Introduction to Who Wrote Shakespeare
This free course from the University of London explores critical thinking, and the interpretation of texts, through the Shakespeare authorship question. Using doubt about Shakespeare’s authorship as our playground, we will explore the key concept of authorship attribution, while developing skills in literary analysis, interpretation, and argument.
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- Level Foundation
- Duration 21 hours
- Course by University of London
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Offered by
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This free course from the University of London explores critical thinking, and the interpretation of texts, through the Shakespeare authorship question. Using doubt about Shakespeare's authorship as our playground, we will explore the key concept of authorship attribution, while developing skills in literary analysis, interpretation, and argument. Through forensic exploration of key texts, you will learn why Shakespeare's authorship is questioned, and what evidence is cited on both sides of the debate. For those of you interested in exploring the works of Shakespeare from a new angle, or just wanting to hone your analytical thinking skills, this course offers an introduction to a fascinating area of interest. Those of you already interested in the Shakespeare authorship question will be encouraged to question your own assumptions in fruitful ways. Whether undertaken as a standalone course, or as preparation for the University of London BA in English, this course will be food for thought.Modules
A 1. Approaching the Authorship Question
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- A 1.3 Starting Point
- A 1.7 The effect of belief on interpretation
4
Videos
- A 1.1 Welcome and Introduction
- A 1.4 The role of belief in interpretation
- A 1.5 Interview with Kris De Meyer Part 1
- A 1.6 Interview with Kris De Meyer Part 2
1
Readings
- A 1.2 Terms of Reference
A 2. The Main Arguments
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- A 2.6 The main arguments
4
Videos
- A 2.1 "Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare"
- A 2.2 The "man-shaped hole"
- A 2.3 Personal vs Impersonal Testimony
- A 2.4 Literary Paper Trails
1
Readings
- A 2.5 Absence of Evidence
A 3. Broker Theory
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- A 3.5 Broker theory
4
Videos
- A 3.1 Shakspere as a broker
- A 3.2 The Shakespeare Apocrypha
- A 3.3 Was Shakspere a Playbroker?
- A 3.4 Thomas Heywood and 'The Author'
1
Readings
- A 3.6 Addendum
A 4. Poet-Ape
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3
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- A 4.5 Analysis of 'On Poet-Ape'
3
Videos
- A 4.1 Ben Jonson's poem 'On Poet-Ape' - An Introduction
- A 4.2 "On Poet-Ape" - Textual Analysis
- A 4.3 Shakespeare in the Parnassus Plays
1
Readings
- A 4.4 Is John Marston a strong contender for Poet-Ape?
A 5. Module Review
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5
Videos
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- (Optional) A 5.6 Does the authorship question matter?
5
Videos
- A 5.1 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 1
- A 5.2 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 1
- A 5.3 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 1
- A 5.4 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 2
- A 5.5 Module Summary
Did Shakespeare Write Part of Sir Thomas More?
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5
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- B 1.7 Shakespeare and 'Hand D'
5
Videos
- B 1.1 Shakespeare and the Hand D additions to Sir Thomas More
- B 1.2 Hand D - Handwriting Argument
- B 1.3 Hand D - Spelling Argument
- B 1.4 Hand D - Content Argument
- B 1.5 Hand D - Author or Scribe?
1
Readings
- B 1.6 For and Against "Hand D = Shakespeare"
Author Concealment in Elizabethan England
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5
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- B 2.6 16th Century Authorship Doubt
5
Videos
- B 2.1 A Hidden Author?
- B 2.2 Marston and Hall - Labeo Part 1
- B 2.3 Marston and Hall - Labeo Part 2
- B 2.4 'Concealed Poets' and 'Our English Terence'
- B 2.5 Does Hyphenation Imply Anonymity?
The 'Coat of Arms' Argument
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3
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- B 3.4 Shakspere's Coat of Arms
3
Videos
- B 3.1 'Not Without Right' - Shakspere's Coat of Arms
- B 3.2 Coat of Arms - Insulso Sogliardo
- B 3.3 Coat of Arms - The Authorship Argument
Robert Greene's "Upstart Crow"
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- B 4.5 The Upstart Crow
4
Videos
- B 4.1 The Upstart Crow - Allusion or Illusion?
- B 4.2 Was Groats-worth Greene's?
