Post by Agent Liz on Mar 26, 2011 21:36:38 GMT -5
The Shakespeare authorship question is the argument that someone other than William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon wrote the works traditionally attributed to him. Proponents say that the historical Shakespeare was a front to shield the identity of the real author or authors, who for reasons such as social rank, state security, or gender did not want public credit.[1] Although the idea has attracted much public interest,[2] all but a few Shakespeare scholars and literary historians consider it a fringe belief, and for the most part disregard it except to rebut or disparage the claims.[3]
Shakespeare's authorship was first questioned in the middle of the 19th century, when adulation of Shakespeare as the greatest writer of all time had become widespread.[4] Shakespeare's biography, particularly his humble origins and obscure life, seemed incompatible with his poetic eminence and reputation as a natural genius,[5] arousing suspicion that Shakespeare might not have written the works attributed to him.[6] The controversy has since spawned a vast body of literature,[7] and more than 70 authorship candidates have been proposed,[8] including Francis Bacon, the Earl of Derby, Christopher Marlowe, and the Earl of Oxford.[9]
Supporters of alternative candidates argue that theirs is the more plausible author, and that William Shakespeare lacked the education, aristocratic sensibility, or familiarity with the royal court that they say is apparent in the works.[10] Those Shakespeare scholars who have responded to such claims hold that biographical interpretations of literature are unreliable in attributing authorship,[11] and that the convergence of documentary evidence for Shakespeare's authorship—title pages, testimony by other contemporary poets and historians, and official records—is the same as that for any other authorial attribution of the time.[12] No such supporting evidence exists for any other candidate,[13] and Shakespeare's authorship was not questioned during his lifetime or for centuries after his death.[14]
Despite the scholastic consensus,[15] a relatively small but highly visible and diverse assortment of supporters, including some prominent public figures,[16] have questioned the traditional authorship attribution.[17] They campaign for public acceptance of the authorship question as a legitimate field of academic inquiry and to promote one or another of the various authorship candidates.[18]
I hoped You enjoyed this as much as I did. I love him!!!
Shakespeare's authorship was first questioned in the middle of the 19th century, when adulation of Shakespeare as the greatest writer of all time had become widespread.[4] Shakespeare's biography, particularly his humble origins and obscure life, seemed incompatible with his poetic eminence and reputation as a natural genius,[5] arousing suspicion that Shakespeare might not have written the works attributed to him.[6] The controversy has since spawned a vast body of literature,[7] and more than 70 authorship candidates have been proposed,[8] including Francis Bacon, the Earl of Derby, Christopher Marlowe, and the Earl of Oxford.[9]
Supporters of alternative candidates argue that theirs is the more plausible author, and that William Shakespeare lacked the education, aristocratic sensibility, or familiarity with the royal court that they say is apparent in the works.[10] Those Shakespeare scholars who have responded to such claims hold that biographical interpretations of literature are unreliable in attributing authorship,[11] and that the convergence of documentary evidence for Shakespeare's authorship—title pages, testimony by other contemporary poets and historians, and official records—is the same as that for any other authorial attribution of the time.[12] No such supporting evidence exists for any other candidate,[13] and Shakespeare's authorship was not questioned during his lifetime or for centuries after his death.[14]
Despite the scholastic consensus,[15] a relatively small but highly visible and diverse assortment of supporters, including some prominent public figures,[16] have questioned the traditional authorship attribution.[17] They campaign for public acceptance of the authorship question as a legitimate field of academic inquiry and to promote one or another of the various authorship candidates.[18]
I hoped You enjoyed this as much as I did. I love him!!!