Universidad Catlica de Salta

Facultad de Artes y Ciencias

Profesorado en Ingls
Lengua Inglesa III
Prof. Ma. Ins Salinas
2015

Shakespeare
First and Second Period

Lara, Mara Jess

Llanos, Mariel
Pereyra, Roco
Valdez, Liset
Vega, rica

William Shakespeare

First and Second Period

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

First Period (1588 1595) .................................................................................................................... 4

Second Period (1595 - 1601) ................................................................................................................ 4

First Period ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

1591...................................................................................................................................................... 5

Henry VI part1................................................................................................................................ 5

Henry VI part2................................................................................................................................ 5

Henry VI part3................................................................................................................................ 5

Love's Labour's Lost .......................................................................................................................... 5

The Comedy of Errors ....................................................................................................................... 6

1593...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Richard II ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Titus Andronicius .............................................................................................................................. 8

The Taming of Shrew ........................................................................................................................ 9

1594.................................................................................................................................................... 10

Romeo and Juliet ............................................................................................................................ 10

A Midsummer Nights Dream ......................................................................................................... 11

Richard III ........................................................................................................................................ 11

King John ........................................................................................................................................ 12

The Merchant of Venice ................................................................................................................. 13

Second Period ................................................................................................................................................ 15

1597.................................................................................................................................................... 15

Henry IV Part 1 ............................................................................................................................. 15

Henry IV Part 2 ............................................................................................................................. 15

Much Ado about Nothing ............................................................................................................... 15

The Merry Wives of Windsor .......................................................................................................... 16

As You Like It .................................................................................................................................. 17

Henry V ........................................................................................................................................... 18

Troilus and Cressida ........................................................................................................................ 19

1599.................................................................................................................................................... 20

Julius Caesar ................................................................................................................................... 20

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................... 21
Bibliography and websites ............................................................................................................................. 22

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William Shakespeare

First and Second Period

Introduction
William Shakespeare was widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language as
well as the most important English poet and playwright. It is said that he was born on 23rd April, 1564
and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon. Between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in
London as an actor, writer, and part owner of playing Company called the lord of Chamberlains men.
He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613 at the age of 49, where he died three years later.
Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. During his career, we
can distinguish four stages. The first one (until 1598 approximately) is compound by a number of
juveniles pieces in which Shakespeare fits to current fashions and adapt the themes to suit the
audience. In this period he practiced various genres, from sitcom (The Comedy of Errors) to the classic
tragedy of Senecan influence (Titus Andronicus), through the historical drama (King John, Richard III,
Henry IV). Other works of this early stage, as The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo
and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, mark the beginning of a phase of greater creativity.
In the second Shakespearean stage, which runs from 1598-1604, the pieces that are often
called "middle works", characterized by higher stage virtuosity are located. Among the comedies
protrude The Merry Wives of Windsor and All's Well That Ends Well, while dramas Julius Caesar, Hamlet
and Othello and announce the next period, known as the great tragedies (1604-1608), in which
Shakespeare delves into the deepest feelings of human beings: the subversion of the affections in King
Lear, violent and senseless ambition in Macbeth and unbridled passion in Antony and Cleopatra. The
final phase (1608-1611) is conspicuous by his latest masterpiece, The Tempest, in which fantasy and
reality collide offering a testimony of wisdom and acceptance of death.
The main purpose of this report is to give some information about the most famous Works of
Shakespeare during his first and second stages, as well as to show his famous dramatist has been the
inspiration of many writers and poets in the world, and become the passion of thousands of lecturers.

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First Period (1588 1595)

The productions of this period are histories, comedies and tragedies. In this period the
apprentice ham of Shakespeare can be seen in this period.
1591
o
o
o
o
o
o
1593
o
o
o
1594
o
o
o
o
o

Henry VI part1
Henry VI part2
Henry VI part3
Loves Labours lost
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
The Comedy of Errors
Richard II
Titus Andronicus
The Taming of Shrew
Romeo and Juliet
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Richard III
King John
The Merchant of Venice
POEMS: Venus and Adonis, and The rape of Lucrece

Second Period (1595 - 1601)

Shakespeares greatest comedies and historical plays were written during this period. His
genus blossomed forth and the beauty of his literary and imaginative talents achieved a great height.
He now acquired a better knowledge of the world and the affairs.
1597
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
1599
o

Henry IV Part 1
Henry IV Part 2
Much Ado about Nothing
The Merry Wives Windsor
As You Like It
Henry V
Troilus and Cressida
Julius Caesar

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First Period
1591
Henry VI part1
Its one of the plays with historical character Shakespeare wrote. It was based on real people
and events taken from English history.
It recounts all the events that followed Henry V death, passing through the origins of the War of
the Roses to the loss of Englishs territories in France. The French were guided by Joan de Arc and the
English hero who fought up to his death is Talbot. This type of theatric representations supposed a
fascinating acceptance of the public and helped to create a feeling of national collective memory.

