You Like It (1937) NR |
Paul Czinner |
Henry Ainley, Felix Aylmer |
| Hamlet
(1948) NR |
Laurence Olivier |
Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons |
| Hamlet
(1990) NR |
Kevin Kline |
Kevin Kline |
| Hamlet
(1991) PG |
Franco Zeffirelli |
Mel Gibson, Glenn Close |
| Hamlet
(1996) PG-13 |
Kenneth Branagh |
Kenneth Branagh, |
| Hamlet
(1964) NR |
John Gielgud, Bill Colleran |
Richard Burton, Hume Cronyn |
| Hamlet
(1964) NR |
Grigori Kozintsev |
Innokenti Smoktunovsky |
| Hamlet
(2000) NR |
Campbell Scott, Eric Simonson |
Campbell Scott, Blair Brown |
| Henry
V (1989) PG-13 |
Kenneth Branagh |
Kenneth Branaugh, Derek
Jacobi |
| Henry
V ( 1946) NR |
Laurence Olivier |
Leslie Banks, Felix Aylmer |
| Julius
Caesar (1950) NR |
David Bradley |
Charlton Heston |
| Julius
Caesar (1953) NR |
Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
Marlon Brando, James Mason |
| Julius
Caesar (1970) G |
Stuart Burge |
Charlton Heston, Jason Robards |
| King
Lear (1970) |
Grigori Kozintsev |
Yuri Yarvet |
| King
Lear (1971) |
Peter Brook |
Cyril Cusack, Susan Engel |
| King
Lear (1974) NR |
Edwin Sherin |
James Earl Jones |
| King
Lear (1976) NR |
Tony Davenall |
Patrick Mower, Ann Lynn |
| King
Lear (1984) NR |
Michael Elliott |
Laurence Olivier, Colin
Blakely |
| King
Lear (1997) NR |
Richard Eyre |
Ian Holm |
| Love's
Labour's Lost (2000) |
Kenneth Branagh |
Kenneth Branagh, Alicia
Silverstone |
| Macbeth
(1971) R |
Roman Polanski |
Jon Finch, Francesca Annis |
| Macbeth
(1978) NR |
Philip Casson |
Ian McKellen, Judy Dench |
| The
Merchant of Venice (2004) R |
Michael Radford |
Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons |
| The
Merchant of Venice (2001) NR |
Christ Hunt, Trevor Nunn |
David Bamber, Peter De Jersey |
| The
Merry Wives of Windsor (1970) NR |
|
Leon Charles, Gloria Grahame |
| Midsummer
Night's Dream (1996) PG-13 |
Adrian Noble |
Lindsay Duncan, Alex Jennings |
| A
Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) |
Michael Hoffman |
Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Much
Ado About Nothing (1993) PG 13 |
Kenneth Branaugh |
Branaugh, Emma Thompson |
| Othello
(1990) NR |
Trevor Nunn |
Ian McKellen, Michael Grandage |
| Othello
(1955) NR |
Orson Welles |
Orson Welles |
| Ran
(1985) King Lear (Japanese) |
Akira Kurosawa |
Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao |
| Richard
II (2001) NR |
John Farrell |
Matte Osian, Kadina
de Elejalde |
| Richard
III (1912) NR |
André Calmettes,
James Keane |
Robert Gemp, Frederick
Warde |
| Richard
III - Criterion Collection (1956) NR |
Laurence Olivier |
Laurence Olivier, Ralph
Richardson |
| Richard
III (1995) R |
Richard Loncraine |
Ian McKellen, Annette Bening |
| Romeo
and Juliet (1968) G |
Franco Zeffirelli |
Leonard Whiting, Olivia
Hussey |
| Romeo
and Juliet (1996) PG-13 |
Baz Luhrmann |
Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire
Danes |
| Romeo
and Juliet (1976) NR |
Joan Kemp-Welch |
Christopher Neame, Ann Hasson |
| The
Taming of the Shrew (1967) |
Franco Zeffirelli |
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard
Burton |
| The
Taming of the Shrew (1976) |
Kirk Browning |
Raye Birk, Earl Boen, Ron
Boussom |
| The
Taming of The Shrew (1983) NR |
|
Franklin Seales, Karen Austin, |
| The
Tempest PG |
Paul Mazursky |
John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands |
| The
Tempest (1998) |
Jack Bender |
Peter Fonda, John Glover |
| Throne
of Blood (1961) Macbeth Japanese |
Akira Kurosawa |
Toshirô Mifune, Isuzu
Yamada |
| Twelfth
Night (1996) PG |
Trevor Nunn |
Helena Bonham Carter |
| The
Winter's Tale (2005) NR |
Greg Doran |
Royal Shakespeare Company |
.
.
ABOUT
THIS SITE
.
Shake Sphere
(Formerly Known as The Complete Shakespeare) has been rated an A+
site by Web
English Teacher in the U.S. Shake Sphere has also been recommended
by the BBC, the UK SchoolsNet, The
University of Birmingham, The
British Library, The
Carolinian Shakespeare Festival, The
University of Pennsylvania, Universal
Teacher (UK), and The
National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis. Shake Sphere
is maintained as a public service by Michael J. Cummings,
a freelance writer and former college instructor in Williamsport, Pa.,
USA. He has written more than 2,500 newspaper and magazine articles and
five books. Questions and comments may be transmitted electronically. Unauthorized
publication or distribution of plot summaries or other copyrighted material
on this site can result in severe penalties.
.
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.
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17701 (United States). E-mail may be sent to cummings@cummingsstudyguides.net.
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