William Shakespeare

1
William Shakespeare

• Famous Author
• Or
• Famous Deceiver

2
Introduction

• William Shakespeare is considered the greatest
  playwright of all time. Yet today, 400 years
  later, controversy still surrounds the question
  of whether he is the true author of his plays and
  sonnets. As you investigate the information
  surrounding this controversy, you will
  objectively determine whether Shakespeare is
  innocent or guilty of these charges of
  plagiarism.

3
The Task

• William Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616
  during the Elizabethan Age.  England was
  experiencing a renaissance, and many considered
  it the greatest power in the world.   Science and
  Technology continued to advance as England began
  to explore North America. Moreover, the language
  was growing fast, and the arts and literature
  were more popular than ever before. These  new
  scientific discoveries quickly changed the world 
  and commerce was thriving.
• The playwright William Shakespeare reaped the
  benefits of this prosperous time period. His
  plays were performed as quickly as he could
  produce them. Yet, rumors stated that he was not
  the author of his plays.
• Now 400 years later, his reputation is in your
  hands. You will be asked to collect and analyze
  information to determine the legitimacy of his
  authorship in a court of law. Be careful of your
  decision it may change all of history.
• During the investigation, you will visit several
  places to collect information so that you can
  make an educated decision.

4
The Process

• Step 1 Because you will be staying at
  Shakespeare's birth place, Stratford-Upon-Avon,
  you now must select the building you will occupy
  during the investigation.
• Print out the picture of the building you
  have chosen. It will be turned in with your
  evidence folder at the end of the investigation.
• This source may assist you in step 1.
  Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (http//www.shakespe
  are.org.uk) Information on trust-maintained
  houses, books, records, museums, and a listing of
  events, including visitor locations in
  Stratford-Upon-Avon.Step 2 Take a trip through
  England Online.Find three Elizabethan/Shakespeari
  an pictures on the internet that appeal to you. 
  Print out those pictures and place them in your
  investigation folder.

5
The Process (Part II)

• Step 3 Elizabethan Times
• Answer the following questions
• Profile of Elizabeth I
• Where was she born?
• Who were her parents?
• How did she come to be queen?
• Who were her advisers?
• Did she marry anyone?
• What was her relationship with Mary?
• How long did she reign?
• Events of the time
• Who were explorers at that time? What did they
  do?
• What was a famous battle in Elizabethan times?
• Describe the conflict in the Church at the time.

6
The Process (Part III)

• Step 4 Wow!!! A time machine has just been
  invented which will transport you back to
  Shakespeare's time. But first you must find a
  costume to wear in order to conceal your identify
  to the Elizabethans.  Fortunately, the
  http//www.elizabethancostume.net/ has donated
  their costumes to your investigation.       Go
  to the site, select a costume, print up the
  picture of the costume. 
• Place the picture  in your evidence
  folder. .
• Step 5 Find Shakespeare's famous Globe Theatre.
  If a play is playing, buy at ticket to go to a
  play. If a play is not playing, go on a tour of
  the theatre.  Use the following addresses as
  your access passes to the theatre.
• http//www.shakespeares-globe.org/
• http//www.bardweb.net/globe.html
• Print out three of your favorite pictures
  of the theatre
•   Place in folder.

7
The Process (Part IV)

• Step 6 - Background InformationUse the Internet
  information linked below to answer the basic
  questions of who? what? where? when? why? and
  how? Be creative in exploring the information so
  that you answer these questions as fully and
  insightfully as you can.1. What is the
  Shakespeare authorship problem? 2. What
  literary, cultural, and political figures doubt
  that Shakespeare was the sole author of the
  work?3. Make a chronological history of the
  doubts that surround the authorship of the
  Shakespearean canon.4. Now do the same for the
  doubts surrounding the Stratfordian
  attribution.5. Make a list of the six
  contenders for the authorship question. Then add
  to each as much significant evidence that is
  presented.
• A Beginner's Guide to the Shakespeare Authorship
  Problem
• The Shakespeare Fellowship
• Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable
• The Monument- Shakespeare's Sonnets by Edward de
  Vere, Earl of Oxford

