Did shakespeare write shakespeare? by Vanessa Kha

1 of 8

Slide Notes

Did shakespeare write shakespeare?

Published on Nov 25, 2015

No Description

View Outline

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Did shakespeare write shakespeare?

That is the question.

Identity Crisis

Mid-1800's-( )Anti-Stratfordians disputed against Shakespeare authorship
Background, Illiteracy, Little Documentation, Cryptic Death
believed he was too uneducated or low in status, common
candidates include noblemen like Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere
theory that he was paid so that real author could be anonymous

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/shake_did_write_plays.html

commoner
might have been cover-up

Photo by harold.lloyd

Background

historical Shakespeare was from Stratford-upon-Avon

Illiteracy

only 6 poorly-written signatures, no other documents or letters
will does not include anything with literary association
didn't have access to info needed for plays- law, music drama, etc.
Shakespeare was businessman, but author disliked superficiality
illiterate daughters, never taught to write or read

http://www.shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/discover-shakespeare

Look at the signatures in the background and tell me they are not gibberish-like.

Edward de Vere

Earl of Oxford- esteemed playwright and poet
was called "Spear-shaker" in court; spear-wielding lion as his crest
pseudonyms were common during Renaissance
poetry and plays refer to his life often; e.g. Hamlet
access to background info and culture needed for characters

http://www.shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/discover-shakespeare

Interesting: At court Oxford was known as “Spear-shaker” because of his skill at tournaments and his crest showing a lion brandishing a spear.

4. Like Hamlet, Oxford was even abducted by pirates and “set naked” on the shore! As Washington Post reporter Don Oldenburg wrote, Oxford’s life reads like a “rough draft” of Hamlet.

5, Needed to know about prominent people, famous literature, and Queen Elizabeth's court.

Francis Bacon

intellectual figure: philosopher, essay writer, scientist
stigma: Shakespeare as pseudonym or cover-up
philosophical resemblance of ideas by him and by author
Baconians

Baconian Theory
Stratford
Itellect
Similar to Edward de Vere's case
access to info crucial to dramas
Baconians

Hamlet

Wash. Post: Edward's life is like "rough draft" of Hamlet
abducted by pirates and left on shore like Hamlet

Like Hamlet, Oxford was even abducted by pirates and “set naked” on the shore! As Washington Post reporter Don Oldenburg wrote, Oxford’s life reads like a “rough draft” of Hamlet.