Henry VI part2
It puts in scene the marriage between Henry and Margarita of Anjou, the issues of the
York faction and other historical events such as The Rebellion of
Jack Cade, The Battle of St. Albans and the death of Somerset.

Henry VI part3
It is concerned from Henrys resignation to the throne in
favor of the duke of York and Queen Margaritas rebellion, being
her son disinherited, until the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.
Henry VI is killed by Richard, duke of Gloucester, who is the
future Richard III.

Love's Labour's Lost

Ferdinand, King of Navarre declares that his court will be devoted to ascetic study and, to avoid
distractions, no women will be allowed within a mile of the court. Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine
devote themselves with the King. Berowne points out that the king has forgotten an embassy that very
day with the Princess of France, Rosaline. As they set out to meet her, the king's fool, Costard, is sent to
Don Armando to receive punishment for breaking the king's commands with the country wench,
Jacquenetta.
The Princess and her entourage are put off when Ferdinand denies them entrance into the
court. In protest, the embassy camps in front of it. Boyet notice the king's "affection" toward the
Princess, and the ladies plan how they can get back at Ferdinand and his court. Meanwhile, Armando
(whos in love with Jacquenetta) promise Costard to let him off if he will deliver a letter to the wench.

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However Berowne also asks him to take a letter to Rosaline, but Costard delivers Jacquenetta's letter
to the Princess of France and Rosaline's letter to Jacquenetta.
King Ferdinand and his lords overhear one another professing their love for their ladies, and
then decide that their oaths are better off left for dead while the women are around. When the lords
visit to the ladies in disguise, the ladies turn the tables on them with disguises of their own. When the
men return as themselves, the women still bait them with their own words, delighting in the men's
confusion. Just when they are sorting things out, a messenger informs the Princess about her fathers
death so she must leave. She tells Ferdinand that if he spends one year's time in a remote hermitage
while she is in mourning, then she will consider his suit of marriage. Each lady exacts a similar promise
from the king's lords. The ladies vow to return to Navarre the following year to determine if their love
is true.

The Comedy of Errors

Because the law forbids merchants from Syracuse to enter Ephesus, elderly Syracusian trader
Egeon faces execution when he is discovered in the city. He can only escape by paying a fine of a
thousand marks. He tells his sad story to Solinus, Duke of Ephesus. In his youth, he married and had
twin sons. On the same day, a poor woman without a job also gave birth to twin boys, and he
purchased these as slaves to his sons. Soon afterwards, the family made a sea voyage, and was hit by a
tempest. Egeon lashed himself to the main-mast with one son and one slave, while his wife was
rescued by one boat, Egeon by another. Egeon never again saw his wife, or the children with her.
Recently, his son Antipholus of Syracuse, now grown, and his sons slave Dromio of Syracuse, left
Syracuse on a quest to find their brothers. When Antipholus of Syracuse did not return, Egeon set out
in search of him.
That same day, Antipholus of Syracuse arrives in Ephesus, searching for his brother. He sends
Dromio of Syracuse to deposit some money at The Centaur, an inn. He is confounded when the
identical Dromio of Ephesus appears almost immediately; denying any knowledge of the money and
asking him home to dinner, where his wife is waiting. Antipholus, thinking his servant is making
insubordinate jokes, beats Dromio of Ephesus.
Antipholus of Syracuse, who complains "I could not speak with Dromio since at first I sent him
from the mart," meets up with Dromio of Syracuse who now denies making a "joke" about Antipholus
having a wife. Antipholus begins beating him. Suddenly, Adriana rushes up to Antipholus of Syracuse
and begs him not to leave her. The Syracusans cannot but attribute these strange events to witchcraft,
remarking that Ephesus is known as a warren for witches. Antipholus and Dromio go off with this
strange woman, the one to eat dinner and the other to keep the gate.

