which is described in more detail in the next section of this guide.
describes itself thus: (It) "introduces you to the world Shakespeare lived and worked in. This section of the Library is like a shelf of books, each of which is listed in the navigational bar just above this text. Each book, in turn, is divided into chapters dealing with related topics."
"There is a detailed biography of his life (and we actually know quite a lot about him). There is a book about the stage Shakespeare wrote for, and one that explores the society of the time, showing how it differs from our own. Further books discuss the history and politics of Elizabethan England, and look at the way people of the time thought and argued about religion and the physical makeup of the universe. You can learn about the kinds of plays and literature Shakespeare read, see samples of paintings of the time, and listen to Renaissance music. There is a book that shows how different parts of this rich library of resources help you understand the plays, and there is an extensive reference volume that gives chronologies, maps, and bibliographies for further reading."
(Shakespeare's Life and Times, from Internet Shakespeare Editions, ISE)
Plot Synopses & Study Guides
- Plot Summaries, Themes, Sources, Analysis for the Plays & Poems can be found in the Shakespeare Study Guides to be found near the bottom of Michael J. Cummings Shake Sphere site. This excellent site includes many more Shakespeare resources including the very useful Glossaries & Lists including, e.g. a Glossary of Common Shakespeare Words, a Glossary of Elizabethan Occupations, King and Queens of England etc, even a
Glossary of Animals and Animal Parts in Witches' Brew (Macbeth)!
These Shakespeare Study Guides are part of the larger Cummings Study Guides covering a variety of literature in English.
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xShakeSph.html#Castles (Cummings Shakespeare Study Guides on Shake Sphere)
- The Royal Shakespeare Company website offers a number of learning resources including Plot Synopses for "all the plays that are now usually considered to be written or co-written by Shakespeare." including Richard II which features in Literature Summer School - Live Theatre & Interpretation: A Visit to Stratford , one of Burton Manor's Summer Literature courses.
The site also, of course, gives information about the Royal Shakespeare Company and its theatres and performance schedules, including the Complete Works Festival - between April 2006 and April 2007 " both RSC and visiting companies to explore Shakespeare's Complete Works (including the poems)- the first time that's ever been done."
http://www.rsc.org.uk/learning/Learning.aspx (Learning Resources, from The Royal Shakespeare Company)
(Updated May 16th, 2007)
- Shakespeare's Works, is another part of Discover Shakespeare, an online resource from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington.
It gives an introduction to each of the plays and a general introduction to the sonnets. There is also a discussion of the publication of Shakespeare's work, and 'Reading Shakespeare's Language' along with the publication of the The First Folio of Shakespeare in 1623.
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=873 (Shakespeare's Works from the Folger Shakespeare Library)
(Added May 26th, 2007)
The Works of William Shakespeare
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, from MIT gives the text of all the plays, arranged by type (Comedy, History, Tragedy)however the site does not seem to have been updated since November 2000 and the text of the poems is missing.
The text in this version is clear and easy to read. There is no search facility provided, but limited searching can be achieved using the 'Edit'/'Find' function available in most browsers.
http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, from MIT)
- Shakespeare Resources from the Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia Library. "The Electronic Text Center's holdings include a variety of Shakespeare resources that range from early Quartos, the complete 1623 First Folio, and early playhouse promptbooks, to more modern editions and to many bibliographical articles that discuss Shakespeare's works."
The publically available resources include:
- The complete works of Shakespeare, Globe Edition (1866), all available in Web, ebook and palm versions. e.g. see the web version of Much Ado about Nothing - this is being performed in the gardens of Burton Manor over the weekend of Saturday, July 7 - Monday July 9, 2007, please see Events on the Burton Manor website
- The First Folio and Early Quartos of William Shakespeare
- A Frames side-by-side version of the First Folio and Globe Edition of Shakespeare's works, side-by-side, for easy comparison
- Shakespearean Prompt-Books of the Seventeenth Century , presented by the The Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia
"These eight volumes (15 plays) are studies of the stage texts used in various seventeenth-century performances of Shakespeare's plays. G. Blakemore Evans has identified the different manuscript hands that annotate the prompt-books and compared them with other eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Shakespearean stage texts. Thus, the collection provides an opportunity to examine Shakespearean performance traditions and innovations."
- Studies in Bibliography Online, again from the The Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia
"Each year Studies in Bibliography presents a wide range of scholarly articles on bibliography, textual criticism, printing history, and book and manuscript study. The Shakespeare Folios, Quartos and other editions form the basis of many learned articles in the journal."
- Edward III "now authenticated as the work of William Shakespeare", by the Arden Shakespeare Series. Available in in its original 1596 edition [Elizabethan spelling] and in a later, edited, edition (1897).