8
The Process (Part V)

• Step 7 WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE?
• The Shakespeare Resource Center
• Use the Internet information linked below to
  answer these questions specifically related to
  WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE? 1. Find other
  candidates not already discovered in the
  background section and list why they should be
  considered as contenders.2. What is the
  controversy that surrounds Shakespeare's bust and
  its inscription as it applies to Sir Francis
  Bacon?3. What did Mark Twain have to say about
  the debate issue?4. Why should the Marlowe spy
  theory be reviewed?5. How has technology, most
  notably the computer, made its presence known in
  this controversy?
• Step 8MARLOWE WROTE SHAKESPEARE
• The Marlowe Society
• Use the Internet information linked below to
  answer these questions specifically related to
  MARLOWE WROTE SHAKESPEARE 1. What association
  to Shakespeare is presented by the Marlowe
  Society that leads one to believe that
  Christopher Marlowe's death is associated with
  Shakespeare's writings?2. What role did the
  British government play in Marlowe's death?3.
  Was Marlowe really a heretic?4. What
  similarities exist between Marlowe's writing and
  Shakespeare's writing?

9
The Process (Part VI)

• Step 9 DE VERE WROTE SHAKESPEARE
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shakespear
  e/index.html
• http//www.luminarium.org/renlit/deverebio.htm
• Use the Internet information linked below to
  answer these questions specifically related to
  DEVERE WROTE SHAKESPEARE 1. Many authorities
  have made claims that De Vere more than anyone is
  most closely related to being the author of the
  Shakespearean collection. Why?2. What are some
  of the coincidental connections between the Earl
  of Oxford and Shakespeare?3. What problems
  exist between the authorship of the Shakespearean
  poems and plays?4. What is the real story
  behind SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE?
• Step 10 SHAKESPEARE WROTE SHAKESPEARE
• The Shakespeare Authorship Page
• Use the Internet information linked below to
  answer these questions specifically related to
  SHAKESPEARE WROTE SHAKESPEARE 1. How is the
  spelling and pronunciation of Shakespeare's name
  important to investigate?2. What are the
  Oxfordian claims that Shakespeare is responsible
  for everything he produced?3. Why is it
  important to preserve the authorship status of
  William Shakespeare?4. What is the most
  convincing evidence that leads us to believe that
  Shakespeare, did in fact, wrote Shakespeare?

10
The Process (Part VII)

• Step 11 Compile your information and objectively
  decide whether or not you believe William
  Shakespeare is the author of his works. Write a
  three to four page persuasive argument in Modern
  Language Association format  supporting your
  opinion.

11
Additional Sources

• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare A
  discussion area, list of Shakespeare resources,
  famous quotes and complete works, including
  comedies, poetry and tragedies.
• Shakespeare Oxford Society Home Page  This
  society is involved in the two-century old
  Shakespeare authorship debate. A list of
  resources on the great writer.
• Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
  Collection of Internet resources devoted to
  Shakespeare. Includes links to a timeline,
  collected and individual works and teaching
  tools.
• Shakespeare Mystery  Ongoing debate of the theory
  that Shakespeare did not actually author the
  works attributed to him, including a timeline of
  the growth of the idea of a conspiracy and
  selected readings from Shakespearean works.
• Shakespeare Magazine Information relating to
  Shakespeare events worldwide, teaching
  references, current issues, subscription
  information, archives and related information and
  links.
• The Works of the Bard   In addition to the
  collected works of Shakespeare, this site
  features a search engine that supports queries on
  the text of his plays and poetry. Also, has texts
  of Shakespeare's plays listed in chronological
  order.
• Bacon, Francis - New Advancement of Learning 
  Explores Bacon's life and works as well as the
  time in which he lived. Claims that Bacon was, in
  fact, Shakespeare.

12
Grading Rubric (Research)
13
Paper Rubric
See Handout