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Elements of Shakespearean Drama

Shakespeare is known as the ‘Father of English Drama’. He is known as England’s national poet, and the “Bard of Avon”. His works, including collaborations, consist of 38 plays,154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and some other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often

Features of Shakespearean Drama

☞ Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in

about 24 years. His plays were

written for performance.

☞ His dramas can be divided into

histories, tragedies and comedies.

☞ The protagonists in the early plays

are historical figures, including rulers

of England.

☞ His play Hamlet is considered to

be the epitome of Renaissance in

which the protagonist achieves his

perfection only after dying

.

☞ As the dramatist of Renaissance

Age, Shakespearean plays focus on

man, exploring his weaknesses,

depravities, flows etc.

☞ All the characters ranging from

soldiers to king speak English.

☞ His plays have been divided into

five acts. However the division was

imposed on Shakespearean play by

Nicholas Rowe; one of the first

editors of Shakespeare.

☞ Most of the Shakespearean plays

are problem plays in which the

playwright do not provide any

solutions and audience are supposed

to decide.

☞ Shakespeare, in his plays goes into

the depth of human behaviour and

redefines the geography of human

soul.

☞ His final plays move against the

wave of Jacobean Theatre.

☞ One finds the traces of colonialism

in his plays. e.g. In The Tempest Prospero enslaves Caliban who is the native of that island.