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Antipholus of Ephesus returns home and is refused

entry to his own house. A 2011 production by OVO theatre
company, St Albans, UK
Antipholus of Ephesus returns home for dinner and
is enraged to find that he is rudely refused entry to his own
house by Dromio of Syracuse, who is keeping the gate. He is
ready to break down the door, but his friends persuade him
not to make a scene. He decides, instead, to dine with a
courtesan.
Inside the house, Antipholus of Syracuse discovers
that he is very attracted to his "wife's" sister, Luciana of
Smyrna, telling her "train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy
note / To drown me in thy sister's flood of tears. He describes her as "spherical, like a globe; I could
find out countries in her". Antipholus jokingly asks him to identify the countries, leading to a witty
exchange in which parts of her body are identified with nations. Ireland is her buttocks: "I found it out
by the bogs". He claims he has discovered America and the Indies "upon her nose all o'er embellished
with rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining their rich aspect to the hot breath of Spain; who sent
whole armadas of caracks to be ballast at her nose." (This is one of Shakespeare's few references to
America.) The Syracusans decide to leave as soon as possible, and Dromio runs off to make travel
plans. Antipholus of Syracuse is apprehended by Angelo of Ephesus, a goldsmith, who claims that he
ordered a chain from him. Antipholus is forced to accept the chain, and Angelo says that he will return
for payment.
The Courtesan resolves to tell Adriana that her husband is insane. Dromio of Ephesus returns
to the arrested Antipholus of Ephesus, with the rope. Antipholus is infuriated. Adriana, Luciana and the
Courtesan enter with a conjurer named Pinch, who tries to exorcise the Ephesians, who are bound and
taken to Adriana's house. The Syracusans enter, carrying swords, and everybody runs off for fear:
believing that they are the Ephesians, out for vengeance after somehow escaping their bonds. Adriana
reappears with henchmen, who attempt to bind the Syracusans. They take sanctuary in a nearby
priory, where the Abbess resolutely protects them.
Suddenly, the Abbess enters with the Syracusan twins, and everyone begins to understand the
confused events of the day. Not only are the two sets of twins reunited, but the Abbess reveals that she
is Egeon's wife, Emilia of Babylon. The Duke pardons Egeon. All exit into the abbey to celebrate the
reunification of the family

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1593
Richard II
Richard II, set around the year 1398, traces the fall from power of the last king of the house of
Plantagenet, Richard II, and his replacement by the first Lancaster
king, Henry IV (Henry Bolingbroke). Richard II spends too much
of his time pursuing the latest Italian fashions, spending money on
his close friends, and raising taxes to fund his pet wars in Ireland
and elsewhere. Richard has a cousin, named Henry Bolingbroke,
who is a great favorite among the English commoners. Early in the
play, Richard exiles him from England for six years due to an
unresolved dispute over an earlier political murder. When
Bolingbroke learns that Richard has stolen what should have been
his inheritance, it is the straw that breaks the camel's back. When Richard unwisely departs to pursue
a war in Ireland, Bolingbroke invades the north coast of England in his absence. One by one, Richard's
allies in the nobility desert him and defect to Bolingbroke's side as Bolingbroke marches through
England. By the time Richard returns from Ireland, he has already lost his grasp on his country.
There is never an actual battle; instead, Bolingbroke peacefully takes Richard prisoner in Wales
and brings him back to London, where Bolingbroke is crowned King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned
in a remote castle in the north of England, where he is left to ruminate upon his downfall. There, an
assassin, who both is and is not acting upon King Henry's ambivalent wishes for Richard's expedient
death, murders the former king. King Henry hypocritically repudiates the murderer and vows to
journey to Jerusalem to cleanse himself of his part in Richard's death.

Titus Andronicius
Titus Andronicus, the great Roman general, returns victorious to Rome after a long war against
the Goths of the north in which he has lost almost all their children, with the exception of four (Lucio,
fifth, Marcio and Mcio). Titus, to celebrate the ceremony in honor of the victory, makes a sacrifice of a
human enemy prisoner: to do this choose to Alarbo, eldest son of Tamora, queen of the Goths of the
people, and that is subsequently converted to the new empress of Rome chosen by Saturnino, the
successor to the recently-deceased emperor. Taking advantage of his new situation, Tamora deceives
to Saturnino to inflict any series of misfortunes to Titus. Two children taken away from him, makes
their children violate a daughter and you cut off their hands and tongue for which I would not say who
had raped her, and forced him to cut the hand. Lucio undertakes a revolt against the emperor, who has
access to talk with him. Apresa Tito to the remaining two children of Tamora, the kitchen and served in
the dinner. In the end, Titus kills his daughter to avoid disgrace to continue living without hands or
tongue and kills Tamora. In the scuffle that happens die Tito and the emperor. Lucio is crowned
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emperor and condemnation to the starvation of the Moorish slave of Tamora, who was considered
instigator of all the evils committed by their madam.