- B 4.3 The Upstart Crow as Edward Alleyn
- B 4.4 Shake-scene and the 'Tiger's Heart'
1
Readings
- B 4.6 Addendum
Module Review
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5
Videos
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- (Optional) B 5.6 A Different Poet-Ape?
5
Videos
- B 5.1 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 3
- B 5.2 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 1
- B 5.3 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 2
- B 5.4 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 3
- B 5.5 Module Summary
Close Associates
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4
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- C 1.5 Stratford Connections
4
Videos
- C 1.1 Stratford-upon-Avon and William Camden
- C 1.2 Stratford-upon-Avon, Drayton and Dr Hall
- C 1.3 Stratford-upon-Avon's New Vicar
- C 1.4 Shakspere's Lodger
Shakspere and Shakespeare - Literacy and Education
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- C 2.5 Literacy and Education
4
Videos
- C 2.1 Shakspere's Literacy
- C 2.2 Shakspere's Daughters' Literacy 1
- C 2.3 Shakspere's Daughters' Literacy 2
- C 2.4 Shakespeare's Education
1
Readings
- C 2.6 Addendum
Shakespeare's Warwickshire?
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3
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- C 3.5 Warwickshire references in Shakespeare
3
Videos
- C 3.2 Shakespeare and Stratford - Shrewish places
- C 3.3 Shakespeare and Stratford - The Shrew's Induction
- C 3.4 Shakespeare and Stratford - Dialect words
1
Readings
- C 3.1 Shakespeare and Stratford - Bardolph and Fluellen
The Stratford Monument to Shakespeare
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5
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- C 4.6 The Stratford Monument
5
Videos
- C 4.1 The Stratford Monument - Introduction
- C 4.2 Stratford and the William Basse Elegy
- C 4.3 Was the Stratford Monument Altered?
- C 4.4 Analysis of the Monument Poem
- C 4.5 Analysis of the Latin Lines
Module Review
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6
Videos
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- (Optional) C 5.7 The Stratford-upon-Avon evidence
6
Videos
- C 5.1 Interview with Alexander Waugh - Part 2
- C 5.2 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 2
- C 5.3 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 3
- C 5.4 Interview with Peter Dawkins Part 1
- C 5.5 Interview with Peter Dawkins Part 2
- C 5.6 Module Summary
The Authors of the First Folio
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4
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- D 1.5 The First Folio Preface
4
Videos
- D 1.1 The First Folio and Ben Jonson
- D 1.2 The First Folio Letters
- D 1.3 Ben Jonson's Discoveries
- D 1.4 The Preface Poets
The Droeshout Portrait
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4
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- D 2.5 The Droeshout Portrait
4
Videos
- D 2.1 The Droeshout Portrait - Reception
- D 2.2 Was Droeshout the Younger Incompetent?
- D 2.3 The Droeshout Portrait from a Non-Stratfordian Perspective
- D 2.4 'Look Not on His Picture' - Analysis
The First Folio and Stratford-upon-Avon
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3
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- D 3.4 Stratford-upon-Avon and the First Folio
3
Videos
- D 3.1 The Folio Link to the Stratford-on-Avon
- D 3.2 Thy Stratford Monument
- D 3.3 Sweet Swan of Avon!
Jonson's Eulogy to Shakespeare
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3
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- D 4.5 Ben Jonson and Shakespeare
3
Videos
- D 4.1 Jonson's Eulogy - Seeliest Ignorance
- D 4.2 Jonson's Eulogy - A Monument without A Tomb
- D 4.3 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 3
1
Readings
- D 4.4 Was Ben Jonson accused of 'raping' Shakespeare?
Course Review
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5
Videos
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2
Discussion
2
Discussions
- D 5.6 (Optional) Discuss the First Folio Preface
- (Optional) D 5.7 General Authorship Question discussion
5
Videos
- D 5.1 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 4
- D 5.2 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 4
- D 5.3 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 5
- D 5.4 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 4
- D 5.5 Module Summary
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Discover the intriguing Shakespeare authorship question with the University of London's free course, "Introduction to Who Wrote Shakespeare." Engage in critical thinking, literary analysis, and argumentation while exploring authorship attribution. Ideal for those interested in Shakespeare or honing analytical skills, this foundation-level course spans 1260 minutes and is available through Coursera's Starter subscription. Perfect for both newcomers and those preparing for further study in English.
Ros Barber