Did William Shakespeare really write the plays and poems attributed to him? Did Edward de Vere pen the plays? Or Christopher Marlowe? Or Sir Francis Bacon? Or . . . ?
Read some of the articles found under "Shakespeare Resources: The Authorship Question" on the class website OR read other articles that delve into the authorship debate. Render your opinion: Who wrote Shakespeare's plays? Why did you reach this conclusion? Does it even matter who wrote the plays?
As always, discuss your ideas in relation to your classmates' responses. Do not repeat your classmates' ideas. Proofread your response before you post it!
All responses due by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30th.
From the articles I read, I still think Shakespeare is the real writer. They only think that he didn't write it because they nevr thought of writing plays, and poems as good as him. They are all jealous. Also I don't beliee that all those people think he didn't write any of the famous works that he is credited.
ReplyDeleteThere could a theory that Shakespeare could of found all those plays and poems and ten publish it himself but he still would be credited for them. So I think Shakespeare is the ral writer and everyone else is jealous. In honest opinion I don't really care who wrote the plays and poems because I still don't understand them so I don't care who worte that confusing stuff.
In my own personal opinion, I don't believe that Shakespeare wrote all of his plays to begin with. I've watched several documentaries on the topic and they have argued that, even mentioned in the article, Edward de Vere was a prime canidate for credit for some of Shakespeares works. When reading his own titled works and Shakespeares, there are many relations in Edwards works and Shakespeares. Such as the character Polonius' in "Hamlet" and the Guardian from one of Edwards works. Not that I'am putting Shakespeare down, He was an extremly gifted playwright, author and actor. I just believe that some of his works are falsy given to him.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that William Shakespeare wrote these plays. Honestly, he wrote so many different plays that are very well known that it is highly unlikely that someone else took credit for them. Because of their popularity, somewhere along the line I am pretty sure that in least one person would notice that if someone else was trying to take credit for these works. On top of that, the way he thinks is just so unusual that it is not likely that someone would just come along and snatch the credit away from him so easily, you would be able to distinguish a difference. But when it comes down to it, it really doesn’t matter who wrote these works. Whoever the real writer is is dead and has been gone for hundreds of years. The real owner of these works is not here to complain that their work has been stolen, so we really shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about it. Hamlet is what it is.
ReplyDeleteIt has been proven that Shakespeare wrote over one hundred sonnets in such a short period of time. I strongly belive that such an ablitiy is an evidence that he is the author of all those great plays. I do not think anyone is able to write great literary works like him. In the article, the Authorship debate, many cadidates, who are thought to be the "real" author of the play, are listed. However, no argument has strong enough evidences that support the claim. For example, the Earl stopped his literary pursuits at a young age. Bacon's style is totally different from that of Shakespeare's. And there is not enough supporting evidence for Marlowe.
ReplyDeletePersonally and honestly, it does not matter to me who wrote the plays. It probably all started out of people's curiosity to figure out who were able to accomplish such great literary works. And I just have the same curiosity as those who started all these controversies.
In reading the articles about Shakespeare's writing or not writing his plays, I feel that he did write all of his plays. I understand from the readings that at the time when Shakespeare lived people did have ghost writers. However, the plays all seem to use the same literature mechanics like alliterations, same vowel patterns, same consonant sounds,monologues, soliloquys and similar beats and patterns. I think that the same person had to write all of them. From the articles we know that Shakespeare had a low level education. He did not go to the best of schools. However, he did take up different languages. There have been lots of people who are not educated but who can naturally write. Just like there are painters or artists or computer geeks or mechanics that just know stuff. There are people who play musical instruments who naturally are really really good. Shakespeare must have had natural wrtining talent.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare's plays appear to me to be written by the same person. So if he wrote one he probably wrote them all. If that is true and if there are any original manuscripts in museums in England, then scientists should be able to use DNA samples from the ashes or whatever is left of his remains to create a match on the manuscripts to see if the DNA match. I understand that four hundred years have passed but science can do the unbelievable.
I really dont know why people bring this up.What does it matter who wrote the plays? Shakespeare's works are stories that once you get passed the old language that is really difficult to read, the stories are ones that all people all through the years can relate to. I really never knew the stories until I read the ones that were changed into modern stories and today's English.Even in Korea, Shakespeare's plays are read. In Korea, the old English language is rewritten into today's korean language.
In my opinion, I think that Shakespeare did write all of his plays. Maybe they contributed some ideas and weren't credited for them and I think they feel as though that's not fair. They have no evidence to suppoort the claims made. Shakespeare was wickedly brilliant. In all of his plays that he wrote and no one can ever compare to his unusual style and creativness.
ReplyDeleteSome of the other writers in that article in no way compare to Shakespeare, Bacons works are totally different then his and I feel as though they are jealous that William Shakespeare became famous and they didn't.
