Works William Shakespeare

classification of plays

the plays of william shakespeare. sir john gilbert, 1849.

shakespeare s works include 36 plays printed in first folio of 1623, listed according folio classification comedies, histories, , tragedies. 2 plays not included in first folio, 2 noble kinsmen , pericles, prince of tyre, accepted part of canon, today s scholars agreeing shakespeare made major contributions writing of both. no shakespearean poems included in first folio.

in late 19th century, edward dowden classified 4 of late comedies romances, , though many scholars prefer call them tragicomedies, dowden s term used. in 1896, frederick s. boas coined term problem plays describe 4 plays: s ends well, measure measure, troilus , cressida, , hamlet. dramas singular in theme , temper cannot strictly called comedies or tragedies , wrote. may, therefore, borrow convenient phrase theatre of today , class them shakespeare s problem plays. term, debated , applied other plays, remains in use, though hamlet definitively classed tragedy.