The Taming of Shrew

The play is based, in principle, in the fractious nature
of scowling and Catalina Minola, women that will scare away,
not a few times, hit a few suitors are interested by her before
his father. The matter would have no greater significance if it
wasn't because, according to custom, the father of Catherine,
the rich Don Baptist Minola, refuses to give in marriage to his
youngest daughter, Blanca, until there is no married to the
greatest; to the dismay of the ambitious aspirants in your
hand, Hortensio, Guild and Lucencio. The arrival in the city of
Petruchio, an ambitious young man and carefree and their
willingness to flirt with the asper Catalina provide to the suitors of White a hope for which combine
their efforts with those of the already almost desperate Baptist. This initial approach develops in the
form of various situations of entanglement and abundant occurring in the dialogs that the trumps
becomes without doubt in the most damning of the weapons, highlighting without doubt the double
wedding with that concludes the work and that is all an unexpected twist to the starting position.

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1594
Romeo and Juliet
The play, set in Verona, begins with a street brawl between Montague and Capulet servants
who, like their masters, are sworn enemies. Prince Escalus of Verona intervenes and declares that
further breach of the peace will be punishable by death. Later, a Count Paris talks to Capulet about
marrying his daughter Juliet, but Capulet asks Paris to wait another two years and invites him to
attend a planned Capulet ball. Lady Capulet and Juliet's nurse try to persuade Juliet to accept Paris's
courtship.
Benvolio discovers that it stems from unrequited
infatuation for a girl named Rosaline, one of Capulet's nieces.
Persuaded by Benvolio and mercury, Romeo attends the ball
at the Capulet house in hopes of meeting Rosaline. However,
Romeo instead meets and falls in love with Juliet.
After the ball, in what is now called the "balcony
scene", Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard and overhears
Juliet at her window vowing her love to him in spite of her
family's hatred of the Montagues. Romeo makes himself
known to her and they agree to be married. With the help of
Friar Laurence, who hopes to reconcile the two families
through their children's union, they are secretly married the
next day.Capulet, misinterpreting Juliet's grief, agrees to
marry her to Count Paris and threatens to disown her when
she refuses to become Paris's "joyful bride." When she then
pleads for the marriage to be delayed, her mother rejects her.
Juliet visits Friar Laurence for help, and he offers her a potion that will put her into a deathlike
coma for "two and forty hours."The Friar promises to send a messenger to inform Romeo of the plan,
so that he can rejoin her when she awakens. On the night before the wedding, she takes the drug and,
when discovered apparently dead, she is laid in the family crypt.
Still believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo drinks the poison. Juliet then awakens and, finding
Romeo dead, stabs herself with his dagger. The feuding families and the Prince meet at the tomb to
find all three dead. Friar Laurence recounts the story of the two "star-cross'd lovers". The families are
reconciled by their children's deaths and agree to end their violent feud.

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Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two
young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among
Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlat, is one of his most
frequently performed plays.

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Egeus wants his daughter Hermia to marry Demetrius. Hermia does not want to marry him.
She loves another man named Lysander. Hermia and Lysander decide to run away. Demetrius follows
them. Helena, Hermia's best friend, is in
love with Demetrius. She follows him. All
four become lost in the woods near
Athens. Meanwhile, Oberon and Titania
are having an argument. Oberon decides
to teach Titania a lesson. He puts a love
potion into her eyes while she is asleep.
This potion will make her fall in love with
the first thing she sees when she wakes.
Oberon finds Helena and Demetrius. He
tells Puck to give Demetrius some of the
love potion so that he will love Helena. Puck makes a mistake and puts the potion in Lysander's eyes.
When Lysander wakes up, he loves Helena instead of his real sweetheart Hermia! The workmen are
practising a play in the woods for the upcoming marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Puck plays a trick
on Nick Bottom by giving him donkey ears. The other actors run away, so Bottom goes to sleep. He is
sleeping near Titania. She wakes up and falls in love with him. Oberon realises everything is all mixed
up. He gives some of the love potion to Demetrius. Now Demetrius and Lysander both love Helena. Sad
and confused, all the lovers fall asleep. At last, Puck rights all the wrongs. He makes Lysander love
Hermia again, and makes Demetrius love Helena. Everyone is happy. The workmen perform their play
after the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Oberon has stopped Titania being in love with Bottom.
They are happy with each other again. The fairies use their magic to bless all the lovers

Richard III
Richard, the Yorkist Duke of Gloucester, conspires to play his brothers, Edward and George
against each other to gain the crown for himself. By insinuating charges of treason against George,
Richard has him arrested. He also woos Anne, widow of the Prince of Wales. In the course of events,
Edward IV, who is ill, dies; Richard has already arranged for George to be murdered while imprisoned,
so he will serve as regent while Edward's son can come of age.

