How many plays did shakespeare write

A Complete List of Shakespeare’s Plays

Scholars of Elizabethan drama believe that William Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays between 1590 and 1612. These dramatic works encompass a wide range of subjects and styles, from the playful «A Midsummer Night’s Dream» to the gloomy «Macbeth.» Shakespeare’s plays can be roughly divided into three genres—comedies, histories, and tragedies—though some works, such as «The Tempest» and «The Winter’s Tale,» straddle the boundaries between these categories.

Shakespeare’s first play is generally believed to be «Henry VI Part I,» a history play about English politics in the years leading up to the Wars of the Roses. The play was possibly a collaboration between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, another Elizabethan dramatist who is best known for his tragedy «Doctor Faustus.» Shakespeare’s last play is believed to be «The Two Noble Kinsmen,» a tragicomedy co-written with John Fletcher in 1613, three years before Shakespeare’s death.

Shakespeare’s Plays in Chronological Order

The exact order of the composition and performances of Shakespeare’s plays is difficult to prove—and therefore often disputed. The dates listed below are approximate and based on the general consensus of when the plays were first performed:

Dating the Plays

The chronology of Shakespeare’s plays remains a matter of some scholarly debate. Current consensus is based on a constellation of different data points, including publication information (e.g. dates taken from title pages), known performance dates, and information from contemporary diaries and other records. Though each play can be assigned a narrow date range, it is impossible to know exactly in which year any one of Shakespeare’s plays was composed. Even when exact performance dates are known, nothing conclusive can be said about when each play was written.

Further complicating the matter is the fact that many of Shakespeare’s plays exist in multiple editions, making it even more difficult to determine when the authoritative versions were completed. For example, there are several surviving versions of «Hamlet,» three of which were printed in the First Quarto, Second Quarto, and First Folio. The version printed in the Second Quarto is the longest version of «Hamlet,» though it does not include over 50 lines that appear in the First Folio version. Modern scholarly editions of the play contain material from multiple sources.

Authorship Controversy

Another controversial question regarding Shakespeare’s bibliography is whether the Bard actually authored all of the plays assigned to his name. In the 19th century, a number of literary historians popularized the so-called «anti-Stratfordian theory,» which held that Shakespeare’s plays were actually the work of Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, or possibly a group of playwrights. Subsequent scholars, however, have dismissed this theory, and the current consensus is that Shakespeare—the man born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564—did, in fact, write all of the plays that bear his name.

Nevertheless, there is strong evidence that some of Shakespeare’s plays were collaborations. In 2016, a group of scholars performed an analysis of all three parts of «Henry VI» and came to the conclusion that the play does include the work of Christopher Marlowe. Future editions of the play published by Oxford University Press will credit Marlowe as co-author.

Another play, «The Two Noble Kinsmen,» was co-written with John Fletcher, who also worked with Shakespeare on the lost play «Cardenio.» Some scholars believe that Shakespeare may have also collaborated with George Peele, an English dramatist and poet; George Wilkins, an English dramatist and inn-keeper; and Thomas Middleton, a successful author of numerous stage works, including comedies, tragedies, and pageants.

How Many Plays Did Shakespeare Write?

The Debate Among Scholars About How Many Plays the Bard Penned

The question of how many plays William Shakespeare wrote is one of some dispute among scholars. There are of course the various factions that believe he did not write any of the works attributed to him. And there’s the question of whether he co-wrote a play titled «Double Falsehood», which was previously attributed to Lewis Theobald.

The majority of Shakespearean scholars agree that he wrote 38 plays: 12 histories, 14 comedies, and 12 tragedies. But several theories persist that question that total.

Shakespeare and ‘Double Falsehood’

After many years of research, Arden Shakespeare published “Double Falsehood” under the name William Shakespeare in 2010. Theobald long claimed his work was based on a lost Shakespeare work, whose title was believed to be “Cardenio,” which was itself based on a section of Miguel de Cervantes “Don Quixote.”

It’s still not fully incorporated into the canon, but may be over time. “Double Falsehood” is still debated by scholars; many of whom believe it bears more of the hallmarks of its co-author, John Fletcher, than of William Shakespeare. It’s hard to say when, or if, it will be universally recognized among Shakespeare’s other plays.

