Why has the authorship of Shakespeare’s works been questioned for over a hundred years, and who has been proposed as the possible author?
In recent years, numerous scholarly works have been written about this issue. The two key questions that have been raised focus on whether the man from Stratford wrote the works, and if he didn’t, who did?
The class discussion will review the reasons and sources for questioning the authorship of the plays and sonnets that have been attributed to William Shakespeare. We’ll consider other possible authors such as Christopher Marlowe, Sir Francis Bacon, and others. Special attention will be given to the Oxfordian theory, which claims that Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, was the real author.
What to Expect:
You will learn how plays were produced in the Elizabethan theater, the main reasons to question the authorship by the man from Stratford-Upon-Avon, other authors who have been proposed, and credible sources for further study. Be informed of the latest information concerning the authorship of Shakespeare’s works and the tools to learn more about the question. The discussion will include handouts, slides, and videos.
HYBRID course at the Easton Family YMCA (choose to participate in person, or through Zoom, but NO recording) | 1 session | Tuesday | March 19 | 1 – 2:30 pm | $20