1. St Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr
Literary Works of Shakespeare.
Literary works of Shakespeare:
A careful reading of the plays and poems of Shakespeare leaves us with an
impression of four different periods of work, probably corresponding with the growth
and experience of his life.
They are:
1st
Period: A period of early experimentation:
This period dates from his arrival in London 1587 to 1595 this period is marked by
youthfulness and exuberance of imagination by extravagance of language.
The typical works of this period are:
Comedies:
• Comedy of errors – 1591-92
• Taming of the Shrew
• Love’s Labour’s Lost - 1590
• Two gentlemen of Verona 1591-92
Histories:
• Henry V (3 parts) (1591-92)
• Venus and Adonis (Poem) 1593
• Richard III – 1593
• King John – 1594-95
• Rape of Lacerce – 1594
Tragedies:
2. • Titus Andronicus – 1590-91
2nd
Period: A period of Rapid Growth and Development:
This period dates from 1595 to 1600. The works written in this period show more
careful and artistic work, better plots and a marked increase in knowledge of human
nature.
The typical works of this period are:
Comedies:
• Midsummer Night’s Dream – 1595
• Merchant of Venice – 1596
• Merry Wives of Windsor – 1597
• Much Ado About Nothing – 1598
• As You Like It – 1599
Histories:
• Richard II - 1595
• Henry IV (2 Parts) – 1596.
• Henry V – 1599
Tragedies:
• Romeo and Juliet - 1595
3rd
Period: A Period of Gloom and Depression:
This period dates from 1600-1607. The works of this period marks the full maturity of
his powers. The cause of this gloom and depression is unknown but generally
attributed to some personal experiences and the political misfortunes of his friends.
The typical works of this period are:
3. Comedies:
• Twelfth Night – 1600
• Troilus And Cressida – 1601-1602
• Measure for Measure – 1603
• All’s Well That Ends Well – 1603
Tragedies:
• Julius Ceaser – 1601
• Hamlet – 1601
• Othello – 1604
• King Lear – 1605
• Macbeth – 1606
• Timon of Athens – 1607
• Antony and Cleopatra – 1607
4th
Period: A period Restored Serenity:
This period dates from 1608 to 1613, the last years of the Poet’s literary works. This
period marks the restored serenity of calm after storm.
The works of this period are:
Comedies:
• Pericles, Prince of Tyre – 1608
• Cymbeline – 1609
• The Winter’s Tale – 1610-11
• The Tempest – 1611
Histories:
• Henry VIII (unfinished)
4. Conclusion:
Shakespeare lived in a play-loving age: he studied the crowds, gave them what
they wanted and simply reflected their own thoughts and feelings. In reflecting the
English crowd f his Age he unconsciously reflected all the crowds of all the ages. He
studied and followed the public taste and was guided by public sentiment. He could
pierce the hearts of people with too many passions, could realize the actual play of life
without falling in bondage to any power. Yet there is no moral philosophy or conduct
of life that he has not touched upon, no mystery that he has not probed. He excelled in
the perfect naturalness of the dialogue. In Shakespeare we have the result of hard work
and of orderly human development quite as much as of a transcendent genius.