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To "protect" Anne and his younger brother, Richard has them stay in the Tower of London. He
then moves against Edward's loyalist lords; Vaughan, Rivers, Hastings, and Grey are imprisoned and
executed. Then, with the aid of Buckingham, Richard
declares that Edward IV's offspring are technically
illegitimate and hes offered the throne of England.
Richard needs to bolster his claims to the crown;
Anne must be disposed of. Buckingham balks at this deed.
He gets a murderer to do the deed, but turns on
Buckingham for his insubordination. Now Richard
(conveniently a widower after the suspicious demise of
Anne) wants marry King Edward's daughter, his niece.
Elizabeth, Edward's widow, makes him believe that she agrees to the match; however, she has
arranged for a match with the Earl of Richmond, who is bringing over an army from France to war
against Richard. Buckingham, finding himself out of favor with the king, gives his allegiance to
Richmond. However, Buckingham is captured, and Richard has him executed immediately. Richmond,
after crossing the English Channel, finally lands his army and marches for London. The night before the
battle, Richard is foretold his doom by the ghosts of the people he has slain.
At Bosworth, Richard is unhorsed in the combat. Richmond finds him, and both clash with
swords. Richmond slays Richard, to be crowned as King Henry VII there on the field of battle. This is
the founding of the Tudor line of kings and the end of the War of Roses.

King John
The king's nephew, Arthur, is backed by the King of France in a rebellion. Refusing the King of
France's demand that he surrender his throne, John sends an army to France under the command of
Philip Faulconbridge (also known as Philip the Bastard). The English army clashes with the French at
Angiers, but neither one can claim a decisive victory. John proposes peace with the French king, ceding
to him some English fiefs in France and arranging for the Dauphin to wed his niece, Blanch.
However, John is excommunicated by the Pope over a dispute concerning the appointment of
the Archbishop of Canterbury. Pandulph, the Pope's legate, orders the French to resume their warfare
upon King John. In the conflict that follows, John's army beats back the French and captures Arthur.
John wishes him executed; his chamberlain, Hubert, disobeys the order, but Arthur later plunges to his
death while trying to escape. John's nobles ironically suspect John of murderwhich was his original
intentand desert him for the French. Meanwhile, John arranges a peace of sorts with Pandulph, to
whom he turns over the crown of England; he will receive it back, therefore becoming a vassal of the
Church.

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Pandulph attempts to stop the warfare, John now being back in the folds of the Church. The
French will have none of it, and the forces clash at St. Edmundsbury. During the battle, a fallen French
noble named Melun warns the turncoat English noblemen that the King of France will have them
executed just as soon as John has been conquered. The nobles, seeing the winds of fortune shift, return
their allegiance to King John. Without his allies, the French king comes to terms with Pandulph and
John. John, however, will not be in a position to appreciate the victoryhe is poisoned by one of the
monks while staying at Swinstead Abbey. His son will ascend to the throne as King Henry III.

The Merchant of Venice

Bassano, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to
woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont.
Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to
subsidies his expenditures as a suitor. Bassano approaches
his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice who has
previously and repeatedly bailed him out. Antonio agrees,
but since he is cash-poor his ships and merchandise are
busy at sea he promises to cover a bond if Bassano can
find a lender, so Bassano turns to the Jewish moneylender
Shylock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor.
Antonio has already antagonized Shylock through
his outspoken anti-Semitism, and because Antonio's habit of lending money without interest forces
Shylock to charge lower rates. Shylock is at first reluctant to grant the loan, citing abuse he has
suffered at Antonio's hand. He finally agrees to lend the sum to Antonio without interest upon one
condition: if Antonio is unable to repay it at the specified date, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's
flesh. Bassano does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition; Antonio is surprised by what he
sees as the moneylender's generosity (no "usance" interest is asked for), and he signs the contract.
With money at hand, Bassano leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano, who has asked to
accompany him. Gratiano is a likeable young man, but is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless.
Bassano warns his companion to exercise self-control, and the two leave for Belmont and Portia.
Defeated, Shylock concedes to accepting Bassanos offer of money for the defaulted bond, first
his offer to pay "the bond thrice", which Portia rebuffs, telling him to take his bond, and then merely
the principal, which Portia also prevents him from doing on the ground that he has already refused it
"in the open court." She cites a law under which Shylock, as a Jew and therefore an "alien", having
attempted to take the life of a citizen, has forfeited his property, half to the government and half to
Antonio, leaving his life at the mercy of the Duke. The Duke pardons Shylock's life. Antonio asks for his
share "in use" until Shylock's death, when the principal will be given to Lorenzo and Jessica. At
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Antonio's request, the Duke grants remission of the state's half of forfeiture, but on the condition that
Shylock converts to Christianity and bequeath his entire estate to Lorenzo and Jessica.
Bassano does not recognize his disguised wife, but offers to give a present to the supposed
lawyer. First she declines, but after he insists, Portia requests his ring and Antonio's gloves. Antonio
parts with his gloves without a second thought, but Bassano gives the ring only after much persuasion
from Antonio, as earlier in the play he promised his wife never to lose, sell or give it. Nerissa, as the
lawyer's clerk, succeeds in likewise retrieving her ring from Gratiano, who does not see through her
disguise.
At Belmont, Portia and Nerissa taunt and pretend to accuse their husbands before revealing
they were really the lawyer and his clerk in disguise. After all the other characters make amends,
Antonio learns from Portia that three of his ships were not stranded and have returned safely after all.