Christopher Marlowe and Other Would-Be Shakespeares

Then, there are the numerous theories which rest on the assumption that Shakespeare, for whatever reason, could not or did not write all (or any) of the plays that bear his name.

Some Shakespeare conspiracy theorists believe he was not well-educated enough to have written so eloquently and so prolifically. Other theories suggest that the name William Shakespeare was a pseudonym for an author or authors who wished to remain anonymous for some reason.

The leading contender for the role of the “real” Shakespeare is playwright and poet Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary of the Bard. The two men were not exactly friends but did know each other.

The Marlovians, as this faction is known, believe Marlowe’s death in 1593 was faked, and that he wrote or co-wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays. They point to similarities in the two authors’ writing styles (which can also be explained as Marlowe’s influence on Shakespeare).

In 2016, the Oxford University Press even went so far as to credit Marlowe as a co-author of its publications of Shakespeare’s «Henry VI» plays (Parts I, II and III).

Edward de Vere and the Rest

The other leading candidates for the “real” Shakespeare are Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, a patron of the arts and noted playwright (none of his plays survive, apparently); Sir Francis Bacon, philosopher, and father of empiricism and the scientific method; and William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, who signed his works “WS” just like Shakespeare did.

There’s even a theory that some of all of these men collaborated to write the plays attributed to Shakespeare, as one elaborate group effort.

It’s worth noting, however, that any “evidence” that anyone other than William Shakespeare wrote his 38 (or 39) plays is entirely circumstantial. It’s fun to speculate, but most of these theories are considered little more than fringe conspiracy ideas by the most knowledgeable historians and scholars.

The full list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in the order in which they were first performed.

Plays Written by Shakespeare

How many plays did he write?

Shakespeare wrote 38 plays.

However, in recent years the publisher Arden Shakespeare added a new play to their collection: Double Falsehood under Shakespeare’s name. Technically, this revises the total number of plays to 39!

The problem is that we don’t have a definitive record, and it is likely that many of his plays were written in collaboration with other writers.

It will take time for Double Falsehood to be fully incorporated and accepted into the Shakespeare canon, which means that it is generally accepted that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total. The total number of plays is periodically revised and often disputed.

Play Categories

The 38 plays are typically categorized into three segments drawing a line between the tragedies, comedies and the histories. However, for many, this three-way categorization is far too simplistic. Shakespeare’s plays are nearly all based on historical accounts, all have tragic characters at the heart of the plot and have lots of comic moments threaded throughout.

Nevertheless, here are the most widely accepted categories for Shakespeare’s plays:

However, as mentioned above, many plays do not fit neatly into the above categories. These are often labeled as the problem plays.

Of all the categories, the comedies are the most difficult to categorize. Some critics like to identify a subset of the comedies as «dark comedies» to differentiate the plays written for light entertainment from those that take a darker tone.

Our list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in the order in which they were first performed. You can also read our study guides for the Bard’s most popular plays.

What Types of Plays Did Shakespeare Write?

Shakespearean Tragedies, Comedies, Histories, and Problem Plays

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The English Medieval playwright William Shakespeare wrote 38 (or so) plays during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603) and her successor, James I (ruled 1603–1625). The plays are important works still today, insightfully exploring the human condition in prose, poetry, and song. His understanding of human nature led him to blend elements of human behavior—great goodness and great evil—in the same play and sometimes even in the same character.

Shakespeare heavily influenced literature, theater, poetry, and even the English language. Many English words used in today’s lexicon are attributed to Shakespeare’s pen. For example, «swagger,» «bedroom,» «lackluster,» and «puppy dog» were all coined by the Bard of Avon.

Shakespeare’s Innovation

Shakespeare is known for using literary devices such as genre, plot, and characterization in revolutionary ways to expand on their dramatic potential. He used soliloquies—long speeches by characters spoken to the audience—not only to push along the plot of a play but also to display a character’s secret life, such as in «Hamlet» and «Othello.»

He also blended genres, which was not traditionally done at the time. For instance, «Romeo and Juliet» is both a romance and a tragedy, and «Much Ado About Nothing» can be called a tragi-comedy.

Shakespearean critics have broken the plays into four categories: tragedies, comedies, histories, and «problem plays.» This list contains some of the plays that fall into each category. However, you will find that different lists place some plays into different categories. For example, «The Merchant of Venice» has important elements of both tragedy and comedy, and it is up to the individual reader to decide which outweighs the other.

