Glencoe World History

"Who was Shakespeare?"

Introduction
For more than a century, a debate has raged over the true identity of William Shakespeare. The historical record provides little information on the man, and some scholars doubt his existence. Mark Twain and many others claimed there was no Elizabethan playwright by the name Shakespeare. In this activity you will review the recent history of the debate to learn about the period of English history during which Shakespeare's plays were written.

Destination Title: The Shakespeare Mystery

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Directions

Start at the Shakespeare Mystery Web site.

• Click on The Debate Continues. From the list of links, click on Selected Readings.
• Read Al Austin's article "Who Wrote Shakespeare?" Take notes as you read.

1			Why have some people raised doubts about Shakespeare's identity? What about the recorded facts of his life has contributed to this uncertainty?
2			Who are some of the famous writers who have been suggested as possibly having used the name William Shakespeare as a pen name?
3			Who was the real Shakespeare, according to J. Thomas Looney, and why did he write his masterpieces under an assumed name?
4			According to Austin's article, what evidence have others held up to cast doubt on Looney's theory?
5			Return to the main page and click on Updates. Read From the Stratfordian Side to learn why the scholar David Bevington rejects the Oxford theory as an improbable conspiracy. Based on the information you have read in your textbook and on the Web site, on a separate piece of paper write your own article as an update to the discussion about Shakespeare. Defend your position by providing appropriate information from your textbook, the Web site, or any additional research you may have done.