I think Shakespeare wrote his plays. I don’t think anyone else could have done what he did. He was so good at writing quality plays that people still enjoy today and I don’t think anyone else could have done that. Also, if he didn’t write them and just took the credit I think it would have been revealed over time or after his death. He would be seen as a fake and people wouldn’t like the plays as much. People always have conspiracies about things and I think all the stories are just conspiracies.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare also made up new words that we still use today. He was so advanced in his writing that he needed new words. You have to be a pretty special person to make up a word and have it added to the English dictionary and I think only Shakespeare could have done that and not someone else. Overall I feel that Shakespeare did all his own work and people just don’t want to accept the fact that he was amazing playwright.
In my opinion, I do think Shakespeare wrote the majority of his poems, plays, etc. However, after reading the articles, I also believe that some of his works were simply attributed to him. I do believe, in some cases that other writers developed and published various works and just put the name of William Shakespeare on them. I developed this belief due to the fact that Shakespeare has a vast number of works with his name on them. To think one person could be solely responsible for all of these is hard for me to comprehend. I am not sure as to why other authors would just credit their own works to Shakespeare. I would think that if you spent time working on something, something that you value, you would want to get your due credit for it. That being said, maybe they are crediting their works to Shakespeare because his works greatly influenced them and it is their way of honoring a man who inspired them to do something they love, write.
ReplyDeleteI believe Shakespeare wrote most of his plays but may have had some help with them. After reading these articles I still do not believe that he didn’t write any of his plays but I do not think it is a crazy theory that he had a bit of help writing them. Shakespeare was indeed a great writer and he should get all the credit for the work he has done. I think f someone did help Shakespeare they should have come forward at the time of the plays so their name can be famous too. This conspiracy that Shakespeare took the plays for someone else or had a ghost writer is ridiculous in my opinion. If this were the case and a person did give Shakespeare all the credit for his/her work then that person is very dumb and deserves to not be known.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shakespeare was a wonderful playright and deserves credit for what he has accomplished during hi lifetime. However he may not deserve all that he has been given. As discussed in the articles, there is some speculation as to whether or not William Shakespeare is the real deal when it comes to writing his plays. In my opinion I would have to believe after years of learning and hearing of Shakespeare that he wrote his own plays. Candidates like Edward de Vere are likely to have written pieces that resemble Shakespeare's own style and form but if Shakespeare was just a pen name like most of the articles suggest then why do we give so much credit and focus on someone so much who doesn't really exist. William Shakespeare wrote his plays and sonnets maybe not every last one but the bulk of his work, including his major plays should be attributed to him and him alone.
ReplyDeleteI believe Shakespeare wrote all his plays because I cannot see anyone other writer come up with the ideas and stories that he did. It still mind-bottles me that he wrote all those genius plays that really going into detail and reflect on some emotion or attributes that we have ourselves. Just the way he used his creativity to write out his plays the way he did is incredible.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that is still amazing about Shakespeare is that it is still being used in today's society. Movies have been made and his plays are among the most famous and most performed in the world. From what I have read in those articles arguing about who the real author was, only Shakespeare would have that kind of touch on history and still in today's life. Shakespeare even created new words that are in dictionary and we still use to this day. I cannot think of any other writer besides Shakespeare that can take their talents and apply it to the fullest and affect world literature and also modern society.
My opinion to this is still that i believe that Shakespeare is still the official writer or the poems. I didn't believe the articles because after reading Hamlet i realized how talented Shakespeare really is and i don't believe anyone else can write like he can.
ReplyDeleteyes i believe it does matter who wrote these poems because they deserve all the credit and no one else does. These poems are ones that will be handed down for as long as can be and that is why Shakespeare will be remembered forever. He had a very big talent that very few people have and that is why he should be credited for everything he wrote.
The articles I read had a lot of similarities between the "alleged" authors and Shakespeare, but I personally think that Shakespeare is the original author of his plays. As I was reading I noted that Edward de Vere said that Hamlet's relationship with Polonius was quite similar to the relationship he had with his uncle. I don't think that simarilarity gives de Vere the right to consider himself the original author because 2 out of 5 people have that similar relationship he claimed he had with his uncle with someone throughout their life.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s extremely important to know who the author of Shakespeare is because that person should be credited for creating such wonderful works that are famous worldwide. It’s important and necessary for the author to be acknowledged, especially if their novel, short story, or playwright impacted the world and society greatly.
In my humble and ignorant opinion, I believe that William Shakespeare did indeed write most of his own works. On the other hand I also believe that some, if not many, of his works may have been tweaked a little bit here or there over the years. I also think it is a possibility that Shakespeare may or may not have had help in writing his plays. At this point, I do not think it matters who wrote the plays or sonnets because they have already done their damage so to speak. I am not an experienced person and certainly not an expert in the studying of Shakespeare and his works but I think all of his sonnets are legitimately his and his alone influenced by his life and the things around him. I’m not saying this is a correct conjecture, but this is what I think based on my little knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI think Shakespeare wrote all of his plays. Shakespeare had such a talent of writing that I dont think that anyone could have duplicated the works that he had made. Plus, there are so many famous Shakespeare works out there. No other works are as famous as Shakespeares. I don't think that the conspiracies really apply because every story of some sort has a conspiracy theory. I looked at some of the conspiracy theories on the articles and some of them seemed absurd. Also, Shakespeare had made up his own words. I think that only a really good writer could make up his own words and put them in the dictionary. Don't get me wrong, I am sure there are many other people who have made up their own words but only someone like Shakespeare would have the sense to have them published and then integrated into the English Language. I think it does matter who wrote the plays because if all this time someone else was writing these plays, we would be giving the wrong person credit for something they really had not done.