However, please note, that not all these resources are available to the public - those Resources marked 'UVA only' and/or 'VIVA only' are *not* available for general use, as their licence does not allow this, also the CD-Rom titles mentioned are only available for local use within the E-text Center
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/shakespeare/ (Shakespeare Resources, from University Of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center)
(Updated May 16th, 2007)
- Internet Shakespeare Editions, ISE - "The aim of the Internet Shakespeare Editions is to inspire a love of Shakespeare's works in a world-wide audience.
To do so, we create and publish works for the student, scholar, actor, and general reader in a form native to the medium of the Internet: scholarly, fully annotated texts of Shakespeare's plays, multimedia explorations of the context of Shakespeare's life and works, and records of his plays in performance."
Two important sections of the site are the Plays & Poems and Shakespeare's Life & Times (the latter is detailed above). The Plays & Poems section includes both text and facsimile editions. The text editions have some search and text analysis capability, the facsimile editions, being only images, do not, but do show how the works originally appeared. There is also a small but growing collection of fully edited modern versions of some of the plays & poems.
The Annex contains some works that have not yet been fully edited or reviewed, two works which Shakespeare may have used as sources for his plays, plus articles, extensive links and a discussion forum and more.
N.B. When accessing any of the plays or poems you can be sure to cover all related material on the site by selecting them from the drop down menu near the top of the Plays & Poems homepage
For more details on the content of this useful site and the various ways of accessing it see How to Use this (Internet Shakespeare Editions) Site
http://ise.uvic.ca/index (Internet Shakespeare Editions, ISE)
-
The Works of the Bard claims to be the oldest version of the complete works of Shakespeare on the Web. It is based on the same electronic source as the MIT site (above) but, as well as the text for both the plays and the poems, this site includes a fairly sophisticated Search Engine that allows you to search the full text of all of the plays and poems - excellent for finding the origin of that quote etc!
http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~matty/Shakespeare/ (The Works of the Bard)
- Open Source Shakespeare "attempts to be the best free Web site containing Shakespeare's complete works. It is intended for scholars, thespians, and Shakespeare lovers of every kind."
This site is also based on the 'Moby Shakespeare', which is an electronic version of what is thought to be the 'Globe Shakespeare', a mid-nineteenth-century popular edition of the 'Cambridge Shakespeare'. (see the Introduction to The History of Open Source Shakespeare and The Farm Boy and the Nonconformist: A History of the Globe Shakespeare for more details)
There are both keyword and advanced search facilities, for script and stage directions, and a character search for the plays. There is also a concordance and some statistics. The sonnets may be compared side-by-side.
http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/: Open Source Shakespeare
(Added May 16th, 2007)
- The Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text & Image, SCETI, at the University of Pennsylvania aims to provide a "a fully integrated digital library .... to publish virtual facsimiles of rare books and manuscripts in the Penn Library's collections" Original works from the Furness Shakespeare Library have been selectively scanned to make these virtual facsimile copies available electronically.
These include a First Folio (1623) Facsimile, "Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies. London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount, 1623. In Horace Howard Furness Memorial (Shakespeare) Library. Folio PR2751 .A1" . Use the drop-down menu labelled 'Divisions' and scroll down to find the play you want. Other works in the collection, Shakespeare and otherwise, can be accessed by searching, or browsing (Author or title) from the Furness Shakespeare Library navigation page.
Although Shakespeare is the main focus of the Furness Collection, other works are also included, e.g. William Baldwin, John Donne, David Garrick etc., to help set the context and it is used in 'The English Renaissance in Context (ERIC)' project, aimed at 'Teaching Shakespeare on the Web'. This can be accessed by clicking in the right hand 'eric' tab on the Furness page and selecting the Eric Introduction & Overview The ERIC project is "designed to provide scholars and students at a variety of levels with access to major texts of the English Renaissance in their original versions." It consists of
- a set of Tutorials on some of Shakespeare's plays, and also on the making and selling of books during this period, and
- a database of scanned texts from The Furness Shakespeare Library, as detailed above
"When used in combination, these two units can provide students with a rich introduction to English Renaissance literature in its historical and artifactual context."
http://dewey.library.upenn.edu/sceti/furness/index.cfm?nav=furness (Furness Shakespeare Collection)
http://dewey.library.upenn.edu/sceti/furness/eric/index.cfm (The English Renaissance in Context (ERIC))
(Added 23rd May, 2007)
- Renaissance Electronic Texts , a project at the University of Toronto English Library, provides "A series of old-spelling, SGML-encoded editions
of early individual copies of English Renaissance books and manuscripts, and of plain transcriptions of such works, published on the World Wide Web as a free resource for students of the period."