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Second Period
1597
Henry IV Part 1
It is about the rebellion of the Percies, helped by Douglas,
with the competition of Mortimer and Glendower, and their
defeat made by the prince and the King of Shrewsbury. The
prince of Gales make forces with Oldcastle (then substituted with
the name of Falstaff) and his mates Pointz, Bardolp and Peto in
his unchecked life. Pointz and the prince make the others assault
some travellers in Gadshill and be, at the same time, robbed by
them. Falstaff, in order to explain the loss of the botin, pretends
having been assaulted by 100 thieves; then he starts reducing the
number of the raiders until he say the true story; so Falstaff confessed not having react because he
could never kill the heir to the throne. The serious part of the drama is composed by the contrast
between the two young heroes: the prince Henry and Percy Hotspur. Henry is doted of the best
qualities, as despite of the fact of being quiet idle, he shows he is a real knight whenever he has the
chance. On the other hand, Hotspur has a mix of rudeness, pride and childish obstination; but his
bravery redeems his defects.

Henry IV Part 2
Its argument is the rebellions of the Archbishop Scroop, Mowbray and Hastings; meanwhile in
the comic plot continue the issues of Falstaff and the Prince. When Henry IV dies, Falstaff thinks that
the enthronement of the prince will constitute his fortune, but the new King puts him in prison. At the
time the heroic plot of the drama languishes after the death of Hotspur, the comic plot maintains alive
its interest and constitutes the Shakespeares comic masterpiece due to the finding spirit and the use
of rude phrases.

Much Ado about Nothing

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, pays a visit to Leonata, the governor of Messina, while returning
from a victorious campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John. Accompanying him is two of his
officers, Benedict and Claudio. While in Messina, Claudio falls for Leonato's daughter, Hero; Benedict
verbally spars with Beatrice, the governor's niece. The growing love between Claudio and Hero
prompts Don Pedro to arrange with Leonato for the marriage.

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Meanwhile, the trickery begins as Don Pedro (with the help of Leonato and Claudio) attempts
to sport with Benedict and Beatrice in an effort to make the two of them falls in love. Likewise, Hero
and her waiting woman help to set up Beatrice. Both Benedict and Beatrice will think that the other
has professed a great love for them.
The marriage of Claudio to Hero is set to go. Don Johnostensibly reconciled with his
brotherdespises Claudio, however, and plots against him. First, he tells Claudio that Pedro wants
Hero for himself; next, he enlists the aid of his henchman Borachio and one of Hero's gentlewomen
disguised as Hero to stage an encounter that will bring Hero's virtue into question. Claudio falls for the
ruse and denounces Hero at the altar. Friar Francis helps her, hiding her away and enlisting the aid of
Leonata, who announces that his daughter has died of grief from the proceeding.
Fortunately for Hero, Borachio is arrested while drunkenly boasting of his part in the plan (and
the 1,000 ducats paid him). With Borachio's confession, Hero is to be exonerated. Leonato demands a
public apology from Claudio, then tells him that he will allow Claudio to marry one of his nieces in
Hero's placea niece that turns out to be none other than Hero herself. Claudio and Hero are reunited,
Benedict and Beatrice will wed alongside them, and they receive the news that the bastard Don John
has been apprehended.

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Sir John Falstaff, a knight down on both luck and
cash, hatches a scheme to raise funds. He will seduce
Mistress Ford and Mistress Page in an attempt to get at
their

husbands'

money.