Tragedies

Shakespearean tragedies are plays with somber themes and dark endings. Tragic conventions used by Shakespeare feature the death and destruction of well-meaning people brought down by either their own fatal flaws or the political machinations of others. Flawed heroes, the fall of a noble person, and the triumph of external pressures such as fate, spirits, or other characters over the hero are featured.

Comedies

Shakespearean comedies are, on the whole, more light-hearted pieces. The point of these plays may not necessarily be to make the audience laugh, but to think. Comedies feature the clever use of language to create wordplay, metaphors, and smart insults. Love, mistaken identities, and convoluted plots with twisted outcomes are also integral aspects of a Shakespearean comedy.

Histories

Despite their category’s name, Shakespearean histories are not historically accurate. While the histories are set in Medieval England and explored class systems of that time, Shakespeare was not trying to depict the past authentically. He used historical events as a base but developed his own plot based on prejudices and social commentaries of his time.

Shakespeare’s histories are only about English monarchs. Four of his plays: «Richard II, the two plays of «Henry IV,» and «Henry V» are called the Henriad, a tetralogy that contains events during the 100 Years War (1377–1453). Meanwhile, «Richard III» and three plays of «Henry VI» explore events during the War of the Roses (1422–1485).

Problem Plays

Shakespeare’s so-called «problem plays» are plays that do not fit into any of these three categories. Although most of his tragedies contain comic elements, and most of his comedies have bits of tragedy, the problem plays shift rapidly between truly dark events and comic material.

Everything You Need to Know About Shakespeare’s Plays

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William Shakespeare is best known for his plays, although he was also an accomplished poet and actor. But when we think about Shakespeare, plays like «Romeo and Juliet,» «Hamlet,» and «Much Ado About Nothing» immediately spring to mind.

How Many Plays?

A remarkable fact about Shakespeare’s plays is that scholars can’t agree on how many he actually wrote. Thirty-eight plays is the most popular hypothesis, but after many years of wrangling, a little-known play called «Double Falsehood» has now been added to the canon.

The main problem is that it is believed that William Shakespeare wrote many of his plays collaboratively. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the content penned by the Bard with any accuracy.

What Were Shakespeare’s Plays About?

Shakespeare was writing between 1590 and 1613. Many of his early plays were performed at the building that would eventually become the infamous Globe Theatre in 1598. It was here that Shakespeare made his name as a budding young writer and penned such classics as «Romeo and Juliet,» «A Midsummer Night’s Dream,» and «The Taming of the Shrew.»

Many of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s and would have been performed at the Globe Theatre.

Genres

Shakespeare wrote in three genres: tragedy, comedy, and history. Although this seems very straightforward, it is notoriously difficult to categorize the plays. This is because the histories blur comedy and tragedy, the comedies contain elements of tragedy, and so on.

Some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays are tragedies. The genre was extremely popular with Elizabethan theatergoers. It was conventional for these plays to follow the rise and fall of a powerful nobleman. All of Shakespeare’s tragic protagonists have a fatal flaw that propels them towards their bloody end.

Popular tragedies include «Hamlet,» «Romeo and Juliet,» «King Lear,» and «Macbeth.»

Popular comedies include «Much Ado About Nothing,» and «The Merchant of Venice.»

Shakespeare used his history plays to make social and political commentary. Therefore, they are not historically accurate in the same way we would expect a modern historical drama to be. Shakespeare drew from a range of historical sources and set most of his history plays during the Hundred Years’ War with France.

Popular histories include «Henry V» and «Richard III.»

Shakespeare’s Language

Shakespeare used a mixture of verse and prose in his plays to denote the social standing of his characters.

As a rule of thumb, common characters spoke in prose, while noble characters further up the social food chain would revert to iambic pentameter. This particular form of poetic meter was extremely popular in Shakespeare’s time.

Although iambic pentameter sounds complex, it is a simple rhythmic pattern. It has ten syllables in each line that alternate between unstressed and stressed beats. However, Shakespeare liked to experiment with iambic pentameter and played around with the rhythm to make his character’s speeches more effective.

Why is Shakespeare’s language so descriptive? We should remember that the plays were performed in daylight, in the open air, and with no set. In the absence of atmospheric theater lighting and realistic sets, Shakespeare had to conjure up mythical islands, the streets of Verona, and cold Scottish castles through language alone.