It includes the Shakespeare Sonnets, 1609 Quarto. As well as presenting the full text from the quarto, in HTML, SGML And COCOA-encoded versions, it also provides a discussion of the making ofthe quorto and its reception, plus various text analysis - the latter being presented as appendices.
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/ret/ret.html - Renaissance Electronic Texts
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/ret/shakespeare/1609inti.html - Shakespeare Sonnets)
(Added 23rd May, 2007)
- Renascence Editions, from the University of Oregan, is "An Online Repository of Works Printed in English Between the Years 1477 and 1799 " which includes Shakespeare's works (in modern spelling). These are available in both PDF & HTML versions, the PDF version includes the catalogue record for the item as well as the text, to view the text click 'View/Open' at the bottom right of the catalogue record. Adobe Reader is needed to view the pdf versions.
http://uoregon.edu/%7Erbear/shake.html (Renascence Editions Shakespeare)
(Added 23rd May, 2007)
- Project Gutenberg makes copies of public domain (i.e. out of copyright)books available electronically. These electronic books, or ebooks, are available in a variety of formats (e.g. HTML, plain text (Easy to search), plucker) and languages. The books can be downloaded or read online.
The Project Gutenberg Shakespeare pages (simply enter Shakespeare in the author search box, top left) includes Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works), 1564-1616, currently available only in English, as well as those more surely attributed to Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616- many of these are available in a variety of languages, mostly English, French or German.
Project Gutenberg is an ongoing project run by volunteers with partners and affiliates. If you would like to be part of the process see the How To page, and/or you can join Distributed Proof Readers checking copy as it is made available, commiting as little, or as much, time as you like.
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page (Project Gutenberg)
http://www.gutenberg.org/author/Shakespeare (Shakespeare on Project Gutenberg)
http://www.pgdp.net/c/ (Distributed Proof Readers)
(Added 23rd May, 2007)
Miscellaneous Shakespeare Resources
- Exploring Shakespeare a multimedia learning resource from the RSC
Originally using Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream as examples this site now (Spring 2007) offers a much wider selection of Shakespeare's plays along with some Shakespeare themes. It "offers unique access to the RSC performance process. You will find actors in rehearsal and performance; exclusive interviews with directors, actors and Company members working behind the scenes; production stills; textual information; and a range of suggestions for teaching and learning activities. Using rich media, with extensive specially-prepared video, the site is versatile and fully interactive so you can explore through the scenes or research a particular area of interest."
To view most of this site you will need the Flash 7 plugin (available to download on the site homepage)and it recommends a broadband connection.
http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/ (Exploring Shakespeare, from The RSC)
(Updated May 16th, 2007)
- The Traffic of the Stage, from Birmingham University, is "a (searchable) database of UK Shakespeare productions. The database contains information on productions from 1997-2003 inclusive and is a free resource for anyone interested in the stage history of Shakespeare’s plays."
http://www2.is.bham.ac.uk/traffic/ (The TRaffic of the Stage)
(Added May 25th, 2007)
- The British Shakespeare Association "was formed in 2003 and is dedicated to supporting people who teach, research and perform Shakespeare's works. The next conference will be held in 2007, 31st August - 2nd September, and will be hosted by the University of Warwick." Current Chair: John J. Joughin Patron: Dame Judi Dench
It is a membership (by fee) organisation, but its news service is freely avaiable here.
http://www.britishshakespeare.ws/ (The British Shakespeare Association)
(Added May 25th, 2007)
- Touchstone is " a research tool for Shakespeare research in the United Kingdom" and "a project funded by the British Library Co-operation and Partnership Programme (BLCPP) to identify and map significant UK Shakespeare collections. The site is currently maintained by the Shakespeare Institute Library, University of Birmingham, in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and Birmingham Central Library."
Its resources include:
- The Touchstone Database which "provides a single point of access to descriptions of significant UK Shakespeare collections."
- An Online Enquiry Service which appears to be free. "Touchstone will attempt to answer any Shakespeare-related enquiries. We do not have the resources to provide lengthy answers to discursive questions but, where possible, we will provide suitable sources where the information can be found. "
- A News & Events listings
- Shakespeare in Performance "aims to record and archive information relating to Shakespeare in performance. Here you will find lists of forthcoming productions and an archive of previous productions. "
- Information on where to study Shakespeare in the UK
- Shakespeare Associations listings, both UL and international.
- Online Exhibitions "related to collections described in in the Touchstone database." These include photographs, prompt books, costume designs etc.
- Shakespeare Links an excellent set of categorised and annotated links to Internet Shakespeare resources
http://www.touchstone.bham.ac.uk/ - Touchstone, Shakespeare research tools
(Added 25th May 2007)
- Discover Shakespeare, part of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington includes many useful resources. Those covering Shakespeare's Life and Works have been detailed above.
