8-3WorksPublished

//Answer prepared by Connor S// The only format that Shakespeare's plays were published in during his lifetime were in quarto format, named because of the way it was printed; a standard size sheet of paper (48 cm x 64 cm) was folded, or quartered, to make four pages. This format was extremely common; in fact, all published plays at the time were circulated in this format. They were unbound, and rather small; a single page measured about 6 1/2 by 4 inches. In addition, they were known to have very small font. The quarto plays were quite inexpensive, selling for a few pence, or roughly $3.00. However, there was a second format of publishing. A folio was configured like an encyclopedia, but two or three inches taller. These books were much nicer, and more expensive. No plays up until that time had been ever published in folio format. The First Folio of 1623 was a compliance of 36 of Shakespeare's works, some never published up until that point. It was put together by two King's Men members, John Heminges and Henry Condell. Shakespeare had died in 1616, and had left his "fellows" both 26 Shillings, or about five hundred thirty dollars today. The duo, being in the King's Men, had nearly every play of Shakespeare's in quarto format. Folios were much higher in price than quartos. The First Folio cost as much as a pound, or four hundred dollars! Unlike the quartos, the First Folio had in-depth stage direction and notes, there was a cover page illustration, and, sometimes, was bound with calf hide or other animal skin.
 * 44. HOW WERE SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS—PLAYS AND POEMS—PUBLISHED DURING HIS LIFE TIME? WHAT ARE “FOLIOS” AND “QUARTOS,” AND HOW DO THESE TWO TERMS RELATE TO SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS?**

There have been, through the ages, errors in writing Shakespeare's plays. The following folios (1632, 1663, and 1685), were littered with omissions and mistakes, and the First Folio has an estimated three hundred lines omitted. During Shakespeare's lifetime, plagiarism was amok. Actors from competing companies used to sit in on a Shakespeare performance, taking quick notes. They would then print the plays and perform the play themselves, though with slight variations. These are called Quarto Texts. It is estimated by the Shakespeare’s Folios FAQ that, “almost half of all of Shakespeare's quartos are actually Quarto Texts.” Hence, there is speculation as to how many of Shakespeare's plays he actually wrote, as he may have been guilty of the same thing, or which of Shakespeare's plays are the originals.

The Sonnets of Shakespeare appeared, without his permission, in a 1609 quarto, entitled Shake¬speares' Sonnets. It was published by Thomas Thorpe, printed by George Eld, and sold by William Aspley and William Wright. There are no documented records of when the sonnets were written and there is even some doubt as to their true authorship. There is almost no doubt that Shakespeare did write at least some sonnet, but were never intended to be published. They were written often to flatter potential patrons. Whether Shakespeare meant for his poetry to be published or not, Thomas Thorpe did follow the correct guidelines and published Shakespeare's poetry.

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