Falstaff,

however,

has

overestimated his ingenuity; the two women compare

their letters and finding them identicalhatch a plan of
their own to make a buffoon of the knight. They send him
letters in return to encourage his advances. In the
meantime, Pistol and Nym, whom Falstaff has sacked, go
to Ford and Page's husbands with the news. Ford, who is jealous and paranoid, disguises himself and
meets Falstaff. He pretends to be an illicit lover who wishes to hire Falstaff to woo Mistress Ford on his
behalf, to which Falstaff agrees.
As Mistresses Ford and Page pursue their sport, Falstaff is first hidden in a basket of dirty
laundry and cast into the Thames, then later dressed as a woman and beaten. Finally, the women tell
their husbands about their secret revenge, and all plot one last humiliation for the feckless Falstaff. As
this is going on, Page's daughter, Anne, is being courted by three suitors, only one of which she actually
cares for: Fenton. Anne is included in the plans for Falstaff; she is to lead the children of the townall
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dressed as fairiesin an attack on the knight as he waits in the woods for Mistress Ford and Mistress
Page. As they prepare for the final prank, the husband Page pulls Slender (one of Anne's suitors) aside
and tells him to elope with her that evening; Mistress Page pulls her favorite suitor, Doctor Caius, aside
and says she wants him to elope with Anne. The two men are to recognize Anne (she'll be wearing a
mask, after all) by the color of dress she wears. To add to this, Anne makes plans of her own to elope
with her beloved Fenton.
Falstaff, dressed as Herne (complete with antlers), is mercilessly tormented by the children
dressed as fairies. The wives and husbands eventually reveal themselves to the much chagrined
Falstaff, who is forgiven by all. In the midst of this resolution, Slender and Doctor Caius reappear. It
seems that Slender thought Anne was to wear a white dress; Caius believed her to be wearing green.
Both men, having erred on the color of her dress, mistakenly ran off with boys instead of Anne. Fenton
arrives with Anne in their wake; the two have married, and Anne's parents begrudgingly accept the
fact.

As You Like It
Duke Frederick has usurped the title and throne of his elder brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior
has taken up residence in the Forest of Arden with his band of loyal followers, leaving his daughter,
Rosalind, behind at the court. Into this situation, enter Orlando and Oliver de Boys, two brothers
divided by enmity. Orlando has long been mistreated by his brother; when Orlando enters a wrestling
match sponsored by Duke Frederick, Oliver tells his opponent, Charlesa champion wrestlerthat he
wouldn't care if Charles were to break Orlando's neck.
To the surprise of all, Orlando wins the match. In doing so, he attracts the romantic attention of
Rosalind and the ire of Oliver. Orlando and his servant, Adam,
flee Oliver's wrath into Arden. Duke Frederick decides to
banish Rosalind to Arden as he did with her father. Celia,
Frederick's daughter and Rosalind's best friend, declares that
she will accompany her in exile. Rosalind disguises herself as a
boy named Ganymede, while Celia assumes the part of "his"
sister, Aliena. They are accompanied by the clown Touchstone.
Orlando eventually finds himself in the company of
Duke Senior's men, pining for his lost Rosalind. Rosalind,
meanwhile, purchases a flock of sheep and a pasture, and sets
out to lead a pastoral life. Before long, however, Orlando's habit
of carving Rosalind's name in the trees and leaving love poems
scattered about the forest tip her off to his presence. Still
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disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind seeks out Orlando to get a better sense of his feelings for her. She
promises to cure Orlando's heartache by letting him pour his feelings out to Ganymede as if "he" were
Rosalind. Rosalind also attempts a match between Silvius and Phebe that goes awry when Phebe falls
instead for Rosalind's Ganymede. Meanwhile, Touchstone courts a country girl named Audrey, adding
to the multiple romance plots.
The resolution begins when Oliver enters the camp. Orlando has saved him from an attack by a
lion, and the two brothers have reconciled. Upon meeting Celia, now Oliver falls in love; Duke Senior
promises to join them in wedlock the next day. Rosalind makes Phebe promise to marry Silvius if she
can't have Ganymede, then tells Orlando that Rosalind will marry him that day as well. When all have
gathered for the wedding, Rosalind reveals herself as the erstwhile Ganymede. She and Orlando are
happily reunited, and Phebe agrees to marry Silvius. Touchstone will also marry Audrey. As the
pledges of love are exchanged, Orlando and Oliver's brother enters the scene. Jaques brings news that
Duke Frederick, upon meeting a holy man, has repented his ways and opted for a monastic life. Duke
Senior is restored to his rightful position, and all live happily ever after

Henry V
The Archbishop of Canterbury, worried over impending legislation that would effectively rob
the Church in England of its power and wealth, convinces Henry V to forego this pursuit in favor of
laying claim to France. Armed with a legal technicality, Henry means to take the throne of France by
whatever means necessary. The Dauphin's insulting responsesending an ambassador with a gift of
tennis ballsconvinces Henry that the French will only
respond to war; thus, he arranges for an army to invade
France. However, rebellion has always seemed to follow
when the king's away, and Henry makes certain that he
leaves behind enough troops in England to quell any
potential uprising. That leaves him with a relatively small
invasion force.
In fact, Henry must deal with one plot before even
crossing the Channel. Lords Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey are
discovered to be conspiring to assassinate Henry (paid for by
the French). Henry makes a very public example of all three,
arresting them in person and seeing to their execution. The
army then lays siege to Harfleur, capturing it after heavy
losses in battle with the city's defenders. Henry attempts to