ReplyDeleteI think that Shakespeare did not write all of his work. I feel like he was accredited with many other peoples works. Ive heard a few stories about how they say that Shakespeare only wrote about a handful of the works that have his name on them. Whether or not if thats 100% true, I still firmly believe that there is work out there that people give him credit for that he had no work in writing. I dont believe that it matters though. I think that if those works were written by somebody else, we might not even know about them today. Just putting Shakespeares name on a play will give it more publicity then getting it out to the public in any other way. I sort of have a feeling that if people wanted there story to get out there, they would use Shakespeares mane to give it publicity.
ReplyDeleteI think that Shakespeare wrote all his plays because they are classic and have been read again and again throughout history. He obviously wrote all of his plays. Why would someone write an entire play and give all their work and credit to somebody else? People may have helped him throughout his writings or added on as they read the plays because technically these are just writings that have been passed on, we do not know exactly how Shakespeare wrote them. Just like when you play the game "Whisper down the lane", the saying completely changes from the first person to the last. People have a tendency to switch things around as they hear them. Also, I do not think that it really matters who wrote them. If he did not write them, either way, they are still classical plays that will live forever throughout history.
ReplyDeleteI do think that Shakespeare wrote his plays because im sure if he never did the author of the plays would be changed and they would not be used as much for examples thoughout american history, because i feel that without the plays that he wrote then i think that many movies today would have not been made, because so many modern movies today are or can be connected to one of his plays. I think that maybe writers in that time were angry that they couldn't write a screenplay like shakespear so i think they could have been jealous.
ReplyDeleteI think it is VERY important to know who the credit goes to, to writing plays like he did, because that seems to be a huge problem today with copyright, and patten laws, it might have not been as important as it was back then but we wouldn't know because we weren't around in that time.
I think that Shakespeare wrote the plays attributed to him. While there may be speculation about certain things, time and time again the evidence for the plays being written by Shakespeare has overridden any evidence to the contrary. While there are some discrepancies present the support for any other candidate of the plays is much weaker than the support for Shakespeare. While it is important to attribute work to its rightful source, I do not think it matters who wrote the works attributed to Shakespeare. If new evidence came up that showed that someone else wrote one of Shakespeare's plays it would not change how good that play is. The play would still be considered a great work of English literature regardless of who wrote it, so I do not think who wrote the play really matters if it still results in the same appreciation for the work.
ReplyDeleteI think shakespear did write his plays. Why would someone else take so much time into making a play like that, and then let someone else take creit. The only thing i think may have happened is a little acidential altercation over time. It is very important to know who wrote the plays so the correct person is known in history, and the correct person is given the credit.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I believe Shakespeare did write his plays for the most part. But on the other hand, he may have had some extra help from the men listed above. Shakespeare's plays were really creative and show a new side of literature which bases this for our future. His plays consisted of many characters which in fact may be related to him.
ReplyDeleteOver the centuries, Shakespeare's plays had to be adjusted in some sort of extent. Societies like to may original works their own and even though they were not written, to their mind it was not that original. I do believe Shakespeare's plays show a lot of realization to our culture and show how may interpretations are not original anymore.
I think that William Shakespeare wrote his own plays because ever single one his plays are the same to some point either by how they are written or by the way some of the characters are portrayed in each poem. I think that the other people were trying to take the glory away from Shakespeare because they might of had a similar idea but they didn't actually write the plays he did. Shakespeare might have got an idea of what to write from on of this gentlemen but in my honest opinion i think Shakespeare should be credited for all his works and no one should take that away from him.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion, I strongly believe that Billy Shakespeare did write his plays. If he had not written his plays, why is he so well renown for being arguably the best writter in literature history. another point to think about is, I did not recongize anyone of those other names, If they had written shakespeares plays, I would think that I would know at least one other of those names. Does it really matter who wrote them? Yes & no. Yes- because the writter obviously wants the credit that he deserves for writing the masterpiece and becoming so famous for doing so. No- if you just enjoy reading the story/play, one would be more interested in the story and not who had written it. In the end It's based on Personal Preference.
ReplyDeleteIf I am being completely honest, because Shakespeare's plays were written so long ago i do not think that who wrote the literature is as important as the literature itself. It is a miracle that we still have his works, whoever wrote them, to use for education purposes and or just reading for pleasure purposes.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion because the time of Shakespeare was so long ago, the people living between now and then have had many years to formulate story’s and tall tales (such as William Shakespeare never existing at all) about Shakespeare and his works. Possibly to keep his works alive. I think that these story are made up just to keep the subject of Shakespeare interesting and new.