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The Quest to Determine the Chronology of Shakespeare's Plays

The chronology of Shakespeare's plays remains a complex puzzle for scholars, involving the analysis of historical records, stylistic changes, and linguistic evolution. Efforts to establish a sequence, such as E. K. Chambers' influential timeline, face challenges due to scarce and ambiguous evidence. Various editions of Shakespeare's works present differing chronologies, reflecting the ongoing academic discourse and the difficulty in pinpointing exact dates of composition.

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1

To establish the timeline of Shakespeare's works, scholars examine ______ evidence like historical records and ______ evidence such as stylistic changes.

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external internal

2

External evidence for Shakespeare's play chronology includes ______ references, ______ data, and details of ______.

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contemporary performance publication

3

Internal evidence used to date Shakespeare's plays involves analyzing ______ shifts, ______ progression, and the ______ of the language.

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stylistic thematic evolution

4

Despite thorough research, the task of creating a ______ chronology for Shakespeare's plays is complicated by the ______ nature of the evidence.

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definitive incomplete

5

Reason for complexity in dating Shakespeare's plays?

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Scarcity and ambiguity of historical records.

6

Why can't performance dates pinpoint play inception?

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Performance dates don't align with actual creation time.

7

Significance of the First Folio's publication date?

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Provides latest possible composition date, not exact.

8

The exact ______ of Shakespeare's plays is debated, with no ______ among scholars.

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chronology consensus

9

The 'early start' theory by ______ is not widely accepted and is considered ______ by critics like Gary Taylor and Sidney Thomas.

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E. A. J. Honigmann problematic

10

The ongoing ______ over the sequence of Shakespeare's works highlights the difficulty in establishing his ______ literary timeline.

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debate precise

11

Start of Chambers' Shakespeare chronology

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Henry VI, Part 2 and 3 around 1590-1591

12

End of Chambers' Shakespeare chronology

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Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen in 1612-1613

13

Modern versions of Shakespeare's 'Complete Works' show the scholarly debate over the ______ of his plays.

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order

14

The ______ Shakespeare and The ______ Shakespeare are among the notable editions that present their own play sequences.

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Riverside Oxford

15

Some editions, like 'The ______ Shakespeare,' decide not to follow a chronological sequence for the plays.

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Arden

16

The various collections of Shakespeare's works highlight the ongoing interest and challenge in establishing his works' ______.

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sequence

17

Other editions that contribute to the discourse include 'The ______ Shakespeare,' 'The ______ Shakespeare,' and 'The ______ Shakespeare.'

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Norton Pelican RSC

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The Quest to Determine the Chronology of Shakespeare's Plays

Scholars have long sought to establish the sequence in which William Shakespeare wrote his plays, a scholarly endeavor that began in earnest with Edmond Malone in the 18th century. This task involves examining both external and internal evidence. External evidence includes historical records such as contemporary references, performance data, and publication details, while internal evidence looks at stylistic changes, thematic development, and linguistic evolution within the plays themselves. Despite the extensive research, uncertainties remain due to the incomplete nature of the surviving evidence, making a definitive chronology challenging to achieve.
Collection of antique objects with open leather book, quill pen and brass inkwell, astrolabe and hourglass on wooden surface.

Challenges in Establishing Shakespeare's Play Chronology

Dating Shakespeare's plays is complicated by the scarcity and ambiguity of historical records. Performance dates, when available, do not necessarily coincide with a play's inception. For example, "Romeo and Juliet" is known to have been performed during Shakespeare's lifetime, despite the earliest recorded performance being much later. Publication dates are similarly unreliable; the First Folio, which published half of Shakespeare's plays, appeared in 1623, seven years after his death. These dates provide only the latest possible time of composition, leaving the actual dates of creation largely speculative.

Divergent Theories on Shakespeare's Chronology

The academic community has not reached a consensus on the chronology of Shakespeare's plays, leading to various theories. E. A. J. Honigmann's "early start" theory posits that Shakespeare's career began with "Titus Andronicus" around 1586, earlier than the commonly accepted date. This theory, while intriguing, has not gained widespread acceptance and is seen by some, such as Gary Taylor and Sidney Thomas, as problematic. The debate illustrates the complexity of piecing together Shakespeare's literary timeline.

E. K. Chambers' Influential Chronology of Shakespeare's Plays

E. K. Chambers' chronology, detailed in "The Problem of Chronology" within his 1930 work "William Shakespeare: A Study of Facts and Problems," has been highly influential. Chambers proposed a timeline that commences with "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3" around 1590-1591 and concludes with "Henry VIII" and "The Two Noble Kinsmen" in 1612-1613. His systematic approach to Shakespeare's chronology has provided a foundation for further scholarly investigation and debate.

Modern Editions and Their Varied Chronologies

Contemporary editions of Shakespeare's "Complete Works" reflect the ongoing scholarly discourse on the order of his plays. Notable editions include "The Riverside Shakespeare," "The Oxford Shakespeare," "The Norton Shakespeare," "The Arden Shakespeare," "The Pelican Shakespeare," and "The RSC Shakespeare." Each edition presents its own chronology, or in some cases, such as "The Arden Shakespeare," eschews chronological ordering altogether. Editions like "The Oxford Shakespeare" incorporate the most recent scholarship to provide estimated dates. These modern compilations underscore the enduring fascination with and complexity of determining the sequence of Shakespeare's oeuvre.