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take his army out of France before the onset of winter; however, now the French are certain that they
can teach the young king a humiliating lesson on the field of battle. Henry is resolute, nonetheless. If
the French want a decisive battle, they will have it.
While in camp, Henry disguises himself as a common soldier in order to mingle with his troops
before the battle. There he talks candidly with his men, and they with him. The men may be leery of
their king, but their willingness to battle the French army is undaunted. The next day at Agincourt,
Henry makes the stirring St. Crispin's Day speech, knowing his army is outnumbered five to one. Aided
mightily by the longbows of his archers, Henry makes the day a rout for the French. The French must
now sue for peace, which Henry will grantcompletely on his own terms, of course. According to the
terms of the Treaty of Troyes, Henry will marry Princess Katherine of France and will be named as heir
to the French throne. England and France will thus be united in peace.

Troilus and Cressida

The work is environmental in the Trojan War,
and essentially has two frames. In a Troilo, Trojan prince,
the youngest son of king Priam, Woos Cressida, the
daughter of a Trojan priest, that has been passed to the
enemy. Troilo burns with love for Cressida, who does not
reject it. They swear their undying love, but things
happen differently to what they planned. Antenor, a
leader of the Trojan army, was captured by the Greeks.
Decals, the inconsiderate Cressida father, Agamemnon
proposes to change to Antenor by Cressida. Trojans are
accessing the change and Cressida leaves the city of Priam promising remain faithful to Troilo. But in
the field Greek Diomedes, one of the leaders of the Greek army, conquest to Cressida with success, who
is delivered to the voluntarily. Troilo, which has tried to visit her in the camp aqueo, seen with
Diomedes and sees it as a prostitute. To see the infidelity of his beloved ensures that the next fight
against the Greeks is a blood bath. Also falls into this fight his brother Hector. In spite of the fact that
this is the story that gives the title to the work, this frame in reality deals with few scenes: the greater
part of the work refers to an intrigue between Nestor and Ulysses to get the Achilles proud again to
fight in the battle by the side of the Greeks. The work ends with a series of skirmishes between both
sides, and the death of the Trojan hero Hector

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1599
Julius Caesar
It is a tragic play that recreates the conspiracy against the roman dictator Julius Caesar, his
murder and its aftermath. It is one of the many Shakespearians work based on historical facts. Cesar is
not the center of the action, only appearing in three scenes, and dying at the beginning of the third act.
The most relevant figure in the history it is gross, and the plot revolves around the psychological
struggle between conflicting demands on the honor, patriotism and friendship. The work reflects the
general anxiety of England, because of fears over the succession of leadership. At the time of its
creation and first representation, Queen Elizabeth I, a strong monarch, was worn and had refused to
appoint a successor, leading to
discern a possible civil war,
similar to that which was built in
Rome after the death of his
emperor.

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Conclusion
After William Shakespeares death, all his important works were forgotten. Even though these
works were published years later, all the original pieces disappeared. Shakespeare had made a special
mixture between comedy, tragedy and poetry which amazed all his followers such as Richard Edwards
due to his unquestionable artistic knowledge and insuperable classic culture. This fantastic dramatist
gave an innovative sense to his works which were almost revolutionary and they are still
revolutionary nowadays literature.
In addition, he has been an important influence to the theatre which adapted to artistic
requirements not only for the public of that time, but also for the social criticism, politics, religion and
the culture of those years. The performance of this plays gave him many followers; actually, one of
them was Queen Elizabeth I. She was a huge fan of art and had been audience at least one of
Shakespeares plays.
Finally, it is important to say that William Shakespeare is still considered as the most
important writer in literature as well as the biggest influence of the development of a new genre in
theatre despite the fact that he is a complete mystery with no solution. The fact that he is a mystery is
because there ar many things that are still unknown about his life. However, when people say Romeo
and Juliet, the say William Shakespeare. All his works inspired many writer and lecturers. Nowadays,
his classic style remain highly popular through characters and Shakespeares plays are constantly
studied, performed and reinterpreted on stages, in diverse cultural and political contexts all around
the world despite the passing if years.

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Bibliography and websites

Ronald Carter and John McRae, The penguin guide to literature in English, Penguin.
wikipedia.or
www.william-shakespeare.info
www.shakespeare-online.com
www.sparknotes.com

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