Other resources on this site include:
- Shakespeare's Theatre
- Folger Collection Highlights shows illustrations and facsimiles from the Folger Collection. These can only be viewed sequentially by clicking on the arrows beneath the righthand image. There is also a 'Learn more' butten beneath each image which links to a brief description.
- details of Folger publications on Shakespeare
- Shakespeare for Kids - fun with words and facts, puzzles and games.
- Shakespeare FAQ
- Shakespeare Links
- Shakespeare in American Life "How did the national poet of Britain, an English playwright who lived 400 years ago, become an integral part of American life and culture?"
plus other resources mainly relating to physical use of the Library.
The Folger Shakespeare Library describes itself as "a world-class research center on Shakespeare and on the early modern age in the West. It is home to the world’s largest and finest collection of Shakespeare materials and to major collections of other rare Renaissance books, manuscripts, and works of art."
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=865 (Discover Shakespeare)
http://www.folger.edu/ (The Folger Shakespeare Library)
(Added May 26th 2007)
Other Shakespeare Guides & Gateways
- Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet as well as resources setting Shakespeare in the context of his time and place, as detailed above, this excellent site has very useful links relating to his work and other Shakespeare resources:
- Shakespeare's Works This page provides annotated links to a rich variety of Shakespeare resources including Collected Editions and Individual Editions of his Plays, The Poetry and Sonnets. There are also Study Guides The section entitled The Canon has a A chronological listing of the poems and plays, 'Coined By Shakespeare' - Merriam-Webster's guide to original Shakespean words, synopses of the Plays, and more.
There is also an illustrated html edition of Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
- Theatre includes links on 'Shakespeare's Globe Theatre' and on 'Aspects of Elizabethan Performance' (speech, costumes etc.)
- Criticism includes links to current 'Journals & Collections' (some of these require a paid subscription to access them), 'Historical Criticism' and 'Criticism of the Sonnets & Poetry'. There is also a separate page of links on General Criticism and another of links to Criticism of Individual Plays
- Renaissance "is devoted to journals and text repositories related to Shakespeare, Elizabethan, and Renaissance studies. Web pages about Shakespeare's contemporaries (and near contemporaries) have also been placed here."
- Sources gives links to "sources that directly or indirectly influenced the works of Shakespeare" including Biblical, Classical, Medieval and Geographical. Renaissance sources are given on the Renaissance, above.
- Educational provides links to 'Courses and Lesson Plans' and other 'Materials'
- (May 2007) The 'Best Sites' page no longer exists, instead sites are given up to 5 stars as they are reviewed.
- Other sites is a collection of links to ""non-scholarly" (this is an understatement) sites which don't fit the standard organization of these pages." Include such wonders as the Star Trek related Shakespeare pages!
- Searching covers Shakespeare & Internet Search Tools & Resources.
This helpful guide covers Shakespeare specific search tools, including dictionaries, search full works, poetry etc. General searc engines, Shakespeare 'metasites'and relevant Libraries and Archives are also covered. There is also a useful general guide: , although this is somewhat out-of-date regarding the search engines it covers, it still includes some useful tips.
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/ (Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet)
- The Shakespeare Links from the Touchstone Project (detailed above) are an excellent set of catgorised links to Shakespeare resources.
http://www.touchstone.bham.ac.uk/links.html (Touchstone Shakespeare Links)
(Added May 25th, 2007)
- An Internet Resources Guide, written by Dr Christie Carson, a senior lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, is available for download, or to view online, on the Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC website. It is in PDF Format, for which you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
http://www.rsc.org.uk/content/3935.aspx (Shakespeare Internet Resources Guide)
http://www.rsc.org.uk/ (Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC)
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html (Adobe Acrobat Reader)
(Added May 26th, 2007)
- Shakespeare Internet Resources is a categorised set of links to Shakespeare resources, part of a wider range of sixteenth and seventeenth century literary resource links published by the electronic journal Early Modern Literary Studies. The contents of this journal can be browsed, free, on this site, some of the special issues are devoted to Shakespeare.
http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/emlsweb.html (sixteenth and seventeenth century literary links, including Shakespeare)
http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/emlshome.html (Early Modern Literary Studies (electronic journal))
(Added May 25th, 2007)
- Shakespeare Links from the
Folger Shakespeare Library, as detailed above.
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=863 (Shakespeare Links from the Folger Shakespeare Library)
(Added May 26th, 2007)
Burton Manor run a wide range of courses related to the Bard every year, including tie-ins to live performances of his plays. See the Courses Menu and also the Events Menu at the top of this webpage for details.
Created on ... June 26, 2006, Last Updated May 26, 2007