The Sources of Shakespeare's PlaysFirst published in 1977. This book ascertains what sources Shakespeare used for the plots of his plays and discusses the use he made of them; and secondly illustrates how his general reading is woven into the texture of his work. Few Elizabethan dramatists took such pains as Shakespeare in the collection of source-material. Frequently the sources were apparently incompatible, but Shakespeare's ability to combine a chronicle play, one or two prose chronicles, two poems and a pastoral romance without any sense of incongruity, was masterly. The plays are examined in approximately chronological order and Shakespeare's developing skill becomes evident. |
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Antony appears Appian Arden argued audience banished Brutus Bullough Caesar Cassio Caxton character Chronicles Cinthio's Cleopatra Comedy Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cressida critics Cymbeline Daniel death derived described Disdemona disguise doth Dover Wilson dramatic dramatist E. K. Chambers echoes Elizabethan Falstaff Famous Victories father Greene's Hamlet hath haue Hector Henry hero heroine Holinshed Holinshed's Iago Iago's ibid influenced Isabella John Juliet King Lear Latin Leontes lines loue lovers Lydgate Macbeth marriage marry Menaechmi mentioned Mirror for Magistrates Muir murder night Othello Pandosto parallels passage Pericles phrase plot Plutarch poem Prince Pyramus Pyramus and Thisbe refers revenge Richard Romeo Rosader Rosalind scene Shake Shakespeare had read Shakespeare's play Silla sources speaks speare speare's speech story suggested T. W. Baldwin tale tells thee Thisbe thou tragedy translation Troilus Troublesome Raigne Twelfth Night Ur-Hamlet villain vnto vpon wife words