English 22/09

Question 1

How Shakespeare’s plays have been dated?

Answer 1

Only half of Shakespear’s plays were printed during his lifetime, usually printed some times after they were performed for the first time.

So dating them is not that easy, because we have just a few records.

So the works have been dated according to 3 types of evidences:
- External: a clear mention to a particularly play, this usually doesn’t give us the exact date of the first play, but it tell us that the play did not exist before a certain date.

• Internal: That is when the play itself includes a a reference to a specific event.
• Stylistic: The changes in shakespeare’s style are so noticeable that a play can be put in a specific period thanks to its style.

Question 2

What is the shakespeare’s play structure?

Answer 2

So, Shakespeare’s works have all a common structure, they are divided in five acts:
-1: Introduction.
-2: Development.
-3: Crisis or Turning point
-4: Complications
-5: Resolution